Jaguar Speed controller problem

[toastnbacon]

Our team is having issues with our jaguar speed controllers. When we load up our program, it's light goes from flashing yellow to a solid yellow like it should, but when we more our joysticks around, they don't react at all. The joystick movements are shown on the classmate, but we still aren't getting anything. Any ideas?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

James,
It could be any of a variety of problems. Is the sidecar multipin cable fully inserted at both ends? Are you addressing the right port for command? Have you selected the correct class for the controller? Is anything else on the robot receiving commands from the Classmate? Have you powered everything correctly, including the jumper on the analog module?

[Kevin Sevcik]

The Jaguar lights changing from blinking to solid yellow is fairly persuasive that the signal wiring is functioning correctly. They need a solid neutral signal from the controller before you get a solid light out of them. I wouldn't focus much on the physical connectivity aside from verifying that your sidecar is plugged into the slot your program is addressing.

This sounds rather more like a programming problem of some sort or another. I'd look into that first and make sure your program is loading properly and doing what you expect it to.

[Jon Stratis]

That sounds to me like a programming issue, not electrical. But either way, here's the steps i would take to try and debug it:

1. double check the wiring, since this is quick and easy:
- Is the cable between the cRio and the Digital Sidecar fully inserted on both ends?
- Is the PWM cable correctly attached to the PWM outputs on the Digital Sidecar?
- Is power being supplied to the Digital Sidecar properly?
- Ensure there is NO jumper on the pins next to the PWM port you're using.

2. Check the code:
- What slot and channel is the code set up to use? Is this the correct slot and channel? (Slot - the position on the cRio the Digital Sidecar is connected to; Channel - the port number the PWM cable is connected to)
- Are you using the Jaguar class provided by the FIRST libraries?


If that doesn't help, i would go back to the basics. Run through chapter 2 here: http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/....aspx?id=10934

The getting started guide has you load some default code, hook up joysticks and jaguars and ensures that everything works (you should see the Jaguars respond to the joysticks). From that, you can be sure the wiring is correct, and compare the default code with yours to find any programming mistakes.

[kamocat]

Are you sure the PWM cables aren't plugged in backwards? It's labelled on the Jaguar (barely), but not on the Digital Sidecar.
They should have the white side facing towards the sidecar.

However, if your Jaguars have a solid yellow light, then that means they are getting data from the cRIO. This means:
Your cables are plugged in correctly
AND
You have "opened" the motor controllers in your code

[longrange]

I would also check to see that the limit switch jumpers are installed on the Jaguars.

[daltore]

Are you using CAN or PWM, and are you using LabView or Windriver?

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by toastnbacon

The joystick movements are shown on the classmate,...

Can you be more specific? What are you looking at that shows you the "joystick movements"? If the PWM indicators are moving, you have a wiring issue. If they are not, the program is to blame.

[toastnbacon]

Thanks, it was the programing. We didn't think it was, because we put in another program that had the same problem to check.