PC Controlled Servo Controller. I'm a robo newb, be gentle

Lynxmotion
1

I’m completely new to anything robotic, and i decided the best way to start is to jump right in. Problem is, the whole servo controller thing is confusing me. Try to keep things simple, i’m a quick learner and have that all so rare, common sense. But i’ve asked people before, and have been flamed for not knowing how to program BASIC. Though i can probably learn in less than a week. Now to it.

Ok, i’m looking for a servo controller which will be permanently controlled by the PC over RS-232 (or bluetooth to RS-232 adapter in the future).

WASD+QE movement. Joystick controlled robotic arm, and joystick HAT controlled pan/tilt camera. No auto tracking or remembering paths, no real automation, just remote controlled.

I was wondering if the bot board would perform this task without a BASIC module.
I need to limit my spending, and the Botboard is cheaper than the SSC-32.

I only need to control a max of 12 servos. So any RS-232 servo controller will work.

I plan on executing all programming from the PC.

So here are my questions.
Can i control the servos with a botboard that is without a basic module, over the PC serial line.?
If not,
Can i control servo’s using the SSC-32 without attaching it to an external microcontroller, but instead just using the PC serial line?

I don’t really need my robot to perform task on it’s own, basically i want a serial controlled RC robot. using roborealm or microsoft robotics studio.

Edit: I couldn’t list the parts so i’ll explain what i’m planning.
Sorry i’m to new to post actual links. But those are the Part numbers for robotshop . us
rover kit Part number RB-Rbo-13
SSC-32 RB-Lyn-100
Lynxmotion pan tilt kit, # RB-Lyn-74
RC dual motor controller # RB-Dim-19

If i can replace the SSC-32 with the botboard, without a module, it would save me a good chunk of money. Budget is max $230+SH.

Otherwise my other solution is,
Botboard 2, BASICX-24**(RB-Bat-04)**, and a cheaper TTL Serial DUAL motor controller attached to the botboard, they cost about the same (Actually a dollar cheaper)

So my question is here, Can the atom pro, control a TTL Serial Dual motor controller?
Specifically this one from robotshop
RB-Pol-05

Edit: I don’t want to get into anything over my head.
Basicly i just want to bind keyboard and joystick keys/controls to servo’s.
When i press W i want both track motors to move in 1 direction.
Simple WASD+QE controlls. W forward, A rotate left, S back, D rotate left.
Q = right track forward, left track dont move. And vise versa for E.

And some simple pan/tilt controls for the joystick hat.
Up = look up ect. And the hat button between up and right, would make both pan/tilt servers run at the same time to look up and right.

I’m really good from learning from examples. So i could easily adapt the pan/tilt code for a robotic arm in the future.

Heck, if you could right me a program that’ll do the WASD+QE for a tracked vehicle. using the parts shown. I could surely make it work. And i cant afford the surveyer bots, and i just bought and sent back the wowee rovio because it offers almost no modability, no potential for robot arms.

2

Hi Fallentine,

Welcome on this forum. I’m gonna try to clarify some thing for yah.

The BotBoard is nothing more then a breakout box for a micro controller. It takes care of powering the micro controller and got some onboard I/O like buttons, leds and a beeper. You can compare it with the motherboard of your PC. Without a processor (micro controller) it doesn’t do a thing.

This is how stuff work:

You can use the servo driver SSC to control up to 32 servos. You can control both position and speed. The SSC got 4 analog/digital I/O as well. The SSC can be controlled by both PC or microcontroller using a RS232 or TTL signal.

The BotBoard (with microcontroller) can be used as a brain. It is possible to directly connect sensors and a remote to the BotBoard and use logic to drive motors or servos using the SSC. Since you are gonna use the PC as a brain you don’t need this module.

What you want to do is get a SSC connected to your PC and send commands to it using a serial port.

The sabertooth driver from LM uses pulses to drive the motors forward and backward. This is the same interface as a standard servo uses. So If you gonna go with one of these you can control it using the SSC.

The RB-POL-05 uses a TTL signal to control the motors. This can not be connected to the SSC. You can connect this to the PC but you will need some TTL to RS232 converter to do that. And if you want to make it wireless you will need 2 wireless modules.

If you want to replace the serial cable with a Bluetooth connection you should check out the BlueSmirf. This module can be connected directly to the SSC to make a wireless connection.

I hope this helps.

Xan

3

Thanks, it looks like i’ll probably be using the SSC and one of the RC motor controllers.

The TTL motor controller was only if i took the BASIC route. Which i definitely don’t want to do.

And thanks for the botboard info, i know some of the Arduino controllers work as simple servo controllers when their atmel chip is removed. But they weren’t made specificly for my needs. (disptite what it says)

I’d much rather just use roborealm, and plug’n’play the thing pretty much.
Just bind some servo controls to some keyboard keys and off i go.

I really like those sabertooth controllers, but they really hurt where it counts, The wallet.
I’m on a really strict budget. (I simply don’t have more money.)

Are there any cheaper alternatives to the sabertooth? I don’t need overly powerful controllers. just simple pulse driven ones.
I dont need analog or simplified serial. Just RC.
If i can get a dual rc motor controller, or two single channel ones for under $45, it would put me back in my budget.

I have a habit of buying things that i either dont like or never make use of. The Wowee Rovio, though mine had problems.

4

Hi Fallentine,

What! You can’t program in basic! Why anyone should be able to… bla bla bla… Just kidding! :smiley:

Perhaps you should consider getting a couple continuous rotation servos and matching wheels and home brew a simple chassis. The two servos would be the same as two single channel motor controllers with motors and gear reductions all built in. Probably be able to get it together complete for less than a sabertooth. They plug right into the SSC-32. You could also get four of them and do a 4WD.

There are threads here of people making simple control panels for the SSC-32 under visual basic and various other programming languages, but I’m not going to be much help in that area. Check the SSC-32 threads…

If it’s ok with you, I’m not gonna repeat myself to answer your email. :wink: Hope this helps!

5

Hello Fallentine,

For me personally basic will take you a long way considering the type of bots we build here are limited as to what they can do. Zenta’s Ant hexapod is a good example of the power of basic.

On the other hand, learning C is beneficial considering you can use it for other things aside from robotics. For me, I’m sticking with the Basics :laughing:

6

Sadly my budget has left me with 1 option.
A cheap 8 servo pololu controller.
A RS-232 to TTL converter
and a TTL-serial dual motor controller.

I think that’s the lowest budget i can go.
I really like the tracked platform and pan/tilt servo kit, so i’m definitely keeping those.

With the motors on their own serial controller, i no longer need alot of servos. and i think i can get by with 8, 2 for pan/tilt, and 6 for robot arm.

And if pololu gets back to me, theres a chance their servo controller which supports both RS-232 and TTL, will work without a converter, IE it would automaticly convert the RS-232 to TTL so i can daisy chain the motor controller, if that works that’s $10 i can save.

The bright side is, i wont have to wait to fit a blue-tooth to serial adapter into my budget. :slight_smile: i just wish i could find a blue-tooth to serial module that has selectable RS-232 and TTL outputs.

7

You’re losing a lot of functionality on the other servo controller. I understand the budget issue, but the SSC-32 has some really powerful features that may save your bacon when it comes time to make things move. I’m just saying… :wink:

8

I understand and agree completely.
It’s not the servo controller that did it, it’s the motor controller.
I just can’t shell out $60 for a motor controller.

But if the SSC-32 works as a RS-232->TTK pass-through like the cheapo 8 servo serial controller does, then i’d get that.
But as it stands, i can get the 8 servo serial controller and the micro dual serial motor controller for the same price as just the sabertooth 2x5 motor controller.

Saving me over $40. And with my low budget,

My robot build is simply a tracked platform, with a pan/tilt 2.4ghz wireless camera, and a robotic arm. I may even throw on an RC switch or two for lights.
The 8 servo controller will cover that task.
2 servos for pan/tilt.
4 for arm (i already have some micro servo’s, it wont be a strong arm but it’ll stick pick up marbles.)
1 servo for lights.
1 free

and the tracks motors have their own controller.

Furthermore i can daisy chain extra cheapo 8servo controllers in there if i need more, all over a single serial cable.

Lynxmotion really needs to sell some cheaper rc motor controllers. I’m talking $20-25 for dual motors, and $15 for single motor controllers.

My school supplied me with roborealm and microsoft robotics studio, and a few others.
I wan’t to use the SSC-32, it’s freakin awesome, and within my budget. But the motor controller is not, and i have my heart set on this paticular tracked platform kit.

So if you know how i can daisy chain the TTL-Serial motor controller up to the SSC-32 and have the SSC connected to RS-232, please let me know, i wont be buying anything for another week or so.

9

Here is an inexpensive motor controller. $17.95 each. It’s good for a couple amps. It should cover the motors on your chassis.

But you would need two of them for the drive motors.

SSC-32 $39.95
SHB-01 $17.95
SHB-01 $17.95
----------
Total $75.85

All is controlled through SSC-32 including the two drive motors. No pressure, just an idea. :smiley:

10

I’ll go for that, but i have a question which one of the top dogs here i’m sure can answer.

What’s your shipping rate?
The shipping is what threw my first build out of budget.

To wisconsin, in the USA.

For the SSC-32 and two of those motor controllers.

I gotta make sure it’s all in my budget, and the site doesn’t list shipping straight out.

11

The website will provide shipping amounts before the order is finalized.

The shipping is what it is. It’s UPS and they are not the cheapest. I’m trying to help, but unfortunately I have no control of the shipping costs.

12

If you are on a budget, then forget the $$$ tracs and go with a 4 wheel drive skid steer setup. Below is the basics you would need for $130. Convert four of the servos for continous rotation to drive the wheels. Use a $1 plastic container for the body, peanut jar lids for the wheels. Make pan/tilt from two servos and hot glue/scrap.

6 HS-422 servos $78
ssc-32 $40
two rs232 plugs and a thin 20’ two conductor wire $12 at Radio Shack

13

Thanks, but i wan’t it to look somewhat professional, even if it isnt.

Otherwise i’d have made one a long time ago using parts from a broken rc helicopter. (Stupid gravity)

14

Those single drive motor controllers.

If i’m using it with RC, I remove the 3 attached wires and solder on a Servo connector right? (I know the whole -+S thing)
Or do i still have to attach the other parts, which looks like a variable reister?

The 8 servo board though cheap, just wouldn’t work. It only has outputs, so i can’t attach sensors or anything to it.

I STILL can’t post links. ARG. Was going to post the wire diagram.
I decided, if i skip the pan/tilt setup, i can get the SSC-32 and the 2 motor controllers, and maybe still get a bluesmirf.

15

actually the servo driver boards can be used as either a conventional servo if you have a position feedback device like a pot, or as a continuous rotation controller if you replace the pot with a pair of resistors to mimic the pot in a fixed position. then you just send it normal servo signals… roughly 1.5ms will be off and more or less than that will cause the motor to turn ccw / cw.

16

Here is how you wire the servo boards. If you use a small trimmer pot you can adjust the stop value to exactly 1.5mS. If you use a couple 2.7k resistors instead you can use the SSC-32’s register offset to make 1.5mS stop the motor.

17

I liked the idea about the continuous servo thing.
If i could find continuous servos that have roughly the same voltages and mA as my drive motors, couldn’t i just buy 2 cheap continuous servos and then gut them, transfering the circuit board to my drive motors?

Even a weaker servo should work right? If i make my own power booster.
A continuous servo cost half that of an rc motor controller. (when i take into account shipping.)

18

The above part is the guts from a HS-5745MG servo. It’s digital, has FET output and can easily handle a couple amps. The board inside a cheap servo is analog, has bipolar transistors and will not likely handle your gearhead motors current requirement. They are cheap DC PM motors. Not terribly efficient and can draw a significant amount of inrush current. BTW, for your purpose the guts from a continuous rotation servo are basically the same as a normal servo. It’s the mechanics in the servo that make it cont. rot. Hope this helps.

19

I’m still going nuts over this, i’ve completely ruled out the pololu servo controllers. I want to use sensors in the future so this wouldn’t work.

I even ruled out the SSC-32. I wanted a micro controller so i’m not limited to just a PC, So this wouldn’t work.

Currently i’m looking at the botboard 2, and the BASIC Atom Pro 28M,
If i understand correctly, hservo allows me to control the servos from an input, like an IR remote, or even commands over the COM port.

So, forgetting every other post, Can i use a TTL serial motor controller with the botboard and a basic atom pro, and then control it with hservo?
They work with the Pololu Orangutan and the Arduino (both based on the atmega 168/328 MC’s) I figured the basic atom pro would be more advance and capable of the same task.

I would assume it would be very basic. (just an example, not actual program code).

if Input1 = 1
then send com (Motor1 = 1, Motor2 = 1) pin14
if Input1 = 0
then send com (Motor1 = 0, Motor2 = 0) pin14

From the examples i know it’s alot more complicated then that, And that isn’t even in the right format for this style of programming.

I dont absolutely have to use RC servo controllers if i have other, cheaper options. I wan’t to go cheap, but not so cheap it’s either useless or boring.
Edit: THIS!
lynxmotion.net/phpbb/viewtop … controller
When reading that thread, i don’t know what the old or new IDE’s are.

20

Ok, just a sample of what i figured borrowing some of that guys code in the previous thread. I learn by example, and trial/error.
For this serial dual motor controller.
robotshop.us/pololu-micro-du … tor-2.html

'I dont know how the 3 user buttons are intperprited
'I also need an example how to set INs and OUTs if needed Im guessing here
Adin1 = P4
Adin2 = P5
Adout1 = P14
Adout2 = P15

P4 VAR Byte        'Forward
P5 VAR Byte        'Backwards

PAUSE 200 

HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 2,2]            'sets controller in two motor mode 

LOW 15                                 'motor controller reset on pin 15
PAUSE 100 
HIGH 15 
PAUSE 120                              'motor controller startup time

if P4 HIGH
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 5, 127]
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 7, 127]
endif

if P5 HIGH
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 4, 127]
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 6, 127]
endif

if P4 LOW & P5 LOW
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 5, 0]
HSEROUT 15, I8N1_9600, $80, 0, 7, 0]
endif

end

If i’m correct, and i’m probably not, That would control the 2 motors, forward and back, using the 2 buttons on the BotBoard.
If i’m wrong, Please PLEASE correct me. Because if this is possible, i’m getting a botboard for sure.

I’m still trying to figure out how to program inputs.
It feels alot like writing expression gates in garrysmod-wiremod.

Infact, if i write a program for windows, that outputs a hex byte over serial when a certain key is press-
I could probably get the atom to recognise it using SERIN.