I’m having an unusual startup problem with my hexapod.
CHR-3/Atom28/Bot Board II/SSC32/PS-2
I built it according to the online instructions and it worked fine for several weeks. It came together great and is a very impressive robot. It’s the best kit I’ve ever worked with ever.
But now I have a problem. When I turn it on he beeps, tries to orient himself and stand, then a few seconds later he just goes limp. Then he tries to startup again, beeps, and goes limp. The entire looping process takes about 4-5 seconds.
Here’s what I know:
It isn’t PS2 controller-related. I swapped it for a hard-wired PS2 controller and the same thing happens.
The bot board II / atom 28 gives the green light and will accept the default spider program. During programming, the spider temporarily stops the failing startup sequence. Once complete, it starts the failing sequence again.
It’s almost like he tries to start-up and powering his legs drains his power and/or shorts him out. I know that sounds crazy, but he seems to be in a perpetual failed startup loop.
If I replace the entire program with a program that simply makes a sound, it works (it only makes a sound). So the bot board II / Atom 28 is working.
It’s the initialization that is not working. It’s like the SSC32 can’t execute the commands it’s been given. And the legs are definitely moving in a coordinated away too. They just cycle between trying to orient, then going limp, then trying to orient again.
As KMC123 mentioned, it sounds very much like a power issue. Make sure your battery is charged. Also how is the power setup. Do you have a seperate battery connected to the VS and VL, like the 9V battery that he mentioned. If so try putting in a fresh one.
What is most likely happening is the program starts up, the servos suck up some power, which causes the voltage to drop, beyond the point where the 5V regulator functions and the board browns out and restarts…
