Hexy not moving at all. Please help

Hexy Questions, Problems and Suggestions
#1

Hi all.

I just bought the kit a few days earlier and finished assembled all the parts and components. However, I have a slight problem in getting it to move though which saddens me quite a bit. Any help from you is greatly appreciated.

Problem 1:
I have no idea on how to update the firmware of the servotor as i’m have little experience in Arduino. But I already downloaded all the necessary driver and firmware of the servotor. The Arduino software have been downloaded together with the driver and firmware for the servotor. From what I researched, I was told that the servotor uses the same processor as the Arduino Leonardo. The problem is how to update the firmware of the servotor using the Arduino software? If it is possible, can anyone of you provide the necessary steps on how to update the firmware of the servotor using Arduino software?

Problem 2:
I’ve already downloaded python in order for the PoMoCo to run. I tried to connect the board to the laptop with the Arduino software running in the background. I’ve selected the board and the serial port to be Arduino Leonardo and COM11 respectively. The problem is that when i tried to launch PoMoCo, it runs OK but at the command prompt window that opens up together with the PoMoCo states that it is connected to COM2. Is this problem causing the Hexy to not move at all? If it is, how do I rectify this problem? For your information, the laptop I’m using currently is Windows 7 64 bit Professional Edition.

Thank you for spending your precious time to listen to my problem and again, any help and suggestions is greatly appreciated. :slight_smile:

#2

Hi Sean,

Hopefully these answers will help you on your way, please ask again if you need any more help.
[ul]
[]There are links to how to program the Servotor32 board on the Arcbotics website here (step 2.3)[/]
[]You don’t need to be running the Arduino software to control Hexy, just Python. If you’re connected via USB and have managed to program the Servotor32 board, I think you should be fine. Perhaps a Windows user might be able to advise in detail. In Ubuntu you need to do the equivalent of running Python as an Administrator.[/]
[/ul]
Good luck! Rob

#3

Thank you Mr. Rob for your reply.

It says here,“You can upload the servotor firmware as you would with any Arduino code”. That means I should use the Arduino IDE to upload the software to the servotor is it? (Please, by all means, do correct me if I’m wrong). I’ve download the firmware, which is in .zip format and I’ve extracted the zip file. So, it basically shows a couple of files with different extensions such as .cpp, .h and .ino.

I have two questions, though.

Question 1) Which file do I need to choose in order to upload/upgrade/update the firmware to the servotor?

Question 2) I didn’t quite understand the Python part, though. Does it mean I should run Python together with PoMoCo? Or is it when PoMoCo is running, Python runs automatically together with PoMoCo?

#4

Upgrading the firmware isn’t required, you should be able to just run the PoMoCo installer for windows, and run the shortcut on your desktop.

#5

Thank you, Mr Joseph for replying.

I followed your instructions, but hexy still not moving though. Maybe it’s my fault though. So, I tried to do the same to my PC (Windows 7 Ultimate. I installed all the necessary drivers, PoMoCo installer uploaded the firmware to the board. Just before I run PoMoCo, I inserted the 4x battery pack. So, when I tried to click one of the moves, it did move though. but in an unexpected way. There is some jittering to the legs and one of the legs formed perpendicularly to the body with the rubber tip pointing downwards and then it stopped moving. I tried to click another move, there is another jittering movement and then it stops altogether.

I have 2 questions from this:

  1. The battery pack gets hot to the touch and the PWR indicator gets dimmer. What does this means? (I’m using Eveready super heavy duty batteries)

  2. Does the PoMoCo still sending instructions regardless of the COM port? (servotor board takes up COM3 and Leonardo takes up COM4)

#6

Ty rechargeable NiMh batterys. Hexy does not like alkaline. Maybe its a power problem.