Parts of robot failing?

[Team 4457]

Hello, we are really scrambling to meat the bag date with a completed robot. right no our current problem is that the code we have written seems completely fine, but when it is run on the robot, certain parts don't work. When deployed from a different computer, we got a different set of parts to move, but is the exact same code. Any suggestions?

[jds2001]

Generally, I'd say that you have electrical problems, not programming ones. Are all the connections from the digital sidecar to the various components secure? 99% of the time, these problems are electrical.

[Team 4457]

Well, i am a programer, and i was told that everything is wired correctly.

[joelg236]

Originally Posted by Team 4457

Well, i am a programer, and i was told that everything is wired correctly.

Which has nothing to do with whether it actually is wired correctly.

[Team 4457]

We just ran a test and only on side of the drive train was working (switching the PWM cables made neither work), two of our servo's work, but the third doesn't and it seems as if its code is being set to one of the servos that is working, as that servo tries to complete the action of the one that doesn't work.

[Djur]

If it's a code problem, you should be able to control everything from the LiveWindow (enable your robot in test mode with the SmartDashboard open). If that doesn't work then you have electrical issues or problems with your components.

[Cuog]

Originally Posted by Team 4457

We just ran a test and only on side of the drive train was working (switching the PWM cables made neither work).

Sounds like a wiring fault to me.

[Team 4457]

Ok, so we reviewed the code and this is the result.

Working: One side of drive train; launcher; loader (one direction).
Not working: other side of drive train (runs in very short bursts, few and far between.); reverse on loader (sends to one of the two launcher motors, also in the short bursts).

Again, there are no visible problems with the wiring or code. We contacted our mentor team, but got no response. Thank you all for your help, and any possible solutions are welcome.

[lorem3k]

Check the diagnostics tab on the Driver Station, and copy and paste the Messages field here.

[Kevin Sevcik]

First, are you using Labview, Java, or C++? Second, why don't you upload your code here for someone to look over?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Team 4457

Again, there are no visible problems with the wiring or code.

If you don't know what the correct wiring is supposed to be, you'll never know that it's wrong unless you show it to someone who does know.

Here, the sporadic PWM outputs suggests to me that your Digital Sidecar might not be getting 12 volts from the Power Distribution Board. What do the three power LEDs on the sidecar look like -- are they all brightly lit, or is the BAT one dark? What pattern is the Robot Signal Light flashing when you enable the robot?

[eedoga]

Hey Alan,

I know you are feeling the pressure of only having two days left and having everything seem to fall apart...Been there myself as have most people here.

Electrical Engineers love to blame programmers for their problems. :-) To be honest you probably have a bit of both an electrical problem and a code problem.

Here is what I would suggest you do.

1) Change your battery for a freshly charged one. (You would be surprised how often magical problems go away when you do this.)

2) Go over your wiring really carefully. It is a rats nest in there and sometimes wires are connected to the wrong things by accident and "look" just fine.

3) Electronically go through system by system. So for example, pull all the PWM cables except for your drive motors. Then test your program for driving. Check that you have everything set right, and get that working first.

Also using a volt meter to see that you are actually getting voltage everywhere you expect it is probably a good thing.

Then slowly add back each subsystem doing the same thing.

4) Post all of your available information. Close up pictures of your wiring. Upload your program...Everything so that all the other teams you are asking for help can actually help you. Probably do step 4 first.

I wish you and your team the best of luck with this one. Remember...Even if you have to bag a non functioning robot there are plenty of teams that will help you at the competition. Teams have shown up with nothing but their kit of parts and left with a robot before...At the competition everyone wants to see your robot make it onto the field.

Good luck.

Edoga

[Team 4457]

Ok, the program is attached, anyone that wants to review it/ make nessisary changes, you are welcome to. Ill work on getting that driver station error message and some pictures of the wiring. Ill also ask the engineers to run over there wiring with a fine tooth comb. thank you all very much for your help. By the way, we are using LabView.

[Team 4457]

Here are the photos.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1097691...P-po2z67KNzQE#

[FlusteredRookie]

We are loosing air pressure in our pneumatic system really fast. We checked the connections but don't know what's wrong... Help?