C Coding

[i-Bot]

I don't have my Robobuilder yet, but I did make a new version of the C example with English comments and also to work under AVR Studio and avr-gcc instead of Codevision AVR.

I still need to test it fully on robot, so just to save anybody else the trouble, and also so you don't need to buy Codevision compiler.

The include file generated by the motion editor can still be used, just a simple define required to change the "flash" to "PROG_P". The C code is also changed to the avr-gcc style of using program memory.

[i-Bot]

Sorry, that should have been:
#define flash PROGMEM

I can't get the examples to compile under Codevision 2 without major changes either, so I think gcc-acr is the way forward.

[Florent_Lyon]

Hello,
I have now received my Robobuilder, and in fact I am surprised because I thought the programming tools were supplied in the kit!!

So I'm very interested with this solution using AVR studio.
Furthermore, I already have it installed because I am starting to program easier robots based on an ATmega8.

Waiting for the news... if needed I can make some tests

@+
Florent JANIN, Lyon, France

[PedroR]

.. The include file generated by the motion editor can still be used, just a simple define required to change the "flash" to "PROG_P". The C code is also changed to the avr-gcc style of using program memory.

Hi iBot

I was thinking about creating a simple script/PHP file on the website to make the conversion automatically, so that everybody can convert to avr-gcc easilly.

Could you provide some more info and sample files (original and modified) so that we could get people going?

Thanks
Pedro

[limor]

hi, i-Bot have you succeeded in compiling example code in GCC and programming the robot successfully ?

if so it would be great if you post some initial code so that others can help in evolving a GCC compatible library for Robobuilder

[i-Bot]

Here is the code from the example modified to compile under AVR Studio and GCC.
http://robosavvy.com/Builders/i-Bot/ex_avrs.zip


It uses a header file directly built in motion builder from the HunoBasic motion. No changes were made to the header file

It only makes a left punch when PF1 is pressed.

[i-Bot]

Is anyone else programming in C for the Robobuilder ?

Got the IR working under C this weekend, and will next do the battery, distance sensor, tilt sensor, and EEPROM. This is unless someone else has already done them. Already added the AVRlib routines for the PC serial port.

I did the IR because I try the PS2 wireless controller into the RBC emulating the IR controller to maintain backward compatibility to the standard code.

[l3v3rz]

Is anyone else programming in C for the Robobuilder ?
Got the IR working under C this weekend, and will next do the battery, distance sensor, tilt sensor, and EEPROM.

have you posted it any where ?

Thanks

[i-Bot]

I have not posted it, though am very happy to share it.

I was not sure from the post from Limor if others may be taking a more structured approach to building a library. I would be willing to fall in with that.

Also the level of interest for programming in C is not clear. Seems sort of quiet so far.

[Florent_Lyon]

I-bot,
I am also very interested in C programming,
but I would say I have school level... so I wait for the holidays to have more time to spend on it.

I think you have been the quickest to start with C coding, but of course it's interesting and constructive!

I would like to help on that, but I think I'll have more questions than solutions...

Florent JANIN, Lyon, France

[careyg]

Got my RoboBuilder last week, currently still learning how to make workable motions (it's not as easy as it looks, is it? anyone have pointers) - once i'm happy here, I'll be looking to turn to C Coding for control.

However, all being well, a new dog arrives to us next week, so I guess it'll be a week or two until I get back to it

Gav.

[i-Bot]

I put the IR code I worked on here:
http://robosavvy.com/Builders/i-Bot/RobobuilderIR.zip

The example only checks the IR for a character and sends the character to the CPU serial port in the example. To make the IR change the moves, it just needs a to change the pointers at the bottom of the comm.c file based on the received code. I will do this, but am rather busy on the PS2 controller and hip rotation.

The IR receive is done mainly in the interrupt routine for the external interrupt 6, though it also uses timer 2 for timing the receiver and for a timeout interrupt.

My IR controller has the address
#define IR_ADDRESS 0x2B // Address code from IR
I don't know if they vary, so please try it and let me know. I do check the address, though this could be disabled.

gIRReady is TRUE when a code is received and gIRData contains the code. The code is according to the pdf file and ranges from 0x01 to 0x3f.

I am using the AVRlib from Pascal Stang, which contains lots of other useful bits of code.

[l3v3rz]

Tried the code out. Required me to remove the Address check on the IR for it to work. But once done, everything worked perfectly. Nice looking code. Mic and PSD sensor next ?

BTW how have you got access to the hip rotation brackets ?- or are you making your own?

[i-Bot]

I am please it worked for you.

The format of the message from the IR controller is 4 bytes. The last byte contains the button pressed data.

On my controller the first byte is 0x2B and the second is 0x02, and I assumed the first is the address. All 4 bytes are in IRTemp[], so can be read. You could read IRTemp[0] for your own address. It would be also good to know if IRTEmp[1] is also 0x02 for you.

Maybe Robobuilder can confirm ?

For the hip rotation, I am making my own till we see availability and price from Robobuilder. There seem to be two styles from Robobuilder, one with the side to side hip servos (0 and 5) horizontal in the manual, and one with them at an angle in pictures from Pedro. I decided to use carbon fibre because the aluminium looks too weak to me. I am still waiting for the CF angle to be delivered. I bought a couple of 1111K and fitted these as servo 1 and 6. I made CF thigh plates to add strength there. Original servos 1 and 6 become the hip rotation as servo 16 and 17. The pivot of the servos 0 and 5 now seems to be about 2 cm lower, so I'm not sure how the moves will be affected.

[l3v3rz]

I have got the PSD sensor working. Moving on to Mic and Voltage. Same basic routine so will post code when I have all three going.