Project Phoenix, a hexapod robot

Just a guess, and hopefully zenta will tell us for real, but it looks like there are a bunch of spin control and list box objects that are linked to spreadsheet cells and then there are graphs displaying the results of calculations done with those cell values.

Yes I’m willing to releasing it, when I’m finished with it… :wink: I also have to make some documentation, a howto.doc / readme.txt.
There are some functions I must implement first. And some translations from Norwegian to English… Maybe Lynxmotion are willing to share it on their website?
Actual some of the IK/FK are based directly upon the inversk kinematic excel program fra Mike Keesling (hopefully he didn’t mind :question: )
see lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj057.htm

The excel program have several sheets. And one of them is called “individual sequences”. This sheet store all the angle position data for all servos.
If you look at some of my earlier posts you see a capture of that sheet. I copy all information from this sheet directly into a .csv file.
.csv files are exported and imported from the Lynxmotion Sequencer program. The .csv file is semicolon delimited.

Using ActiveX controllers. Actual it’s quite easy using them.
Just try them, combination of excel and ActiveX give you a powerful tool. 8)
Yes there are a lot of spin buttons ++. And some lines of visual basics code too… :wink:

Of course! Are you kidding? This is totally off the charts with coolness!.. um, I mean, sure, we will post it. :wink:

I’m quite sure he doesn’t mind. That’s why we posted the info. :smiley:

Hi Zenta,

Great! It will be eagerly awaited! Do you have a website? That’s a good way to “publish” a program and project information. I’ll bet Jim will be happy to either post it on the Lynxmotion website, or provide a link to yours.

Thanks for the URL! I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you referencing his site. I hadn’t seen that project. It would seem to be for an arm, but the calcs and “spreadsheet technology” is there.

CSV. Great, that gives me some place to start. I was tempted to a special PLC (Point Line Circle)file for import into my CAD program, but I still wouldn’t get animation, just static views. I have the Lynxmotion Sequencer program, it’ll be good to put it to use!

Alan KM6VV

Hi Alan!

I don’t have a website yet… Have been thinking about it, but with a wife, two kids, work, old house and a hexapod robot I just don’t have the sparetime :cry:

I guess you will have to alter some formulas or reversing some servos to make it work with a Lynxmotion hexapod robot.
The great part using excel is that it is easy to alter the size and shape of the hexapod body, because it’s all based upon coordinates.
Just plot in the coordinate values for each center of coxa and you got it.
It’s also easy to alter the length of tibia, femur and femur-coxa.

Watching this forum I’m also guessing there is a lot of “smarter heads” :wink: who can make this excel program even better…

Just give me some time. I have some work left for making more routines for generating sequences, the most powerful part of the program (if you ask me).

This evening I have been playing with the GP Sequencer. It works great!

But, I wish it was possible to play just some steps in a sequence, in a loop.
Ex: You have a sequence of 200 steps and you want to play step number 10. - 20. in a loop, as I see it this is impossible. Correct? :confused:
It is only possible to play step 10. - 200. or 20. - 200. in a loop.

Maybe this will be possible in a later version?

Good idea, perhaps the next version can have this option.

The GP sequencer is using the Bot board eprom right? I skimmed over this section of the manual.

Yes, you have to add a 24LC512 or 24LC256 EEPROM and update the firmware.

I had some problem using BlueSMIRF interface while writting the EEPROM. It seemed to be a timeout issue. Using a RS232 serial cable and the default timeout values solved the problem.

So in a sence you can have a sequencer built into the bot board and remove the SSC-32?

No Mike the GP firmware is for the SSC-32, and it uses the SSC-32’s EEProm.

Oh Geez, now I’m seeing things that are not on the bot board.

My bad… :laughing:

I don’t understand why you think something needs to be altered. The A, B, and CH3-R robots have the legs configured the same as yours.

Looks good! Keep up the good work. :smiley:

It’s not on Mikes site, it’s on ours. We actually have 3 of them on the subject.

lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj058.htm
lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj057.htm
lynxmotion.com/images/html/proj073.htm

Ahh! :blush: You have correct! What was I thinking about… It’s a bit late… And I’m a bit tired…

Is it 24LC256? I bought some, put one in, but the SSC-32 Sequencer program didn’t recognize it. I don’t remember any jumpers to configure.

I thought I then read that it needed a -512 part. Although I don’t see why the code couldn’t adjust to the size used.

I’ll have to revisit that after I get my board back (friend is setting up his home-made 'bot with it).

Alan KM6VV

Hi Mike,

It’s the SSC-32 board that takes the EEPROM. At least, that’s where I plugged in my 24LC256. I don’t remember an EEPROM on an Atom 'Bot Board (maybe that’s why the sequencer didn’t recognize my EEPROM). ;>)

Alan KM6VV

Did you updated the firmware then?
You need this file: lynxmotion.com/images/files/firmware/1-1gbeta.abl
No jumpers needed. It should work with 24LC256 also.

Ah!

That would do it! As it was a brand-new board, I didn’t think to try an update. Thanks, I’ll do that when I get it back from my friend (he’s got a home-made hexapod 'Bot that he’s just getting to stand up!

Thanks!

Alan KM6VV

Hi Alan, the SSC-32 ships with the 1.06XE firmware. This firmware is the default. It has a 12 servo hexapod sequencer engine built in. What Zenta is telling you to do is change the default firmware to the GP firmware which has 2 general purpose sequencer engines and all of the EEProm supprt for storing sequences from the Sequencer program. Note, you can do it with commands but the format is a little complex. Using the Sequencer program it handles all of the details of where to put the sequences. So these general purpose sequencer engines can play stored sequences in whatever speed and direction you tell them to. This is a very powerful firmware for the SSC-32 board. But even this firmware pales in comparison to the rapidly evolving new firmwares being developed for the new SSC-32 with the Atmegs 168 chip installed. To many new features to discuss right now, but we will post the list soon. We will also have a chip set upgrade for current SSC-32 owners for a reasonable price. This is only a few weeks away. Hold tight you WILL be impressed.