Hi,
I recently purchased an Ironboy from your online store and had a question about how to connect the Arduino API examples on the PC to the Ironboy itself. I plugged in the usb cable to the Irduino in the ironboy, but I keep getting this error message:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Ironboy\utility\comm_packet_protocol.cpp: In function ‘result_status IronBoyController_packet_send(protocol_header_t*)’:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Ironboy\utility\comm_packet_protocol.cpp:148:3: error: ‘Serial1’ was not declared in this scope
Serial1.write(0xff);
My goal is to control the motion of the Ironboy from the Arduino directly. Do I need an Irduino shield for that or can I upload the Arduino API example straight to the Ironboy? Thanks!
I tried to contact the company that makes the product (IRRobot) but they just ignored my email. I went through all of their documentation but I it isn’t clear to me. Is this something you are able to help with?
Cheers,
Mitchel Bailey
Did you install the Arduino IDE or does the bot come with it’s own installation software?
Yes I did install the Arduino IDE, that is what I am running to try to upload my code to the Ironboy. I have used it to upload code to a separate Arduino via USB without any issues in the past. The Ironboy
does have it’s own installation software to control it, which I installed but it doesn’t appear to effect the Irduino unit. I want to connect and control the robot with the Arduino only, which from the product descriptions it looks possible.
The videos the company posted shows connection with an Irduino shield, such as an LED shield. They connect to the Irduino port on the ironboy and successfully change the LED on the shield itself, but never the actual ironboy LED/movement itself. I feel like I am missing something basic here, I am a programmer but I don’t have much experience with electronics.
Cheers and thanks again for your help,
Mitchel
@mitchelbailey maybe I’m missing something, but it appears like everything that is needed to get the bot going comes with the kit.
http://www.irrobot.com/en/product-02/
Do not buy optional components. The IRH-100 includes most of necessary robotic components in the box like 6 axis gyro/accelerometer sensor and Bluetooth 4.0 module. In addition, the biggest merit point of IRH-100 is that it also includes IRduino board which is perfectly compatible with most of existing Arduino shields. Simply dock IRduino board onto the main control board of IRH-100 to extend the capability. Last, but not least, IRH-100’s main board supports to expand upto 24DOF maximum and faster data processing is available through 16bit microcontroller. 1MB data memory capacity enables user to be free from the restriction of storage unit. (100 different pre-programmed motions, plus 100 more motions created by user can be stored in IRH-100.)
The IRduino is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega32u4 and it simply can be docked onto IRH-100’s main board. It has 20 digital input/output pins (7 can be used as PWM outputs and 12 as analog inputs), a micro USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. To manage port expandability efficiently, user may select between Hardware serial and Software serial communication. Also, you are able to use IRduino board as an individual microcontroller board which is completely compatible with Arduino for your further robotic task. API, examples and Library will be provided with API manual.
You only need to add a shield if you want to expand on what IronBoy already provides you.
Have you tried their sample code?
https://www.robotshop.com/media/files/zip2/motion_library_ver.1.0.0.zip
Thanks bmoscato, Ill keep trying. It looks like I misunderstoond how the Arduino component of the robot was supposed to work. Ill get a shield and try to control the robot that way.
@mitchelbailey you should be able to get the core functionality should work without a shield (at least from what I read).
I would look through any of the software for the robot. There should be something to sync the servos for motion.
