This thread is for issues regarding the following product purchased from RobotShop: USB Host Shield
rev.2.0.1
11 MAY 2013
My project involves using an Arduino Mega with this USB host shield and bluetooth dongle to connect to a PS3 controller. In my experience with the product, it has successfully powered the dongle and worked fine. However, yesterday while connected to my robot, the USB Host Shield suddenly has stopped working. The USB host shield no longer supplies power to the dongle, and is rendered useless. No wires were moved, no collision to the robot, nothing out of the ordinary. It was simply connected to my stationary robot, and then it wasn’t. Almost out of the blue really.
I am wondering if this is a known issue with your product and if there is a solution?
I look forward to hearing from you!
EDIT: So the USB Host Shield works fine when I plug it into an arduino UNO, but not on the MEGA. I am confused as to why it would work on the mega all this time but quit now…
And before you guys say that the SPI pins are different on the MEGA and UNO (I am WELL aware of this), the USB Host Shield has ICSP pins connected that it should be using.
Could you provide us the product code of the USB Host Shield that you are using ?
Could you also provide us a clear picture of your setup ?
What are you using to power the Arduino Mega and the USB Host Shield ?
Are there other devices connected to the Arduino Mega on your robot apart the USB host shield (sensors, external modules…) ?
How the Arduino Mega is mounted on the robot ? Did you verify if there is a short somewhere ?
Did you verify if the Mega is not defective and works with other shields ?
I would be happy to provide you with the product code of the USB Host shield I am using. Do you know where I can find it? I don’t see it on the board anywhere.
I will attach pictures below.
I am using a 12V Lipo battery connected to the VIN of the arduino Mega to power it. Yes there are other devices connected to the arduino. There is:
-an AMIS30543 stepper motor controller board connected to SPI pins
-4 Digital output pins for 2 Sabretooth Motor Drivers
-1 digital output pin for a servo motor
-Pixy camera connected to I2C pins
-2 analog pins for reading feedback voltage on linear actuator and distance sensor respectively
-USB Host Shield Utilizing ICSP pins
It appears my photos are having trouble loading. here is link to the dropbox download
EDIT2: They are in lower quality but uploaded fine here on imgur, no downloads necessary
We unfortunately don’t offer this USB Host Shield, therefore we can’t support it. Maybe someone from the community with more experience with this shield, will bring more insight.
This being said, try to remove everything from the Mega and test it with only the USB Host Shield stacked on top of it.
If it works properly, the USB Host Shield, most likely, has a conflict with another device connected to the Mega (maybe the Pixy or the AMIS30543 stepper driver).
These links might also help you troubleshoot the issue :
Turns out the stepper motor controller was damaged and hogged the SPI bus, causing the host shield to error. Although, after it was removed, it took 4 hours of testing with the host shield to get it to finally function again
