My students are building a robot arm for our class assignment. We’re using a ALD5 and a basic mirco pro chip with it, so we can use a playstation controller to use it. When we search for the for the preferences in the IDE, it finds it on com 8, but when we hit program, it states “A Basic Atom Pro must be connected for automatic detection.” What does this mean and what do we do?
Is the BB2 connected to the serial port or USB to serial cable, and is the LED lit?
Does the BB2’s speaker emit a clicking sound when you apply power?
Hi, Im one of the students building this arm. The BB2 is conncted to a Laptop by a USB converter and then that is plugged into the cable provided. The BB2’s green light is on, and it beeps three tones every couple seconds steadily when powered on with a 9vdc.
If it’s beeping tones then it sounds like it has been programmed at least once before. The first suspect when unable to program is the USB to serial cable. Here is a thread for that. viewtopic.php?t=4702
So what would it sound like if we properly downloaded the right program for the chip? And we are also currently using a Keyspan USA-19HS…should we look into a better one?
Did you look at the link I provided? There is a lot of useful information there.
When the Atom is shipped it has a program that toggles the I/O pins on and off. If the speaker is enabled the result is a clicking sound. You have not told me which program you are using, so I am not sure what tones would be generated by the speaker. I was merely making an observation.
In order to troubleshoot effectively we must follow a format where you provide information, we analyze the info and make suggestions. then you provide feedback on the suggestions we recommend. I directed you to a forum thread that may very well have the solution to your problem, but I have no idea if you have even looked at it.
I do apologize, I’m very new to this use of the computer and circut boards. i did read your link, but i couldnt find anything that seemed helpful yet. I feel we havent expressed our ultimate goal to you, which is to be able to control our ALD5 arm with a PS2 controller. When we first powered the board, the Atom clicked as you said it would. We went to the Basic Atom Pro programming tutorial once the Bot Board 2 was ready and plugged into a 9vdc. The tutorial said to download the lastest IDE, so we did, and we downloaded the Sample program for it, but after that, the IDE found and connected to the Atom Pro on Com8. We followed the directions and clicked the PROGRAM button, but we always get the message that is stated above; “A Basic Atom Pro must be connected for automatic detection.” Now, as i said, the clicking has turned into beeps, and im not sure if we programed the sample program correctly. Is this a better description of our situation?
Oh, I also failed to mention that if we click the CONNECT button on the output now, numbers start appearing, and they seem to be counting the number of beeps, like when it first connects, 1 2 3 4 5…etc. will pop up as the BB2 beeps and continue for as long as we are connected.
Ok now we are communicating. Show me the program or the tutorial it’s in so I know what program you are putting on the Atom. It sounds like it currently has a PS2 test program.
What brand and model is the USB to serial cable?
Is this a desktop or a laptop PC?
Does the IDE recognize more than one serial port?
The serial port can only be used by one program at a time. Are there any other programs running that use the serial port?
Ok so the program is a sample program given to us here in step 2: lynxmotion.com/images/html/build147.htm
The Program on the IDE, called aprotut1:
;The compiler will ignore any commands
;or text after a ; or ’
x var word
start
;this will sound 3 ascending beeps
sound 9,[150\2500, 150\3000, 150\3500]
;pause for one second
pause 1000
;add one to the count
x = x + 1
;sends the x back to the computer
serout s_out,i9600,[DEC x, 13]
;repeat
goto start
We are using a KEYSPAN model USA-19HS usb to serial cable, and its being done on a laptop PC. Could you explain to me what a serial port is? Im not quite sure how id know if the IDE is recognizing more than one or if its being used by more than one program.
Also, i think I’m mistaken, the Atom was programed through using Basic Micro Studios instead of the lastest IDE. Is there a big difference between using the two at all?
The USB port is a universal serial bus. It is converted into a Com port by the cable (hardware) and it’s driver (software). When the IDE connects to the Atom chip, it does so using the Com port. Ala com8. You can choose another com port via the pull down. If only com8 exists, then that’s the only com port you have.
Ok so now the situation is, you used to be able to program the Atom, but now you cant. And from your wording the com port changed from something else to com8. Have you tried to look at the serial port driver for anything that can be changed? Have you tried uninstalling the driver and let it reinstall? Sometimes which USB port the cable is plugged into makes a difference. You should show us some images of your wiring. If you are using a 9vdc battery replace it. You would be surprised how many people fix their programming issues when they replace an almost dead battery.
I currently do not have the arm and laptop in my possession now, but when i do, ill let you know if any of that works. I just have another question. What’s the difference between this program for the PS2 controller: lynxmotion.com/images/html/build091.htm ?
Also, what is the serial driver and how do i uninstall it?
So, I just programed the Atom Pro with this ps2 program:
lynxmotion.com/images/html/build091.htm
its in step 3, table 3-1 and its labeled arm1 pro.bas
Now, we still have no response from the arm with a controller, and the BB2 beeps very loudly. Is there anything i should do to the bot board? I noticed a lot of the jumpers had been removed from it on the schematic in that link, so i removed them. Should the Basic Micro Sudios Terminal 1 be showing something when i connect to it? Please help, the beeping is driving me nuts!!!
The first program is a test program for the PS2. It doesn’t make a robot move, it just sends the values from the PS2 to the terminal window so you can verify it’s working. The second program actually controls the arm.
The serial driver is what is installed when you insert the USB to serial cable into the USB port. This is normal PC stuff… You open Control Panel, click Device Manager, click Ports (COM & LPT) then right click on the displayed port. On my machine it says, USB Com Port (COM3). Right clicking will bring up a menu that has uninstall listed. After it is uninstalled you can plug the device back in to get a new fresh driver install.
The speaker can be muffled with as piece of tape, or disabled by pulling the speaker enable shunt. The code beeps until the PS2 controller connects to the receiver. When in this state you may notice one of the LEDs on the receiver blinking. It should be on steady when it is connected. You need to get the beeping to stop by way of making sure the PS2 controller cable is installed properly and the PS2 transmitter is turned on.
It might be time to see some images of your wiring to help you further.
By reciever, are you refering to the LEDs on the BB2 or the SSC-32? Both the SSC32 and the A-B-C button LEDs blink, but the SSC-32 does it when it gets a command from the controller and and BB2 LEDs are all lit up at different intesities; A being the weakest, B being the most lit, and C kind of just blinking rapidly, similar to the SSC32 board LED. Currently, i am struggling with connecting the PS2 controller to the logic board. In the few times I did, I was able to do it with a Sony wired PS2 remote, and not a Mad Katz or Logitec wireless remote so far. I waited about 5 seconds after turning on the controller and arm, and then the Red, A LED on the BB2 lit up and i had control of the arm. The big problem with that is it pretty much has a mind of its own sometimes, and either moves a lot without me touching the remote, or moves in strange ways, such as the Shoulder servo would extend the arm all the way so the arm is practically 180 degrees. i have to shut off the arms servos to re-adjust them so they dont break themselves or anthing else around. They are very powerful, which is a good thing. Any suggestions? Also, Im going to post photos of both Boards below.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g355/DrumBum535/photo2edit.jpg
Currently, i have the PS2 connector on 12-15 in the lower corner of the BB2, with the jumper on the 5vdc spot. For the voltage spots labeled 1-4 in yellow, are there suppose to be jumpers on the ones not being used at all? and Number 5 is to show where i was reffering to with A-B-C buttons and LEDs. I also have replaced the jumpers back onto the pins below the ABC buttons, since i moved the Remote connector to pins 12-15.
http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g355/DrumBum535/photo.jpg
heres a better one of the SSC-32, i believe everythings in order on there.
There is no way the LEDs are blinking with the boards configured as in the images. 
Remove the LED/button enable shunts. I expect the PS2 cable is connected to pins 12,13,14,15 which is fine.
The receiver is the part that plugs into the PSW2 cable. It has two LEDs on it.
So you don’t have a Lynxmotion PS2 controller? These little details are important… The Logitec one will never work trust me. The MadKats should work, but there is no way to know for sure from year to year as they changed the product. The Sony should work, but they are notorious for not returning to center reliable making the arm want to move constantly. We do support our controller and ensure the supplied code will work with it.
Sounds like the Sony controller issue I was describing. Creeping motion that can’t be stopped. Sounds like you are close. Suggestion, write a quick program to send all servos to 1500uS (centered) and make sure the arm is assembled correctly. The find a better controller. Get it to stand still when your not moving the controls, then video the movements so we can provide further advice.
The receiver one for the wireless controller we have doesnt have LEDs on them, but i noticed your controller does. And im not quite sure what shunts are, but if theyre another work for jumper, as in the 3 jumpers that activate the LEDs on the BB2, then were on the same page.
Also, good to know the logitec wont work, and we may look into getting one of yours then. Heres a description of the madcatz one, its bulky, black and blue, Lynx wireless on the right grip.
Here:
media.gear.ign.com/media/489/489 … 81043.html
It is relatively old, but i think it was kept in good shape.
And finally, do you have any way to give me an example, or a link on how to write a program? Because i have no idea. 
Lets see a video to get a better idea of what is going on. As I stated before attaching the servos to 12 vdc should have rendered them paperweights in a matter of seconds. Even if they appear to be working, I believe them to be damaged.