by PedroR » Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:38 pm
by PedroR
Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:38 pm
We're using a Parani ESD200 module. (these are the same modules that we supply as the "Robobuilder Bluetooth Module" and we actually got them from the Robobuilder batch).
The Parani is configured in this manner: Mode 3 (always discoverable, accept all connections), Security Mode Off, 115200 bps, 8e1 setting (EVEN parity), "Command Response" OFF.
(it's basically the same set up that Robobuilder uses but Kondo uses an unusual setting for parity - EVEN - where for Robobuilder the set up is excatly the same but with No parity).
We lowered the baud rate on RCB4 to 115200 as well to match the Parani.
The Parani communicates at 3.3V TTL level so we had to build a small board with add a level shifting circuit to shift from 3.3V TTL (of the Parani) to 5V Inverted Logic of the RCB4HV
Another interesting finding we've made is that the COMM port that communiates with the PC is actually full duplex (don't be fooled by the colours of the COMM cable, there is an RX and TX pin).
(on the servo bus it's easy to spot half duplex comm since there's only 1 data wire)
We also found that the Pinout schematics in the KHR 3HV English manual are wrong.
Ground, signal and vdd are not located where the manual says they are.
In additon to all this, we've documented/reverse engineered part of the RCB4 Serial Protocol to Stop and Play Motions and Poll Motion Execution Status over the COMM port.
Although Kondo seems to have released some information about the protocol in Japanese there has not been any English documentation about the protocol released yet.
Chrisvo's excellent "libkondo" was crucial to the success of this part of the project.
We know the Serial Protocol encapsulates more features (for example direct control of ICS servomotors) but that's not been documented as we didn't require it for this project.
If you require this (or many of the other features of the Protocol), I really recommend you download libkondo and work based on it.
In libkondo everything is nicelly organized, documented and commented in English which helps a lot.
Over the next days we will post a thorough PDF document with the specification of the RCB4 Serial Protocol features we've used. (Stop and Play Motion, PING and Poll Execution Status)
[EDIT 14 March 2012] The PDF document and a detailed explanation of the Pinout of the RCB4 and Serial Connection Settings, Signals Levels and Protocol Specification has been posted on this thread http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7862 [/EDIT]
Regards
Pedro.
We're using a Parani ESD200 module. (these are the same modules that we supply as the "Robobuilder Bluetooth Module" and we actually got them from the Robobuilder batch).
The Parani is configured in this manner: Mode 3 (always discoverable, accept all connections), Security Mode Off, 115200 bps, 8e1 setting (EVEN parity), "Command Response" OFF.
(it's basically the same set up that Robobuilder uses but Kondo uses an unusual setting for parity - EVEN - where for Robobuilder the set up is excatly the same but with No parity).
We lowered the baud rate on RCB4 to 115200 as well to match the Parani.
The Parani communicates at 3.3V TTL level so we had to build a small board with add a level shifting circuit to shift from 3.3V TTL (of the Parani) to 5V Inverted Logic of the RCB4HV
Another interesting finding we've made is that the COMM port that communiates with the PC is actually full duplex (don't be fooled by the colours of the COMM cable, there is an RX and TX pin).
(on the servo bus it's easy to spot half duplex comm since there's only 1 data wire)
We also found that the Pinout schematics in the KHR 3HV English manual are wrong.
Ground, signal and vdd are not located where the manual says they are.
In additon to all this, we've documented/reverse engineered part of the RCB4 Serial Protocol to Stop and Play Motions and Poll Motion Execution Status over the COMM port.
Although Kondo seems to have released some information about the protocol in Japanese there has not been any English documentation about the protocol released yet.
Chrisvo's excellent "libkondo" was crucial to the success of this part of the project.
We know the Serial Protocol encapsulates more features (for example direct control of ICS servomotors) but that's not been documented as we didn't require it for this project.
If you require this (or many of the other features of the Protocol), I really recommend you download libkondo and work based on it.
In libkondo everything is nicelly organized, documented and commented in English which helps a lot.
Over the next days we will post a thorough PDF document with the specification of the RCB4 Serial Protocol features we've used. (Stop and Play Motion, PING and Poll Execution Status)
[EDIT 14 March 2012] The PDF document and a detailed explanation of the Pinout of the RCB4 and Serial Connection Settings, Signals Levels and Protocol Specification has been posted on this thread http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7862 [/EDIT]
Regards
Pedro.
Last edited by PedroR on Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.