VB or any other GUI programmers

[John Gutmann]

I was wondering if there is anybody on here that would be interested in helping me out with a VEX project. Basically what I want is a window that has sliders for 8 servos that range from 0-254 and will send it over the serial port in a protocol. (to be explained if anybody asks) I would like for it to display the value on the screen also next to the slider along with being able to type in a value to send. One additional thing I would like to have on it is a live update mode, it sends the next packet after the next update, and a user send mode, where it will only update by sending a packet when the user says send.

I won't be using the VEX controller since I have no way to hook it up to my computer and the servo controller I will be using is the pololu serial servo controller.

Let me know if anybody would be will to help. If you wanna know more just ask!

Thanks
-John

[Dr Nick]

Hello,
This sounds like an interesting project. I program in VB and this would not be too difficult a task. I'd love to give it a shot. All i need is the specific protocol information along with the baud rate that the COM Port needs to have for what you are connecting it to.

[whytheheckme]

How about using Lab-view? Isn't there some kind of plugin built for this to communicate with the FRC (can be adapted (I imagine (if it exists)))... Just a shot in the dark.. Have done no research, but you can sign me onboard to help out.

Jacob

[John Gutmann]

Well I am sure Labview would work but I am using nothing from FRC or and not vex electrical components.

-John

[Qbranch]

Ahhhh serial port protocols.... happen to enjoy these and theyre very cool once theyre done! My latest packetized data over serial control system was the remote terminal for an AGV (automated guided vehicle) that replenishes machines with parts at the company i work for. ANYHOW...


the basic components of any packetized system are, of course,the preamble, the data bytes and then the last thing is the checksum, which can be any number of bytes you want depending on how ridiculus you want to get. One byte is more than sufficient however. the easiest way to do a simple serial packetized system is to use fixed length packets, highly reccommended, meaning every packet you use has the exact same length. for you, you'll have your 8 pwm bytes, whatever else you want, and 1 checksum byte at the end. your preamble is not 100% required but makes the packet much more robust.

on the vb end, i'll give you a rough detail but if you have any further detail questions just post again... i'm also assuming your using VB6... oh i wish microsoft never switched to .NET... *sigh*...

First off, just search the MSDN library for how to open a serial port using the MSComm active x control, i always just copy the initialization code from msdn and modify it for what i need. be sure to set it up with the right baud rate and to put it in binary mode.

Make the scale on your sliders 0->255, and make up an array of bytes that is as big as the number of bytes long your packet is. assign the integer value (don't know if sliders put out floating point or int, i think integer but just be safe) of the slider to its place in the array of bytes.

after you've collected all your data, go ahead and calculate your checksum. you can do this by adding up all of your data bytes and puttiing that sum in a long type variable. after your done summing, divide by 256 (to get the number into a nice, manageable, one byte size) and assign that value to the checksum location in your array.

finally, the easy part, loop through the array and send it using the comm control.

On the recieving end of things, since you didnt mention it i assume that you know how to use kevin's serial driver and all. Make an array of unsigned chars in your software and read in the characters. start capturing the bytes to your array as soon as you see your preamble value, or if you used a multibyte preamble, wait for that. sum your data bytes in a variable just like you did in vb as you recieve. once you've recieved the right number of bytes (fixed length packets remember), then divide by 256 like you did before and see if you get the same checksum as was transmitted to you. if it matches, transmit some sort of acknowlidgement back to your vb app... i suggest using the ascii code for ACK so its one byte.... similarly, if the checksums dont match, send a NCK (also a ascii code). remember, your vb program must be written to listen for these. in the event of a nck, or a timeout, you should retransmit.

ok whew that was a lot of typing, hope that helps anybody that needed it, and i'll help if theres other questions, just post here.

-q

[Qbranch]

Originally Posted by whytheheckme

How about using Lab-view? Isn't there some kind of plugin built for this to communicate with the FRC (can be adapted (I imagine (if it exists)))... Just a shot in the dark.. Have done no research, but you can sign me onboard to help out.

Jacob

oh gosh lab view... last time i tried it i felt like i was writing code on construction paper with dull crayons.

-q

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

oh gosh lab view... last time i tried it i felt like i was writing code on construction paper with dull crayons.

-q

I really grinned as I read this post. I couldn't agree more. I just figured it was a good place to start if there was a package put together, especially for someone who has never decoded a serial stream in their life (John is listed as Mech... although looks can be deceiving).

But starting from scratch is probably easier, now that I think about it.

Jacob

[Qbranch]

I tried lab view... but when my code started looking like spaghetti, there werent any straight up arrays, i couldnt even print my code out to look at it without killing a forest, i had no idea what order my 'code' was executing in... oh and don't forget it passes EVERYTHING by value...

thanks, but no thanks. even though it does have the hugest collection of communications, filtering, machine vision, etc... i'd rather get to its libraries through CVI (C-Virtual Instrument... a way to write in C and use lab view extensions) even if it does take longer. Thats what i LOVE about DLL's.... no matter what the intended system is of getting at em, there's always the ANSI-32bit function call.... and heck NI even has manuals for em.

-q

[6600gt]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

I was wondering if there is anybody on here that would be interested in helping me out with a VEX project. Basically what I want is a window that has sliders for 8 servos that range from 0-254 and will send it over the serial port in a protocol. (to be explained if anybody asks) I would like for it to display the value on the screen also next to the slider along with being able to type in a value to send. One additional thing I would like to have on it is a live update mode, it sends the next packet after the next update, and a user send mode, where it will only update by sending a packet when the user says send.

I won't be using the VEX controller since I have no way to hook it up to my computer and the servo controller I will be using is the pololu serial servo controller.

Let me know if anybody would be will to help. If you wanna know more just ask!

Thanks
-John

I believe I already wrote a similar program for you a while back that you ask for. (written in Visual c++)

[John Gutmann]

Originally Posted by 6600gt

I believe I already wrote a similar program for you a while back that you ask for. (written in Visual c++)

Yea that was for 3 servos but this time I am asking for all 8 plus some more bells and whistles. Me and Dr. Nick are having troubles getting it to send over the serial port the right way, mind giving us a hand?

-John

[6600gt]

Originally Posted by sparksandtabs

Yea that was for 3 servos but this time I am asking for all 8 plus some more bells and whistles. Me and Dr. Nick are having troubles getting it to send over the serial port the right way, mind giving us a hand?

-John

Sure, but I don't know VB. Make sure the start byte is 255 !!!

[John Gutmann]

Hahaha Yea, well I though you don't know vB I will post the code here anyways, would you be willing to help me out if we can't get it to work in vB because I know you got the one program working before, or could you email me the program is you still have it? I can't seem to find it this way I can play with 3 servos for the time being.

Public Class Form1

    Dim i As Integer
    Dim Run As Boolean = False
    Dim Mode As String
    Dim Initialized As Boolean = False
    Dim value0 As Integer
    Dim value1 As Integer
    Dim value2 As Integer
    Dim value3 As Integer
    Dim value4 As Integer
    Dim value5 As Integer
    Dim value6 As Integer
    Dim value7 As Integer
    Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        LED.Hide()
    End Sub

    Private Sub RunBut_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles RunBut.Click
        If Run = False Then
            COMPort.PortName = PortName.Text
            COMPort.Open()
            RunBut.Text = "Stop"
            Timer.Enabled = True
            Run = True
            Initialized = True
            Exit Sub
        End If

        If Run = True Then
            COMPort.Close()
            RunBut.Text = "Run"
            Timer.Enabled = False
            Run = False
            Initialized = False
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Timer_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Timer.Tick
        If Initialized = True Then
            If Mode = "Auto" Then
                'We are in auto-send mode so send Data
                'TO DO: Parse Data and send over COM Port
                SendPacket(0, value0)
                SendPacket(1, value1)
                SendPacket(2, value2)
                SendPacket(3, value3)
                SendPacket(4, value4)
                SendPacket(5, value5)
                SendPacket(6, value6)
                SendPacket(7, value7)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub RadioButton1_CheckedChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles RadioButton1.CheckedChanged
        Mode = "Auto"
    End Sub

    Private Sub RadioButton2_CheckedChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles RadioButton2.CheckedChanged
        Mode = "Man"
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        If Mode = "Man" Then
            If Initialized Then
                'We are in Manual send mode, send the data
                'TO DO: Parse data and send
                SendPacket(0, value0)
                SendPacket(1, value1)
                SendPacket(2, value2)
                SendPacket(3, value3)
                SendPacket(4, value4)
                SendPacket(5, value5)
                SendPacket(6, value6)
                SendPacket(7, value7)
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv1bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv1bar.Scroll
        Serv1box.Text = Serv1bar.Value
        value0 = Serv1bar.Value
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv2bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv2bar.Scroll
        Serv2box.Text = Serv2bar.Value
        value1 = Serv2bar.Value
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv3bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv3bar.Scroll
        Serv3box.Text = Serv3bar.Value
        value2 = Serv3bar.Value
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv4bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv4bar.Scroll
        Serv4box.Text = Serv4bar.Value
        value3 = Serv4bar.Value
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv5bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv5bar.Scroll
        Serv5box.Text = Serv5bar.Value
        value4 = Serv5bar.Value
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv6bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv6bar.Scroll
        Serv6box.Text = Serv6bar.Value
        value5 = Serv6bar.Value
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv7bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv7bar.Scroll
        Serv7box.Text = Serv7bar.Value
        value6 = Serv7bar.Value
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv8bar_Scroll(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv8bar.Scroll
        Serv8box.Text = Serv8bar.Value
        value7 = Serv8bar.Value
    End Sub

    Private Sub Serv1box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv1box.TextChanged
        Serv1bar.Value = Serv1box.Text
        value0 = Serv1box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv2box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv2box.TextChanged
        Serv2bar.Value = Serv2box.Text
        value1 = Serv2box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv3box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv3box.TextChanged
        Serv3bar.Value = Serv3box.Text
        value2 = Serv3box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv4box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv4box.TextChanged
        Serv4bar.Value = Serv4box.Text
        value3 = Serv4box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv5box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv5box.TextChanged
        Serv5bar.Value = Serv5box.Text
        value4 = Serv5box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv6box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv6box.TextChanged
        Serv6bar.Value = Serv6box.Text
        value5 = Serv6box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv7box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv7box.TextChanged
        Serv7bar.Value = Serv7box.Text
        value6 = Serv7box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub Serv8box_TextChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Serv8box.TextChanged
        Serv8bar.Value = Serv8box.Text
        value7 = Serv8box.Text
    End Sub
    Private Sub SendPacket(ByVal servo As Integer, ByVal value As Integer)
        COMPort.Write(255)
        COMPort.Write(servo)
        COMPort.Write(value)
        For i = 1 To 300
            LED.Show()
        Next
        LED.Hide()
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        COMPort.Write(255)
        COMPort.Write(0)
        COMPort.Write(127)
    End Sub
End Class

The main problem we are having is that my servo controller isn't receiving correct data. I am unsure fi that is how you send one byte in vB but it doesn't seem to be working. The transmission error light on the controller flashes after every transmission indicating an error.

thanks,
John

[6600gt]

I am having a hard time understanding the VB sintax...

Anyway, I am sending the old program and free serial port monitor that you can use to see any data that is being send over the serial port in the zip file.

You might want to use SerialPort instead of COMport
Did you ever set the correct BaudRate?

Serial Port Monitor -> COMx -> DataView
Right Click the Panes to change form HEX to decimal display

[John Gutmann]

Can you change your program so that I can select a serial port? I don't know if you have the source still, And can you send the source? pretty please?

I am having another problem that I will post about in this thread:

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...061#post614061

[6600gt]

This has everything. In the release folder you should find the new program.
I had to split up the files cause I can only upload 3mb zips at a time. The data base goes in the original sparksandtabs folder that you will unzip with the sln file.

It will automatically find all the ports on your computer and try to open with the first one and you can choose which other ones to use from the drop down thing on the bottom.

ALSO, if you dial up modems active on your computer they might cause problems with the serial port use. So disable it in the Device Manager.

Oh and I moded it to have the send feature or auto feature you asked for.

Good Luck.