Orion baseboard failing TestUltrasonicSensor, TestInfraredReceiver and TestDCMotorDriver

[gstorto]

Hi all,

I just finished assembling with my son the starter robot kit v2.0 (Me Orion baseboard) that he got for Xmas, but nothing seemed to happen when I tried to run the pre-uploaded program, so I installed the Arduino IDE and Makeblock libraries and started poking around to figure out what may be amiss.

1. I uploaded BaseBoardBuzzerTest, and the on-board buzzer beeped as expected.

2. I modified TestUltrasonicSensor to point to port 3 (my IR sensor is connected to that port) and uploaded it, but the board seems to behave as if it doesn’t receive data from the sensor, always returning a distance of 0cm in Serial Monitor (the sensor is powered, since its red led is on).

3. I uploaded TestInfraredReceiver (for the new-style receiver), but the board doesn’t seem to recognize any key press on the remote (no output in Serial Monitor corresponding to key presses, even if the blue led on the receiver board lights up when keys on the remote are pressed).

4. I uploaded TestDCMotorDriver, but neither of the two motors connected to M1 and M2 ran as expected.

As far as I can see, all cable connectors are seated properly: Am I right to conclude that I must have a bad board?

Is there anything else that I can/should try?

Thanks,
Luca

[Johnny]

Hi @gastorto,

Could you upload a picture of you robot? Especially the Me Orion Baseboard. So that I can check whether there is a problem about the connection.

And please check the Serial Port and Board you choose in Arduino IDE. If your board is Me Orion, Please choose Arduino UNO. As for the Serial Port, please choose the COM X except COM1(system COM).

The library should be the newest one. https://github.com/Makeblock-official/Makeblock-Library

[gstorto]

Hi @Johnny,

I’ll take some pictures of the board + assembled robot and post them later today.

As for your IDE setup questions:

1. Serial Port and Board are appropriately set up in the IDE: I have Arduino Uno selected under Board, and the appropriate USB serial port is selected under Port (I’m running the IDE on a Mac).

2. I’m using the latest Makeblock library (v.2.1.0916).

Furthermore, notice that I’m having no problems in uploading test sketches to the board, or reading output from the board via serial, which in my mind excludes that the problem may be due to the IDE being set up improperly.

Thanks,
Luca

[gstorto]

Hi @Johnny,

Here are a few pictures of the assembled kit. In the last two I separated the base bracket with the battery holder and moved it aside for a better view of the board (all cables/connectors are still plugged in as when the robot was fully assembled).

Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks,
Luca

[jjonethal]

have a look on the switch, is it turned on during motor test?

[gstorto]

@jjonethal, Thanks! I didn’t think of checking that, and indeed when I turn the power switch to on TestDCMotorDriver works as intended.

Still, the motor test seems to show that one of my two motors doesn’t have sufficient torque: Both tank tracks move if I lift the tank, but as soon as the tank is on the ground only one does.

@Johnny, I guess I should request a replacement motor? (Should I go through the distributor I purchased the kit from - robotshop.com - or directly from Makeblock?)

BTW, the other tests still fail irrespective of the power switch position, but I’m now inclined to think that the problem may be with the RJ cables that I’m using rather than the jacks on the board: I’ll get replacement cables and try again.

Luca

[Johnny]

Hi @gstorto,

I’m very sorry for the motors. Could you change the PWM value to 255 in IDE and test whether the vehicle could make a turn. If it can’t, the motors should have some problem.

[gstorto]

Hi @Johnny,

Just got back home from a trip, and I finally had a chance to probe further the behavior of the robot, and of the motors in particular (I finally got replacement RJ cables, and was able to successfully use the IR receiver and Ultrasonic sensor).

I tried changing the PWM value in the TestDCMotorDriver sketch, and I’m seeing the same behavior that I described above even when I set PWM to the maximum value (255): Both tracks spin when I lift the tank from the ground, but as soon as the tank is on the ground only the right track does.

To further test the behavior of the left motor, I modified the DualMode_Starter sketch so that I can use the remote to separately run the two motors (TestDCMotorDriver has both motors running at once), and could verify that the left motor doesn’t have enough torque to power the track when the tank is on the ground unless PWM is set to at least 183 (factor6+minSpeed in DualMode_Starter), whereas the right motor can power the track even when PWM is set to 78 (factor1+minSpeed).

How do I go about getting a replacement motor? Should I go through robotshop.com, or directly from Makeblock?

Thanks,
Luca

[Johnny]

Hi @gstorto,

Sorry for this trouble of motors. We will replace them for free. Please order a pair of DC motors on makeblock.cc and tell me the order number. And I will change the price to 0.

Thanks!

[gstorto]

Thanks @Johnny,

To clarify, do you mean SKU 80002 (http://www.makeblock.cc/dc-motor-25-6v-185rpm/) or SKU 95011 (http://www.makeblock.cc/25mm-dc-motor-pack-gold/)?

Thanks,
Luca

[Johnny]

http://www.makeblock.cc/25mm-dc-motor-pack-gold/

Hi @gstorto,

Just two of SKU 80002 is OK

http://www.makeblock.cc/dc-motor-25-6v-185rpm/

[gstorto]

Hi @Johnny,

I just placed the order for 2 of SKU 80002.

Order number is 23542.

Thanks,
Luca

[gstorto]

@Johnny,

What are the next steps? Can you change the price on order 23542? (I think that the order has shipped already.)

Thanks,
Luca

[Johnny]

Hi @gstorto,

Sorry for I didn’t inform you about that. I have change the price to zero of the order and it has been sent. The package would arrived soon.

Thanks

[gstorto]

Hi @Johnny,

Thanks for the update: I wasn’t aware that the order price had been changed to 0, since the original price is still shown at https://www.makeblock.cc/account.php?action=view_order&order_id=23542.

I assume that the charge made for the order on my PayPal account will eventually be reverted, too?

Thanks,
Luca

[Johnny]

Hi gstorto,

I’m sorry for the mistake here. I don’t know you have finished the payment. I would ask my colleague revert the order by Paypal ASAP. You will receive a email when the order is reverted.

Thanks!

[system]