Robonova, MacBook and OSX
Robonova, MacBook and OSX
by plingboot
Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:01 pm
For those thinking about using their intel mac with the Robonova… i can report that after much fiddling around i managed to get my MacBook talking to my Robonova.
Firstly i installed Parallels desk top (trial version) and once that was running, i installed XP service pack 2, then the suite of Robonova Apps - from the Hitec website.
Next job was to install the driver for my Keyspan serial/usb doohicky. Note here that if you want to use the keyspan with windows in parallel, you can ONLY install the driver for windows - if you install the mac driver too - it will hog the keyspan and will not release it to other os's running in parallels.
I hooked up Robonova and then spent ages fiddling around with ports etc. This bit is still very flakey. Using the keyspan app. i set it to com port 1 and to 9600. In the various robonova apps i selected com 1 and set the speed to as close to 9600 as i could with the slider.
I was able to get some response when using the remote app. and robonova thew a few shapes before his legs gave out and he started beeping at me. I've not had him long and can only guess this means low batteries.
If anyone has any more info on port settings and serial/usb - please chime in!
More as i discover it…
Firstly i installed Parallels desk top (trial version) and once that was running, i installed XP service pack 2, then the suite of Robonova Apps - from the Hitec website.
Next job was to install the driver for my Keyspan serial/usb doohicky. Note here that if you want to use the keyspan with windows in parallel, you can ONLY install the driver for windows - if you install the mac driver too - it will hog the keyspan and will not release it to other os's running in parallels.
I hooked up Robonova and then spent ages fiddling around with ports etc. This bit is still very flakey. Using the keyspan app. i set it to com port 1 and to 9600. In the various robonova apps i selected com 1 and set the speed to as close to 9600 as i could with the slider.
I was able to get some response when using the remote app. and robonova thew a few shapes before his legs gave out and he started beeping at me. I've not had him long and can only guess this means low batteries.
If anyone has any more info on port settings and serial/usb - please chime in!
More as i discover it…
by DirtyRoboto
Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:59 pm
Apple (and when I say Apple I mean Mac) are not the most friendly of computer platforms for technical people. They are built around the GUI and the philosophy of user comfort.
The PC platform is for people that want to do many things and, it allows people to expand the tool (the computer) to help them in most every aspect of their desire.
To summerise.
The Apple platform is user orientated ie. the user is charmed into a trouble free experience at the cost of flexibility.
The PC platform is technology orientated. ie. the user has the option of great flexibility at the cost of inconsistency.
Besides, I want a platform that I can open and fix myself and not have so send it to its maker for warrantied repair.
Marcus.
Ps. I saw the first Apple LISA and used the first PC's and Apples from the IIe up to the monochrome MAC along with the PC AT and XT in monochrome. I saw the first Hercules graphic card deliver colour to the PC.
I have owened a ZX80, ZX81, Vic 20,BBC A, Apple IIe, C-64, Spectrum, Amstrad, Orac, TI99, Atari 400/800, Dragon, Amiga 500 and more others that I can go on about.
In my world Apple Mac is not of any importance.
If Apple GUI and Windows technology get together then I will be happy to try it.
The PC platform is for people that want to do many things and, it allows people to expand the tool (the computer) to help them in most every aspect of their desire.
To summerise.
The Apple platform is user orientated ie. the user is charmed into a trouble free experience at the cost of flexibility.
The PC platform is technology orientated. ie. the user has the option of great flexibility at the cost of inconsistency.
Besides, I want a platform that I can open and fix myself and not have so send it to its maker for warrantied repair.
Marcus.
Ps. I saw the first Apple LISA and used the first PC's and Apples from the IIe up to the monochrome MAC along with the PC AT and XT in monochrome. I saw the first Hercules graphic card deliver colour to the PC.
I have owened a ZX80, ZX81, Vic 20,BBC A, Apple IIe, C-64, Spectrum, Amstrad, Orac, TI99, Atari 400/800, Dragon, Amiga 500 and more others that I can go on about.
In my world Apple Mac is not of any importance.
If Apple GUI and Windows technology get together then I will be happy to try it.
by DirtyRoboto
Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:08 pm
I work in a data-center that does a great deal of work in the order of 15 terrabytes per slow day and has an internal bandwidth of 10 Gbit. I have not ever seen a Mac in the building.
Professionals do not use Mac's.
I have never seen a small/medium/large network that includes a Mac. Get real please.
You are justifying your expenditure on a sub-standard platform by defending your choice with arguments that have already made the PC and SUN major players in computers.
But I may aswell be converting terrorists to peace.
Professionals do not use Mac's.
I have never seen a small/medium/large network that includes a Mac. Get real please.
You are justifying your expenditure on a sub-standard platform by defending your choice with arguments that have already made the PC and SUN major players in computers.
But I may aswell be converting terrorists to peace.
by beermat
Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:27 am
Wow, the guy who bought a ZX80 is bashing someone for buying a Mac? 
Just messing with you, Dirty, I had one of those puppies - at least you didn't buy an Acorn Electron....
And Ric, to quote you: "Without wishing to start a Mac/Windows debate".....where, oh where has what follows that phrase ever NOT started a Mac / Windows flame war?!!
Guys - and WTF has all the above got to do with RN-1? We're all RN-1 owners. That's what this forum is about. If some of us RN owners now and in the future are Mac owners, then lets stop this bashing Macs / PCs right now so that a Mac user can come in and find out how to get a RN-1 to work with a Mac with a search that discovers this topic. I have a colleague at work that would love to buy a RN-1, if only he knew of a way to operate it with his Mac. Let this thread develop into just that - help for a RN owner with a Mac.
Thanks plingboot for your post, and please dont feel intimidated to continue to report your findings. This is one die-hard PC user that is eagerly awaiting your findings.
Just messing with you, Dirty, I had one of those puppies - at least you didn't buy an Acorn Electron....
And Ric, to quote you: "Without wishing to start a Mac/Windows debate".....where, oh where has what follows that phrase ever NOT started a Mac / Windows flame war?!!
Guys - and WTF has all the above got to do with RN-1? We're all RN-1 owners. That's what this forum is about. If some of us RN owners now and in the future are Mac owners, then lets stop this bashing Macs / PCs right now so that a Mac user can come in and find out how to get a RN-1 to work with a Mac with a search that discovers this topic. I have a colleague at work that would love to buy a RN-1, if only he knew of a way to operate it with his Mac. Let this thread develop into just that - help for a RN owner with a Mac.
Thanks plingboot for your post, and please dont feel intimidated to continue to report your findings. This is one die-hard PC user that is eagerly awaiting your findings.
by Meltdown
Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:57 am
Professionals do not use Mac's
Such ignorance, unbelievable.
On what system do you think these are made?:
Virtually all the printed material and design in the DTP world for the last 20 years.
Virtually all the cd mastering/authoring and editing in the music and Film industry (not talking iPods and iTunes here)
If you know anything about the Unix/Bsd based Mac OSX operating system you should know that in Mac Osx
there's a terminal which makes the Mac more configureable than any
windows environment i have seen.
So how technical do you want it? It's there fore those who know how to use it.
In the new intel Macs you can even install any Windows incarnation besides the already working Unix and OSX operating systems and run them simultaniously.
Hows that for flexibility?
Last edited by Meltdown on Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
by beermat
Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:02 am
Meltdown - what part of my post did you deliberately choose to ignore in order to continue a flame war about Macs on a ROBONOVA FORUM? Just because you CAN respond to someone who is way off topic doesn't mean you SHOULD.
Forum admins - step in here? There is some valuable RN info in danger of being buried.
Forum admins - step in here? There is some valuable RN info in danger of being buried.
by Meltdown
Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:09 am
Sorry but are you the Admin? Think not.
I just want to be clear that any computer system today whether it be Windows, Osx or Unix is capable to use
in things like robotics or other technical stuff.
It's not the pc vs mac thing but the misinfo that bothers me.
It really doesn't matter so much anymore and i think that some people should know about that, and be free to choose their platform accordingly.
On the subject on hand i think it's best to install the free Bootcamp instead of Parallels and run win xp on the Mac.
Don't install the mac driver, in fact remove it completely.
The conflicting driver issue should be solved then.
The rest is RN1 specific
I just want to be clear that any computer system today whether it be Windows, Osx or Unix is capable to use
in things like robotics or other technical stuff.
It's not the pc vs mac thing but the misinfo that bothers me.
It really doesn't matter so much anymore and i think that some people should know about that, and be free to choose their platform accordingly.
On the subject on hand i think it's best to install the free Bootcamp instead of Parallels and run win xp on the Mac.
Don't install the mac driver, in fact remove it completely.
The conflicting driver issue should be solved then.
The rest is RN1 specific
by Meltdown
Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:50 am
This is a pm i had with Plingboot.
I hope he doesn't mind.
It contains some extra info i think can be usefull.
From: plingboot
To: Meltdown
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:14 am
Subject: OSX, windows and usb/serial ports…
Hi meltdown.
I've just installed parallels on my macbook, followed by windows XP, the Robonova software and the drivers for my Keyspan USA-19QW serial/usb box.
The software runs and the lights flicker on the keyspan, but windows/robonova apps can't see the robonova 'bot - com port error.
Just wondered whether you have any useful thoughts on sorting things out.
Thanks in advance, David
From: Meltdown
To: plingboot
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:44 pm
Subject: Re: OSX, windows and usb/serial ports…
Hi david,
The problem you descibe looks like some other app is hugging your comport.
I've used the same Keyspan adapter with a G4 powerbook running virtual pc.
This did work fine although a bit slow obviously (emulation).
I had the same conflicting driver issue which i solved by deleting the mac driver.
The problem is that i use a Kondo KHR-1 and not a RN1.
I think the problem lies in the RN1 software/windows settings specifically
for the RN1.
I solved things like this using an old modem and the hyperterminal in windows to see if the Keyspan was actually working right. When i knew it was the problem was always robo app/windows com settings related.
I learned the hard way that some changes in com settings in relation to robo software and usb adapters seem to require a Win restart to work.
I hope he doesn't mind.
It contains some extra info i think can be usefull.
From: plingboot
To: Meltdown
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 4:14 am
Subject: OSX, windows and usb/serial ports…
Hi meltdown.
I've just installed parallels on my macbook, followed by windows XP, the Robonova software and the drivers for my Keyspan USA-19QW serial/usb box.
The software runs and the lights flicker on the keyspan, but windows/robonova apps can't see the robonova 'bot - com port error.
Just wondered whether you have any useful thoughts on sorting things out.
Thanks in advance, David
From: Meltdown
To: plingboot
Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:44 pm
Subject: Re: OSX, windows and usb/serial ports…
Hi david,
The problem you descibe looks like some other app is hugging your comport.
I've used the same Keyspan adapter with a G4 powerbook running virtual pc.
This did work fine although a bit slow obviously (emulation).
I had the same conflicting driver issue which i solved by deleting the mac driver.
The problem is that i use a Kondo KHR-1 and not a RN1.
I think the problem lies in the RN1 software/windows settings specifically
for the RN1.
I solved things like this using an old modem and the hyperterminal in windows to see if the Keyspan was actually working right. When i knew it was the problem was always robo app/windows com settings related.
I learned the hard way that some changes in com settings in relation to robo software and usb adapters seem to require a Win restart to work.
by plingboot
Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:47 am
wow, i thought flaming the mac went out with leg warmers and pink pringle pullovers, but i guess some folks still feel the need to do and wear both.
it's a negative passtime and should be pittied rather than scorned.
Personally i couldn't give a toss who uses what, i've only ever bought and used the correct, most efficient and most highly specified tool for the work i'm involved with and a whole industry working via the mac platform can't be wrong.
Lets just leave it at that.
-----------------------
Back to the subject.
As noted in my initial post, i've got the software talking with the RN1, but communications seem slow and a little intermittant.
The serial connector app is ONLY running on windows - the mac driver hogs the unit, so i removed it.
I'm not sure which com port to use, so set it to COM1 and set the speed to a slow 9600.
Running JUST windows on my macbook would be good, but unforunately, my copy of XP is an upgrade - which bootcamp doesn't support the installation of and i can't justify £250 on a full version of XP, just to run the RN1 8O
If anyone has any more thought's i'd be glad to hear them.
A POLITE NOTE
PLEASE could we keep this topic subject specific from now on?
The subject being - the successful implementation of the RN1 and associated apps with the mac/intel mac platform.
Maybe forum admin can clean the nonspecific crap out of this topic?
If other folks want to start a pc vs mac flaming topic, please open a new thread, but don't expect me to visit it.
it's a negative passtime and should be pittied rather than scorned.
Personally i couldn't give a toss who uses what, i've only ever bought and used the correct, most efficient and most highly specified tool for the work i'm involved with and a whole industry working via the mac platform can't be wrong.
Lets just leave it at that.
-----------------------
Back to the subject.
As noted in my initial post, i've got the software talking with the RN1, but communications seem slow and a little intermittant.
The serial connector app is ONLY running on windows - the mac driver hogs the unit, so i removed it.
I'm not sure which com port to use, so set it to COM1 and set the speed to a slow 9600.
Running JUST windows on my macbook would be good, but unforunately, my copy of XP is an upgrade - which bootcamp doesn't support the installation of and i can't justify £250 on a full version of XP, just to run the RN1 8O
If anyone has any more thought's i'd be glad to hear them.
A POLITE NOTE
PLEASE could we keep this topic subject specific from now on?
The subject being - the successful implementation of the RN1 and associated apps with the mac/intel mac platform.
Maybe forum admin can clean the nonspecific crap out of this topic?
If other folks want to start a pc vs mac flaming topic, please open a new thread, but don't expect me to visit it.
by plingboot
Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:12 am
Back to square one i'm afraid.
Various bits arrived for my RN1 yesterday, so i spent the evening adding the following:
• tilt sensor
• tiny airtrix gyro
• chest mounted sonar sensor
I also bought a 'regular' hitec digital servo HS-5625MG, to use as either a head, or as a driver for the existing head.
All parts were fitted, but the communications interface between my MacBook, parallels, XP and the RN1 took a turn for the flakey.
I can do a controller check and see firmware versions etc, but 'something' causes the keyspan connector to shutdown and become unresponsive.
I'm reluctantly going to buy a full version of XP today (i dropped coin on an upgrade before) and install it using bootcamp - the difference being that i'll be running either OS at one time and not both at the same time. I might also look into different serial/usb connectors.
In a rage i ditched parallels and xp last night(!).
The wind has been a bit knocked out of my sales now i find that the 'brain' is much less intelligent than i'd hoped and that my particular RN1 walks like a wind up toy.
A good result will be soild communications between macbook and RN1, successful sensor tests and some work to try and improve the walk - target being the KHR-2HV 'smooth walking' demo.
PS: can the RN1 brain be swapped for a kondo brain and if so - will this improve 'intelligence'?
Various bits arrived for my RN1 yesterday, so i spent the evening adding the following:
• tilt sensor
• tiny airtrix gyro
• chest mounted sonar sensor
I also bought a 'regular' hitec digital servo HS-5625MG, to use as either a head, or as a driver for the existing head.
All parts were fitted, but the communications interface between my MacBook, parallels, XP and the RN1 took a turn for the flakey.
I can do a controller check and see firmware versions etc, but 'something' causes the keyspan connector to shutdown and become unresponsive.
I'm reluctantly going to buy a full version of XP today (i dropped coin on an upgrade before) and install it using bootcamp - the difference being that i'll be running either OS at one time and not both at the same time. I might also look into different serial/usb connectors.
In a rage i ditched parallels and xp last night(!).
The wind has been a bit knocked out of my sales now i find that the 'brain' is much less intelligent than i'd hoped and that my particular RN1 walks like a wind up toy.
A good result will be soild communications between macbook and RN1, successful sensor tests and some work to try and improve the walk - target being the KHR-2HV 'smooth walking' demo.
PS: can the RN1 brain be swapped for a kondo brain and if so - will this improve 'intelligence'?