programming protocol

[sciguy125]

Does anyone know where I can find documentation on the protocol used to program the RC? I have some project ideas, but I need to know how to actually program the RC.

[Bharat Nain]

Maybe this will help: http://www.microchip.com/stellent/idcplgidcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=1335&dDocName=en010319

[Ryan M.]

Does anyone know where I can find documentation on the protocol used to program the RC? I have some project ideas, but I need to know how to actually program the RC.I think you mean how to actually initiate a flash[ing?] of the RC, but maybe you want to learn C, the programming language you typically use for the robot. Just slightly confused... which is it? :)

[fowlerm]

I wrote a white paper for my team on the boot loader and the protocol. It covers the commands and the data packet format. PM me if you want it, because I won't post it online. We use an internally developed application to reflash the RC because IFI Loader just wasn't working for us.

[sciguy125]

I think you mean how to actually initiate a flash[ing?] of the RC, but maybe you want to learn C, the programming language you typically use for the robot. Just slightly confused... which is it? :)

Yeah, I want to flash the chip(s), but I need to know what to send it on the serial line. I wasn't sure if it would be as simple as using the standard PIC protocol because there's two processors.

[Ryan M.]

Yeah, I want to flash the chip(s), but I need to know what to send it on the serial line. I wasn't sure if it would be as simple as using the standard PIC protocol because there's two processors.I've never used it before, but from a search on Google for "serial port sniffer," I found this program (http://www.kmint21.com/serial-port-monitor/). If you use it while downloading a program to the RC, it might help some.

[sciguy125]

Apparently, it has a bootloader. I found an old thread about out.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22134&page=3&pp=15

There's a pdf mentioned in post #35 that has all the relevant info about the bootloader and #41 has the extra commands added by IFI.