Hello there, I am new to robotics. I know how to program basic stuff in the arduino board and I bought the AH2 (12 Servo Walker), BotBoardduino and SSC-32 board.
I am also interested to purchase the FlowBotics studio. As I understand this software will help me control my AH2 easily…but I have some questions that I need to clarify (I’m sorry if these may sound silly ).
Can it upload the codes/movements to arduino or can I see the commands so that I can code it manually to the arduino?
Can it produce a ruby stand alone program that I can run in other OS(android)?
I’m planning to control the AH2 to an android device via bluetooth. I hope you can help/guide me how to achieve my objective?
Thanks for contacting us: your questions are definitively not silly!
Currently, FlowBotics Studio sends movement commands live to the SSC-32 and doesn’t support uploading. You can capture the commands that are sent by adding a Queue component at the right place (explained below).
Currently, FlowBotics programs only run within the Studio and only on Windows computers. We are looking to add other platforms in the future.
For now, you would have to make a new Android application from scratch that replays the sequences that you would like. We don’t currently have any resources to help with this.
[size=150]To capture SSC-32 commands:[/size]
Open the MH2 Hexapod project in Edit mode.
Navigate into the LM SC-32 + Comport module: from the first level, double-click on the main Hexpod module, double-click on the main module there, find the LM SC-32 + Comport module in the bottom right corner of the schematic and double-click it.
Inside this module, find around the middle of the schematic the LM SC-32 Engine module with its two outputs: Clear Stack and Data String.
From the Library on the left side, find the String Queue component and add it to the schematic below and to the right of the LM SC-32 Engine.
Create links from the Data String output of the engine to the String Queue’s In input, and another from the same output to the queue’s Push input. This will allow you to start capturing the data strings.
Since you probably want to display the data, from the Library find the Text component and add it to the right of the queue.
Create a link from the queue’s All output to the Text’s single input. Now you will see the captured commands.
Since you’ll probably want to clear the capture once in a while, from the Library find the Trigger Button component and add it to the left of the queue.
Create a link from the button’s output to the queue’s Clear input. Now when you press on the red button, the queue and capture will be purged.
I hope this helps and let me know if you have other questions.
Hi, Thank you so much for replying…I feel comfortable already . I think if I will able to do #1(capture the commands and write it to arduino) will be enough for me. I will purchase Flowbotics software asap and give it a try…and post my questions/results here.
Hello, I got my FS. I know I got a long way to learn how to make my objective. I list some simple task for me as a guide…btw I got the AH2 assembled already.
Todo:
Connect 12 servos of AH2 to SSC-32
Power up
Run example/demo in FS
My question…is there a guide/link how to connect the servos from AH2 to the SSC-32 board in order?
Hello, I have not yet connect the servos from AH2, instead I insert 2 HS-422 on 00 and 01 on the SSC-32 for testing purpose. I’m using USB-TTL adapter…
USB-TTL SSC32
Tx -> Rx
Rx -> Tx
Gnd -> Gnd
Using serial communicator /Hyperterminal software I was able to send command with the 2 servos on 00 and 01 of the SSC32 board like #0 P1500 #1 P1500 .
Can you guide me how to use FS to control(communicate) these 2servos? I’m using the AL5 Arm example and there is a PORT button but do not know how to access the PORT setting.
The project is FlowBotics Studio automatically scans all your computer’s COM ports to find the one that has the SSC-32. For this to work, you must have your SSC-32 configured to use the 115,200 kbps baud rate. Once you have this set, FBS should be connected to your SSC-32 within 10-15 seconds of click the PORT button again.
Hello, I’m sorry if I’m really a noob. I’m using USB -232 converter…I believe it’s connected to Port 17(based from device manager). I connect the SSC-32 and set the baud rate based on your suggestion(115200). I power up the ssc-32 board and open an example in FBS (AL5) click on the PORT button wait for some time…but nothing pops up or if I click/drag the graphical arm…I was expecting the servos I connected on 0 and 1 of the SSC-32 will move/turn. What do you think I’m doing wrong, I want to know how can I determine that my SSC-32 is connected to FBS.?
I attached some pics that might help me explain how I setup my device.
Yes! I got it to work… (communication between FSB and 2 servos). Just use other usb ports and then workds fine…
My next step is to incorporate all servos of the AH2 and control them with FSB…and have the patterns/commands recorded. I think I’m gonna busy and play with this untill late tonight
I will post any question later…
Fantastic, glad to hear that you got it working! Another thing to watch is to ensure that the Bluetooth button next to the PORT button is not selected, because it will change the baud rate to 9600 kbps.
Hi, I’m back… Sorry I’ve been away from home. And I’m trying to follow your step by step procedure to capture ssc-32 command. But I’m stock on #4
4. From the Library on the left side, find the String Queue component and add it to the schematic below and to the right of the LM SC-32 Engine.
I can not seem to locate String Queue component…based from the flowbotic component reference String Queue should be between Len and String Replace component… can you assist me on this?
Until further notice, all FlowBotics Studio updates are available for free and the built-in update checker will let you know when new versions are available.
Hello, I’m still trying to improve my hexapod’s performance. The hexapod walks fine on tiled floor or flat surface but not very well on uneven surface like in the park area. The reason I think is that the legs pulls up only a little(vertically). Can you give advice to where(hardware/software) I can adjust to resolve it? I would like it to be the same on this video clip found here of the AH2(lynxmotion.com/p-779-ah2-com … bap28.aspx).
If you want to adjust the way the legs move, you can adjust the sequence patterns in FlowBotics Studio. To do this, follow these steps:
] Open your MH2 project and load your patterns./:m] ] From the Pattern List drop down (in the top-left corner of the pattern sequencer area), choose the WalkForward pattern./:m] ] Select the first frame you would like to change. In this case, it would be the second blue block./:m] ] The onscreen robot will move to the corresponding positions./:m] ] If you would like to increase the height to which the legs move, make adjustments on the onscreen robot. You can do this by simply clicking and dragging each leg, or can also use the text boxes to type a specific value, such as 12 instead of 0./:m] ] Once you made the changes for all three legs, click the Record button (in the top-right of the pattern sequencer area) which is a square button with a red dot in the middle. This will make the currently selected frame record the onscreen positions./:m] ] Repeat previous two steps for the other frames that need to be changed. In this case, it is frames 3, 5 and 6./:m] ] Once you have all your frames changed, test your new pattern sequence./:m]
The previous steps are what is necessary to modify the gait for when the hexapod is walking forward. If you would like to make similar changes to the way it turns or walks backwards, the process will need to be repeated for the appropriate patterns.
However, like Coleman was saying, if you want to have an efficient gait on non-flat terrain, one that adapts how far the legs travel based on the roughness of the terrain, you will need to add foot pressure sensors and modify the code.
@ Coleman Thank you for the tip. @jarcand Thanks again for the needed advice, I really appreciate it. Helps me keep going . I will follow your advice and post later my results.
).
(communication between FSB and 2 servos). Just use other usb ports and then workds fine…
