This is my first robot ever, and I seem to have a problem with the L293D Motor Driver IC and the Sharp GP2Y0A02YK sensor. I bought the kit from Solarbotics. My dad and I put together the (wiring on the) project board, motors, and servo correctly. I downloaded the Programming Editor for Vista and connected it to a computer using the AXE027 USB cable. I turned the servo to center (150). Then, I soldered on the wires on the Sharp exactly like the picture provided. I connected it again, and inserted rechargeable batteries. When I typed in
main:
readadc 0, b0
debug
goto main
smoke started coming out of the robot. Then, my dad and I disconnected the sensor, and tried commanding the servo to move. It moved! There was nothing wrong with the servo. Then, we tried
low 4
high 5
and also
low 6
high 7
but the motors did not turn the wheels. So, we put our fingers on the motor driver, and found it extremely hot, while the resistor array and PICAXE-28X1 IC Microprocessor were cool. So now, we are facing a problem and do not know what to do.
This here is my one single biggest complaint with the picaxe board. This issue is responsible for frying (4) sharps of mine at the same time. Yes, the ADC inputs have the data pin IN THE MIDDLE!! It seems so silly to do this but alas, it is so. Yup, probabaly fried your sharp. I am sorry my friend.
Order another sharp --or upgrade to a SRF05 and while you are waiting, you can play with the servo and motors.
You may also want to check the soldering at the sharp itself --it is a little bridgey --double check for shorts here.
Don’t feel bad about mistakes. We all make them! Do learn from them, however.
Try searching youtube for videos on how to solder. There are some excellent ones. Five minutes of your time will teach you a lot and save you a lot of headaches.
yeah i have an even worse problem you think shorting the sharp is bad well one of fthe traces one my microcontroller got cut (don’t know how.) my sharp got chewed up by dogs (puppy) my servos transistors “exploded” (V2 batterys leads turned wrong way) and some of my batteries started spewing acid (bad).
how does that sound?! just be glad you didnt end up like me!
Okay! So I got the motor driver (and motors) to work, and the distance sensor is working well enough to test. I might get a newer sensor with a cable (still learning how to solder). But for now, here is my question.
I mounted my wheels onto my motor. When I turned them on, and set the robot on the ground (without the long program) (just the –
high 4
low 5
the robot would not go straight. It follows a slightly curved path for some reason. How do i fix it? The wheels are still like the ones in the picture.
Hi, I had the same problem with the robot turning slightly all the time. I found that the slow motor just needed a little WD40 (or similar) sprayed into the gear box and it sorted it right out.
just be glad you didnt end up like me!