Zig100 or Bluetooth?
Zig100 or Bluetooth?
by Dewey
Sat May 12, 2007 1:34 pm
Just joined, Hi everyone!
I want to add wireless two way (duplex) communication between the CM5 and a PC. I know some people are going down the Bluetooth route to achieve this, rather the easy (Robotis have done the hardware work) Zig100 solution.
Can someone advise me on the relative merits of Bluetooth versus the Zig100.
I appreciate that a Bluetooth enabled PC already has half the hardware needed, the Zig100 solution is simply plug in plus the Zig2Serial convertor but what about Range and Link performance of Bluetooth versus Zig100?
Thanks
I want to add wireless two way (duplex) communication between the CM5 and a PC. I know some people are going down the Bluetooth route to achieve this, rather the easy (Robotis have done the hardware work) Zig100 solution.
Can someone advise me on the relative merits of Bluetooth versus the Zig100.
I appreciate that a Bluetooth enabled PC already has half the hardware needed, the Zig100 solution is simply plug in plus the Zig2Serial convertor but what about Range and Link performance of Bluetooth versus Zig100?
Thanks
by Pev
Sat May 12, 2007 7:10 pm
Dewey,
I am a bluetooth fan as I did one of the first mods to allow the CM5 to use a bluesmirf. The disadvantages of bluetooth are as follows:
1. The mod I have done is only for control not programming or motion editing (for those you still need a cable)
2. Bluetooth is a packetised protocol (I think) and subsequently has a higher latency than the zig option
Having said all of that I am very happy with my bluetooth control option.
Pev
I am a bluetooth fan as I did one of the first mods to allow the CM5 to use a bluesmirf. The disadvantages of bluetooth are as follows:
1. The mod I have done is only for control not programming or motion editing (for those you still need a cable)
2. Bluetooth is a packetised protocol (I think) and subsequently has a higher latency than the zig option
Having said all of that I am very happy with my bluetooth control option.
Pev
by limor
Sat May 12, 2007 10:10 pm
Hi Pev,
you said in your previous thread (that had the link to your bluesmirf hack pdf), that Behavior Control program changes the baud rate of the serial communications with the CM5. Is that why you can't get that program to work over Bluetooth ? (ie: because baud rate changes on the Bluesmirf are done using the AT commands of the Bluesmirf and those can not be injected in the middle of the Behavior Control -> CM5 protocol?)
you said in your previous thread (that had the link to your bluesmirf hack pdf), that Behavior Control program changes the baud rate of the serial communications with the CM5. Is that why you can't get that program to work over Bluetooth ? (ie: because baud rate changes on the Bluesmirf are done using the AT commands of the Bluesmirf and those can not be injected in the middle of the Behavior Control -> CM5 protocol?)
by Pev
Sun May 13, 2007 10:08 am
pepperm wrote:Pev
Did you ever get any PDA code working with your bluetooth interface?
Mark
Mark,
Yes I did but never got around to putting it in the download section of my website.Anyway the first release is here http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Pev/BioloidBioBlue.zip and has a configurable interface with 27 buttons
Pev
by Pev
Sun May 13, 2007 10:11 am
limor wrote:Hi Pev,
you said in your previous thread (that had the link to your bluesmirf hack pdf), that Behavior Control program changes the baud rate of the serial communications with the CM5. Is that why you can't get that program to work over Bluetooth ? (ie: because baud rate changes on the Bluesmirf are done using the AT commands of the Bluesmirf and those can not be injected in the middle of the Behavior Control -> CM5 protocol?)
Hi Limor,
Yes the changing baud was my understanding from some work Inaki had done. I never really looked into the exact whys and wherefores as to what was going on but would guess your summary is right.
Pev
by Dewey
Sun May 13, 2007 12:02 pm
Hi Pev,
Thanks for the info. I actually want to have an automonous robot but be able to instruct it (uplink) and monitor it (downlink) from a PC, think the NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover type capability. It appears both Bluetooth or Zig100 will do that from what you say. I do not mind connecting the serial cable for programming.
I don't fully understand the discussion with Limor. Why does the CM5 care what the wireless transmission hardware is? Can it/does it actually configure the Zig100 when installed which is what confuses it if a Bluetooth Module is substituted?.
I want to implement my own PC software to implement the Command Station, I have done this in the past with wheeled robots using BX24 Microcontrollers. If you use a Zig100 connected via a Zig2Serial adapter to the PC what is the default baud rate the CM5 is expecting and can it be changed?
Limor,
Got my Comprehensive Kit from you this week. My first impressions are great quality parts, great value for money.
Thanks for the info. I actually want to have an automonous robot but be able to instruct it (uplink) and monitor it (downlink) from a PC, think the NASA's Opportunity Mars Rover type capability. It appears both Bluetooth or Zig100 will do that from what you say. I do not mind connecting the serial cable for programming.
I don't fully understand the discussion with Limor. Why does the CM5 care what the wireless transmission hardware is? Can it/does it actually configure the Zig100 when installed which is what confuses it if a Bluetooth Module is substituted?.
I want to implement my own PC software to implement the Command Station, I have done this in the past with wheeled robots using BX24 Microcontrollers. If you use a Zig100 connected via a Zig2Serial adapter to the PC what is the default baud rate the CM5 is expecting and can it be changed?
Limor,
Got my Comprehensive Kit from you this week. My first impressions are great quality parts, great value for money.
by Pev
Sun May 13, 2007 6:59 pm
Hi Dewey,
The default comms connection for the CM-5 is 57600. The bit Limor is refering to is that we believe that during the programming cycle for both the BCP program upload to the CM-5 and when saving motions in the motion editor, that the software changes this baud rate upwards. Thus the CM-5/Robotis Biloid Software must be able to command the interface to change speed. Currently this doesn't work with the Bluesmirf as :
1. You need to be in command mode to send configuration commands
2. The BLueSmirf uses an AT command set and Robotis don't (I think)
Love the sound of your project, am working on a tracked rover using the same principles and a BX-24 at the moment myself, never thought of doing it with a biped though....
Pev
The default comms connection for the CM-5 is 57600. The bit Limor is refering to is that we believe that during the programming cycle for both the BCP program upload to the CM-5 and when saving motions in the motion editor, that the software changes this baud rate upwards. Thus the CM-5/Robotis Biloid Software must be able to command the interface to change speed. Currently this doesn't work with the Bluesmirf as :
1. You need to be in command mode to send configuration commands
2. The BLueSmirf uses an AT command set and Robotis don't (I think)
Love the sound of your project, am working on a tracked rover using the same principles and a BX-24 at the moment myself, never thought of doing it with a biped though....
Pev