Only for FEEDBACK 360° SERVOS
If you are using external encoders, go to External Encoder Test instead.
It's time to test your Feedback 360° servos' encoder signal connections, to make sure they are proper working order. If all is well, the example program below will cause the built-in LED on the Activity Board to blink on and off when you gently turn a wheel by hand.
- In SimpleIDE, open Test Feedback 360 Servo Connections.side
- Turn the robot's PWR switch to Position 2.
- In SimpleIDE, click the Load EEPROM & Run button.
- With your hand, gently twist the ActivityBot's left wheel. This should make the P26 LED turn on and off as you rotate the wheel.
- Repeat for the right wheel. Turning the right wheel should make the P27 LED turn on and off.
/* Test Feedback Connections.c */ #include "simpletools.h" // Library - simpletools #include "abdrive360.h" // Library - abdrive360 int left; // Current/previous angles int right; int leftPrev; int rightPrev; int main() // Main function { drive_getTicks(&left, &right); // Get current encoder ticks leftPrev = left; // Set previous values rightPrev = right; while (1) // Main loop { drive_getTicks(&left, &right); // Get current encoder ticks if (left != leftPrev) // If left different from previous { toggle(26); // Toggle P26 LED light } if (right != rightPrev) // If right different from previous { toggle(27); // Toggle P27 LED light } leftPrev = left; // Save previous values rightPrev = right; } }
If It Doesn't Work...
Here are some symptoms and causes:
P26 light stays off while turning the left wheel.
- The left feedback signal wire may be plugged into the wrong pin on the P14 servo port.
- The left feedback singal wire may be plugged into the P15 servo port instead.
- The left servo's 3-pin cable might be plugged in backwards.
- The shunt jumper might be missing or incorrectly set on the voltage selectgor pins next to the P12/P13 servo port.
P27 light stays off while turning the right wheel.
- The right feedback signal wire may be plugged into the wrong pin on the P15 servo port.
- The right feedback signal wire may be plugged into the P14 servo port instead.
- The right servo's 3-pin cable might be plugged in backwards.
- The shunt jumper might be missing or incorrectly set on the voltage selector pins next to the P12/P13 servo port.
P27 light instead of P26 light blinks while turning the left wheel (or vice versa).
- The encoder cables are swapped! Switch the encoder cables plugged into P14 and P15.
If Both Encoders Work
Congratulations! It is time to calibrate your ActivityBot.