RPLidar A1 data acquisition stop after 3 months of use

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

My Issue is similar to the one reported here:
rplidar-stopped-working-t15272

I have purchased 5 RPLidar A1 units from Robotshop and have deployed them on 5 different robots. The units have remained on for 24/7, over the last 3 Months.
I now have 3 units that no longer produce any scan data.
Two units are still OK and operate fine.

lets cover the basics, since again, i have been using these units for a long time, i have multiple of them, so its unlikely its a basic problem. It appears their mean time to failure, for either due to FW bugs, or due to electronic components, is about 3 months.

The units that no longer produce depth readings:

  1. the have power and do enumerate properly in linux serial device list

pi@TNWY-B1-20180421-ORANGE-0001:~ $ ls /dev/serial/by-id
usb-Silicon_Labs_CP2102_USB_to_UART_Bridge_Controller_0001-if00-port0

  1. the motor is spining and the laser sensor is also spinning

  2. nothing is obstructing the sensor

  3. the serial commands to start scan, reset, etc are all accepted by the device

  4. no data is produced. This is the problem. No scan data, no matter how many times i power cycle the device, switch computers its attached to, switch USB ports, etc

Instructions in english for FW update do not seem to be available but i doubt this is a FW issue.

Can i return these units, similar to what the customer in the post above did?

thanks
g

2

Hi,

As mentioned in the thread you referenced to, it would be best to contact the manufacturer directly for support concerning your 3 units that no longer produce data. You can do so here.

If you have any issues contacting them, you can also contact our support center here. If you do, make sure to include your order or invoice number in your message and a link to this topic for reference/context.

Sincerely,

3

I contacted SlamTec support and they suggested I return units to Robotshop and that you will help me get replacement units, while you forward the faulty units to them? Please let me know how i can return these units to you. See thread:
[blockquote][blockquote]-----Original message-----
From: Slamtec Support
Sent: Wednesday, June 20 2018, 7:49 pm
To: Georgios Chrysanthakopoulos
Subject: 答复: 答复: 3 out of 5 units RPLidar A1 units no longer produce scan data

Hi,

Ok, thanks for the updated information.

Sorry for this issue , please help us send these 3 LiDARs to Robotshop and they would help change new unints.

Then Robotshop would send back to us for further analysis.

Thank you.

Best regards

Steven

From: Georgios Chrysanthakopoulos [mailto:[email protected]]
To: Slamtec Support [email protected]
RE: 答复 : 3 out of 5 units RPLidar A1 units no longer produce scan data

[font=Arial,sans-serif]I powered one of the failing units using a full PC usb hub, and I had the same issues. It enumerated in the serial device list, but it produced no scan data.[/font]
[font=Arial,sans-serif][/font]
[font=Arial,sans-serif]Also, one of the units stopped enumerating on the USB bus as well: it does not show up at all.[/font]
[font=Arial,sans-serif][/font]
[font=Arial,sans-serif]thanks[/font]
[font=Arial,sans-serif]g[/font]

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

4

Hi,

Please open a support ticket here. In your message, make sure to include your order or invoice number(s), a short explanation of the request and a link to this forum topic for reference.

Sincerely,