Pheonix 3DOF Hexapod assistance needed

[devaux]

Hi, I am new to this, I recently got the Hexapod kit, and putting the together the mechanical aspect of it was fairly straight forward. Now I am questioning the connections between the BotBoarduino & the ssc 32, and the ps2.
After completing the tutorials , loading the program and powering it up, nothing is really happening. What I can see is the green light on the ssc32 board is on, the power light to the ps2 is on, the power light and the tx light are on, on the botboarduino.

I have so many questions regarding the connections 1st, then if I set up the program correctly in the arduino program.
I figured I should do this in steps, 1st the board connections, can you review them and advise.
1 thing I noticed in the schematics from the tutorials, was that the connections changed from one page to another, (very confusing) One had the power connections on the ssc32 to vs1 that was on the 1st tutorial assembling the robot, then it refers you to the next tutorial, which has the power connections different, now connecting the servo to vs2 .
So this is the beginning, please help.

[bdaouas]

Hi,

After completing the tutorials , loading the program and powering it up, nothing is really happening.

Could you explain more what do you mean by nothing is happening ? There is no servos connected the the SSC32 board in the pictures you sent.
Could you provide a clear picture showing the RX/TX/Gnd pins 13 and 12 on the BotBoarduino ? (Please take a look at the picture attached)
What version of the PS23 controller you have ? (V3 or V2)

Thanks,

[devaux]

Thanks for responding so fast. I had all the servos connected and the robot together. I took it apart to make sure these connections were correct. I have the V3 version of the ps2 controller. when I turned on the power after uploading the program, nothing happened. the servos jumper when the power was turned on but nothing else. When I turned on the ps2 controlled, the 2 lights on the controller that say analog were blinking. the ps2 receiver power light was on, and the receiver light was also lit, but no response to any buttons or toggles . So I figured either my connections were wrong, or the sketch I put together is wrong, or both
Here is a picture of the BotBoarduino you ask for.

[devaux]

A couple things I just noticed is that in the diagram you provided, which was in the second tutorial, the Botboarduino board has the ext jumpered, vs the usb, which is the way it came.
I also noticed that there are 2 jumpers on the bottom right hand corner of the board pins 0 & 1 along the analog row that I don’t have jumpered.

[bdaouas]

Hi,

After you turned the Hexapod ON and uploaded the sketch, did you pushed the “Start” button on the PS2 V3 Controller (With the controller ON) ?
The wiring on your BotBoarduino should be good and the jumper should be on EXT.
The level shifter you’re using with the V3 receiver could be also an issue, since that this level shifter is intended to work on a PS2 V2 Controller. As for the PS2 V3 controller, you need the PS2 direct link adapter. We can send you this replacement adapter.
Could you please provide us the Order or Invoice ID for your Hexapod ?

Regards,

[devaux]

In response to your question, yes, and nothing happened. I will double check the ps2 info, I read it off the side of the box.
I need to confirm a couple things I realized, when I had my bot together, I did not have the 2 vertical jumpers at the bottom right of the botboarduino installed.
Also your diagram you provided has the JA JB & JC jumpers on, which is how I had it. But in looking at the diagram on the second tutorial, those jumpers are not installed. So which is it?
This morning when I switched the jumper to ext, and added the 2 vertical jumpers on the bottom right of the board, and removed the JA, JB & JC jumpers then turned on the power, all 4 of the vertical lights came on, the power, tx, rx, and another one I can’t remember what it is for, also the green light on the ssc board was blinking, then I turned on the ps2 controller and the analog lights on the control did not light up, but the rx light on the ps2 receiver stayed lit.
I will check on the order number when I get home.

[devaux]

The order# was 351567.

[bdaouas]

Hi,

The 2 vertical jumpers at the bottom right of the BotBoarduino allows the VL and/or VS inputs to be connected to two of the AtMega328’s analog A0 and A1 through a 4:1 voltage divider.
The JA, JB and JC jumpers are intended to use the A,B and C push-buttons and LEDs so it’s probably not the cause of the issue.
The EXT vs USB jumper will allow you to select the logic power source for the board.
You can find all these information in the BotBoarduino manual .
You might need to remove the BotBoarduino first and test the SSC32 board directly connected with your PC (with the sevos) to confirm that the SSC32 board is functioning correctly. Try to move the servos only with the SSC32 board using the SSC-32 Servo Sequencer Utility.
Don’t forget to add a jumper to the Tx and Rx pins after you remove the BotBoarduino as in the SSC32 manual.
If the SSC32 can move all the servos connected to it as it should be, we can continue troubleshoot the BotBoarduino with the PS2 receiver.

Regards,

[devaux]

I connected only the SSC 32 like you suggested, connected all the servos, utilized the Servo Sequencer utility and was able to center all the servos. Nice to see something happen

[bdaouas]

Hi,

Now we know for a fact that the SCC32 is not the issue, we can continue troubleshoot the BotBoarduino.
In the pictures you sent previously, you have already the jumper VL=VS removed on your SSC32 but double check just in case.
After connecting the BotBoarduino with the SSC32 properly following this tutorial, connect the receiver with the level shifter on your BotBoarduino (Your previous wiring connections of the receiver with the BotBoarduino seems correct).
Then, upload this sketch to your BotBoarduino.
Turn on your Hexapod and your PS2 Controller and press start. If nothing happens, please contact us via our Support Center.