Newb with a Hexy

Hexy Questions, Problems and Suggestions
#1

I am new to micro controllers and robots but am familiar with servos and such as I have RC planes, helicopters and a fast electric boat.

Received my kit on Friday from Robot Shop here in Canada. Built it today but am stuck at uploading the Servotor32 v1.5 program from the Arduino 1.0.2 environment. I am getting the following errors:

Servotor32_1v5.ino: In function 'void setup()': Servotor32_1v5:35: error: 'DDRF' was not declared in this scope Servotor32_1v5:40: error: 'Serial1' was not declared in this scope Servotor32_1v5.ino: In function 'void callback()': Servotor32_1v5:68: error: 'PORTF' was not declared in this scope Servotor32_1v5.ino: In function 'void loop()': Servotor32_1v5:300: error: 'Serial1' was not declared in this scope

I recognize the code as I am familiar with C and some of it’s variants. I started adding variable declarations to quash the errors but decided I better not mess with it much until I understand more about what I’m doing.

Anyone else encountering this and/or have suggestions?

#2

Hey Circuit,

First things first, I assume you are using Arduino >= 1.0 You can see this in the title bar or under Help->About Arduino?

Make sure Tools->Board->Arduino Leonardo is selected!

Try building it first, (check button); you should get no errors. If you do, copy and post the message here and we can take it from there!

#3

This was my problem. I had Uno selected.

Thanks.

The Hexy was working although very twitchy. It doesn’t seem to have enough power to lift itself. I had to put my foot under it to help it raise and lower itself. Maybe updating the Servotor32 to v 1.5 will help.

I’m done tinkering with it for today though. Time to prep for my work week. Maybe next weekend. I’ll report back when I can.

#4

I am shopping around for a voltage regulator that can handle the expected current draw to the Hexy while drawing on a 3s1p lipo since I have a few around to power my planes. Most I find are 3 amp where as I read here somewhere the expected current draw is 5 amps. I have been trying to source a 10 amp UBEC for a decent price.

I will continue to post as I find more information.

P.S.: I knew what I was getting into when I bought this kit. I knew it would be a lot of R&D. The work on the hardware is excellent for the price. The servos are not the greatest (I had one bad. Good thing there is a spare.) but I realize it isn’t easy to find 19 servos that would do what this needs for under the price of the kit. I guess what I wanted to say is I appreciate the work that has been done so far and look forward to a community building around this kit to make it the best it can be. (Gets down off soap box.) :wink:

#5

[quote=“Circuit”]I am shopping around for a voltage regulator that can handle the expected current draw to the Hexy while drawing on a 3s1p lipo since I have a few around to power my planes. Most I find are 3 amp where as I read here somewhere the expected current draw is 5 amps. I have been trying to source a 10 amp UBEC for a decent price.
[/quote]

Dude, if you know batteries and can source one that can handle the load, share the wealth! FWIW, I was told the hexy can handle about 1lb weight, which seemed to be the weight for many 4000mAh batteries I found on the 'Net… but I’m not knowledgeable on batteries :stuck_out_tongue:

I’m eyeing to make an umbilical cord for the Hexy from a PC PSU(I believe they usually provide 12V and 5V over either a 15A or a 5A lines)… but that’s obviously limiting. Not even sure what would provide a ~5V 5A that wouldn’t be a custom made solution…

When you say you had a bad servo, what were the symptoms? I’m going through some rigorous testing for my Hexy as it is and any insight would be appreciated!

#6

One servo has a bad connection from the lead to the board inside. As it moved it was intermittent and once I removed and shook it the servo went crazy. Then I just moved the wires around to see what the problem is and found it must be the connection inside the servo. In the future when I have the time I will take it apart and re solder it to see if I can rescue it.

I know batteries from my radio control equipment. My helicopters and planes use LiPo’s. My boat uses NiMH high current packs. I have two high current chargers running off two 1000 watt PSU in series for 24 volts.

I will post in these forums anything I try and the results. We all need to learn from one another.

Anything else you need just ask and I will answer when I can.

#7

Just ordered 2 of these SBEC. It usually takes a bit of time for shipping so now I wait.