Labview problems and code problems
 

One of the first issues we tried to solve once we got the parts were to find out exactly what color the green light is in rgb values, reading through the workbook, we're supposed to use labview 8 student edition with the "cmucam2 demo.llb application." We have labview 8 installed from the kit, but myabe its just me, but i can't find the cmucam2 demo application anywhere on the cd's. Can someone point me in the right direction here?

Another thing related to the code, we've successfully downloaded the 2006 default rc code to the RC from the innovation first website and everything worked fine. I then downloading the frc_camera_s and frc_serial_ports zip files from kevin's site. Upon inspection of the readme's and the contents of the zip files, i assumed that i can open the mcw files titled "camera" or "serialports" in mblab and compile and that would work, am i correct? i tried doing it that way with the "camera" mcw file but once downloaded to the rc, the terminal kept displaying "Searching..." over and over again. after that, we followed the camera readme file and did the instructions in there with changing the files around the compiled and downloaded that result and it seems to be working fine, but we can't get the camera to respond to any commands (by calling functions in camera.c). can someone please direct me on what exactly to do with the code just to get the camera working, after its working, i can get it from there (i hope).

Thanks

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

Were having the same problems when it comes to the tracking of the object while using the RC. We ran a diagnostic on the thing and it came up with no signal being sent so i have no clue what is wrong with ours... just thought you might feel better that your not the only one with this problem

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

Sure, have a look here it explains it all.

Don

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

You should be able to use the default color values in camera.h with the green target.

The camera code should work out-of-the-box. Unzip frc_camera.zip and load camera.hex into the RC and you should be good to go. What exactly are you trying to accomplish when you were trying to send commands to the camera?

-Kevin

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

by "send commands" i meant that calling the Track_color() function, thats all. The thing was i would call it with a green value, and the camera didnt even look like it was responding. I think i'll try the camera.hex now and retry everything. a question: once i load camera.hex to the RC, and i then want to go and write my own code, do i just use the camera.mcw file and edit the files in frc_camera?

Thank you all for the help

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

In order to get the camera tracking, you don't need to send a Track_color() command, the code as is when unarchived, can be downloaded to the robot and will track the target. The tracking function is in Track_servo() in the tracking.c file and the definitions of the pwms to drive the camera servos are in tracking.h. (When connecting the camera, make sure that the jumper for power to the servos is on external power, since in Kevin's code you are powering the servos through the RC rather than the camera.

Labview problems
 

I have Labview and camera up fine, but can't get the Labview application to allow me to slect a COM port. It just gives me the option to refresh when I press drop down menu. What can I do?

Re: Labview problems
 

I'd ask this question in the LabVIEW forum.

-Kevin

Re: Labview problems
 

If you check in the directory with LABView's camera application, there's a PDF file that tells you where to get another layer for LABView that then allows you to configure the COMM port. Brace yourself for another 100+Mbyte download and you need to register at their web site to get it. But otherwise, it is free.

Lynn (D) - Team Voltage 386

PS. Hopefully we'll see something tonight. Last night we had LABView up, but on a machine without a serial port and we couldn't locate functioning drivers for our USB->RS-232 adapter! :(

Re: Labview problems
 

Thanks. Once I got my dad to look at it he figured out how to change the caption in the selection box to fix the problem. Once I get the info from him I'll post it in case anyone else runs into the same problem.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

I've tried everything I can think of, but I still can't find the CMUCam2 demo.llb file. Maybe I'm missing something really obvious here, but I'd really appreciate some help. I've tried the link in one of the other labview forums but my browser couldn't open the link. I've been wrestling with this camera all week and haven't been able to do anything but frame captures with it. I know the code is supposed to work and have it scan for the default color but so far I haven't had any luck. PLEASE HELP!!!

~Caroline Murdoch

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

Ok I finally got the camera working. The code works flawlessly. Apparently this whole time the radios on the RC and Operator Interface haven't been communicating and all I needed was a tether cable. But I still can't find the CMUcam2 demo.llb. I'm slightly less panicked but I would still appreciate help locating the application.

Thanks

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=41214

Enjoy :D

Re: Labview problems
 

Ok, here's how you select COM ports before executing if you're having the same problem I did: In the label in the drop down box, there are some letters, a number (1 by default), the two colons and more letters. By changing the number you can change which COM port it looks in w/o a the drop down menu.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

I'm not sure if I need the Labview drivers for the camera. the disk got scracthed and I can't install the them. Do I need them? If I do, where can I get them? Any help would be great. Thanks for the help with the COM ports, by the way. I was able to get them working using your tips.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

YES -- you need to install the NI-VISA software off the Driver CD #1. Otherwise serial will not work.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

You can also get NI-VISA here.

-Joe

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

ok new problem. The mount assembly instructions show the camera mounted with the power switch toward the bottom. I was able to successfully grab frame using last year's GUI program, but now that I'm using the Labview GUI, the frames are upside down. Why? Is the camera supposed to be mounted the other way?

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

It's problems like these that make me glad to be Electrical. Good luck to you all.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

I've reversed the way the camera is mounted and now it will track correctly vertically but the tracking is backward horizontally. I seem to recall reading something about jumpers that invert the tracking but I don't remember where. Please Help. :ahh:

Thanks

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

In this image the jumper position to reverse the servo action is listed at the bottom as "Pan Reverse". You need to add a little suitcase jumper to connect the two pins there.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

We are getting an error message that reads "The application is closing because of a reported error. You should confirm that the correct serial port has been selected. You should confirm that the camera has power and is connected to the PC via serial cable." Does anyone have any idea how to fix it? We have the CMUCam 2 demo up and the GUI file among others. We have NI-VISA is loaded so that is not our problem. Help, please.

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

If you get that message, then an error cluster popped up on the upper right side of the screen. Please post what that error is... Both the error number and the message. Most often it's because you didn't pick the correct serial port from the dropdown box on the upper left. The other notes in the error message apply as well. What have you tried / verified?

Good luck!
-Joe

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

The camera definitely should be mounted with the power switch up. I think the instructions are probably an intentional typo to keep you on your toes. Kind of like the incorrect motor specs of previous years. Don't trust blindly... verify and validate. Always check for sanity in the information you are given.

Good luck!
-Joe

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

Did you check that your camera actually has power? We were stuck for a while because we didn't know you had to hook up the main battery and the pwm out ports were not giving any juice. The camera have led's to tell that it's on. Also, you might want to make sure that your ttl port is disconnected. The ttl and the serial are mutually exclusive (You can only plug in one or the other). Lastly, make sure you have the right serial port...Go right click on my computer, properties, hardware, device manager. Then go to the expandable tree for serial devices or sumthin and check that you have the right COM port.

Unfortunately i know all this from experience :(

Re: Labview problems and code problems
 

Ok now we have the labview application and the tracking is working beautifully (it's even tracking green now not white like it used to be). The default code is working without a hitch and it's searching and returning values to the screen like it's supposed to. But... oh yes there's always a but... I can't get it to actively track using the default code. I've found the code that causes it to track (tracking.c... hooray for logical naming) but I can't find where that code is initialized or how to get it to run. I'd also like to know how to retrieve the tilt and pan values so I can actually put them to use in the program. I might be missing something really obvious, but I'd appreciate some help.

Thanks :)