Persistent "no robot controller found" error

[sburro]

Originally Posted by 1594code

We've had a sporadic error in the past few days. When we try to download any hex file to the robot with IFI Loader, we get the error "No robot contoller found," with the IFI_Loader error window that reminds us to check power is on, cable connected, and Program State LED orange.

We have doubly checked all of these things, and we've confirmed IFI_Loader is using port COM1 (our only COM port). We reinstalled IFI_Loader and restarted. We have charged the blue RC backup battery. We are running v.1.1.0 of IFI_Loader.

We tried using our computer with last year's RC, and we can verify the robot controller connection, which makes us think this may be an electronics problem?

We can't even download the default code, which makes us think this wouldn't be a programming error... We had this problem Saturday, and then things worked Monday, and then Tuesday the problem recurred.

Any ideas?

Our team had a similar problem like that. The controler seamed to be in program state and would not come out of it. Being a Mechanical guy, I did the only thing I know, dry run it. Unplug both batteries, all serial cords and turn the robot on and off several times. Hit the program and reset buttons a few times and then plug everything back in. What I am attempting to do here is clear out the loop in the controler making it think it is in program mode.


Disclaimer: I am a mechanical guy and know little of programing or code. All I know is this worked for us. I am sure someone will tell me that there are severalif not all steps that did not need to be done.