In a Pickle: Servo's stay at 127

[vector023]

Hi all,

Our team's camera worked wonderfully 2 weeks ago with the default code - tracked the green thing and everytihng. Now, the servos don't cooperate - they turn to the position 127/127 in pan/tilt talk immediately, and I would have to break them to make them turn. Does anybody have a clue what happened to our camera?

Thanks a million!

[devicenull]

Someone moved their PWM's to the wrong ones.

[vector023]

I put the pwm cables to PWM1 and PWM2 just as always (always worked before). Also, I hook up the camera to the GUI Java Applet from last year, and the same thing occurs - even when the servos are hooked up to the camera board.

[devicenull]

Ah, what do you see in the terminal screen if you connect your computer to the RC?
If you see nothing at all, there's a pretty good chance the code can't communicate with the camera. If thats the case, check the batteries, and ensure that none of the cables are loose. It sounds like either the camera is not getting power (Does the camera have a light on?), or it cant communicate with the RC.

[vector023]

Originally Posted by devicenull

Ah, what do you see in the terminal screen if you connect your computer to the RC?
If you see nothing at all, there's a pretty good chance the code can't communicate with the camera. If thats the case, check the batteries, and ensure that none of the cables are loose. It sounds like either the camera is not getting power (Does the camera have a light on?), or it cant communicate with the RC.

With the Java GUI thing, I can capture perfect pictures of what the camera sees, and the lights are blasting like none other. The terminal however refuses to commmunicate even "Searching..." How I would love to see those magical words: "searching..."

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by vector023

With the Java GUI thing, I can capture perfect pictures of what the camera sees, and the lights are blasting like none other. The terminal however refuses to commmunicate even "Searching..." How I would love to see those magical words: "searching..."

So then, either your TTL->Serial board is loose, broken, or not there. Try changing the camera's serial wire. Do you have last years camera? You can try swapping the TTL board with last years.

As far as I can tell right now the problem is the RC and camera communicating.

[vector023]

I had the same idea...but last years thing is nowhere to be found. In the mean time, I have made a pwm cable with four pins, and conneccted the ttl of the camera to the RC...seems to still have no effect, tho I haven't tested it more than 5 times...

Plus, i gotta leave soon...

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by vector023

I had the same idea...but last years thing is nowhere to be found. In the mean time, I have made a pwm cable with four pins, and conneccted the ttl of the camera to the RC...seems to still have no effect, tho I haven't tested it more than 5 times...

Plus, i gotta leave soon...

That won't work. The camera and TTL port on the RC use two different protocols, so that could definitely be part of the problem. You need the TTL board in there somewhere. It *might* be possible to use a Male to Male cable from the DB9 on the camera to the program port on the RC and use that as the serial link.

Take a look at the serial port diagnostics on http://kevin.org/frc/

[Kevin Watson]

Originally Posted by vector023

Hi all,

Our team's camera worked wonderfully 2 weeks ago with the default code - tracked the green thing and everytihng. Now, the servos don't cooperate - they turn to the position 127/127 in pan/tilt talk immediately, and I would have to break them to make them turn. Does anybody have a clue what happened to our camera?

Thanks a million!

Did you consult the magical CMUcam2 FAQ?

-Kevin

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by vector023

... I have made a pwm cable with four pins, and connected the ttl of the camera to the RC...

That will work IF you only use three of the pins (drop the 5v), are using the completely separate TTL port on the camera, and have paid attention to the necessary RX/5v wire swap on the camera end.

[vector023]

I paid attention to the change in pins...nothing wants to work still...

We ordered a new TTL converter chip thing, which will come in two days. I still don't think that will fix it. I need to find out what's wrong: do you think it may be something to do with the RC board at all? Nothing changes when I plug the TTL in. The camera stays at 127 regardless. Any ideas?

[devicenull]

Originally Posted by vector023

I paid attention to the change in pins...nothing wants to work still...

We ordered a new TTL converter chip thing, which will come in two days. I still don't think that will fix it. I need to find out what's wrong: do you think it may be something to do with the RC board at all? Nothing changes when I plug the TTL in. The camera stays at 127 regardless. Any ideas?

See my post above on serial port diagnostics. let me know of the results.