SparkiDuino 1.0.5.4 Update (Feb 17th)

Sparki
#21

fixed problem with moveRight() commands, see original post or start page for link.

I’ll add a page in the getting started so that people can download older releases if they like.

There were some more serious bugs that needed to have an update pushed as fast as we could (LCD, for example), but now that things are getting stable, I’ll leave the start page alone unless there are well tested major feature changes (as should be the case).

I’ll also start releasing a ‘github current’ build link. People can help me test with that if they’d like.

I’m getting to a point with build installers set up on remote servers where I’ll be able to release updated builds almost as soon as they hit the github. I’ve been hampered until now by ridiculously slow and firewalled Chinese internet. (uploading 150MB of installers at 10KB/s doesn’t work so well). We recently just moved to Hong Kong for a while so I can get internet fast enough to get US-server based automatic builds set up. It will also helps us immensely in getting more documentation up faster.

#22

@roboalchemist

Does this change also include the 2x speed change you referenced here: How can I make Sparki go faster?

If not, please let me know how to make that change at the individual software component level.

Thanks,

#23

Yes, that change was already made with the original update, just not the way you made it:

github.com/ArcBotics/Sparki/com … 785faeaef3

#24

5:50 eastern time. Reloaded Sparki software to get the latest revision. rev. b. I got so far as to load the board (tools) (boards) (Arcbotics Sparki) nothing happens. I proceeded assuming that went ok. I tried to select Serial Port, but can’t. I would guess that this is because the boards are not loading. checked on the file in the software. C:\Program files(x86)\SparkiDuino\hardware\arduino\boards it is dated today Feb. 18, 2014. I am at a loss as to what to do next. when I try to compile a sketch and upload it I get an error “Couldn’t find a Leonardo on the selected port. Check that you have the correct port selected.” need help again. thanks. oh yes, the drivers are not loading. I get the message that they were not successfully loaded.

#25

I’m having problems with the updated programs. Everything worked great with the original install, then when I tried loading any of these updates, none of the USB drivers will install and the Sparki Bootloader won’t install. I’m running it under Windows XP, and the driver installation says none of these drivers are approved. Oh well, it was a lot of fun while it was working. I’m at about 3 hours now trying to get it back to the original install.

(Update: It’s back and running under 1.0.5.3. It’s a lot of fun. Hope you can take a look at the driver install issues for some of the next updates.)

(Update 2: Interesting issue - now every time I plug in the USB to upload a routine, the com port changes randomly (ports 3, 4, 5 or 6) and since the Bootloader etc are com port specific, it says that they aren’t there for the new com port) Am I just having XP issues? I’ve never seen this type of behavior with any USB device before.

(Update 3: I give up. I’ve done 3 windows system restores, and uninstalled and reloaded the program more times than I can count, in all the variations. The communication programs between Windows XP and the Sparki board just isn’t reliable enough to be used on my computer. I’m going to put this away for a couple of weeks to see what happens. I really like the hardware and in just the short while it was working I learned enough about the coding to really get me excited. But, since I can’t get any of the code into the Sparki, I’m just not having any fun anymore.)

(Update 4): Version c seems to be working fine. Thanks for the fix.

#26

Confirming that I’m having the same problem with a Win 7 computer.
I noticed in the Device Manager when I plug in Sparki, it shows Sparki Bootloader under Ports - COM & LPT for a few seconds but then that disappears and I get USB IO Board under Other Devices.

Tried installing 1.0.5.4a on top and also uninstalling and reinstalling 1.0.5.4a without success. I get an error:

==========
Unable to execute file:
D:\Program Files(x86)\SparkiDuino\drivers\dpinst-amd64.exe

CreateProcess failed; code 2.
The system cannot find the file specified.

I have an Intel processor, don’t know if that matters.

#27

I’m also getting a hard stop in the install on windows 7 (home premium)
says no file found for installing the drivers C:\Program Files (x86)\SparkiDuino\drivers\dpinst-amd.exe
the sparkiDuino software starts off fine, and says that sparki is connected on Com 1…before I plug in the sparki
no other effect or change from plugin it in - not in the app, not under ports or usb controllers

yes, tried rebooting, over and over
tried installing the 1.0.5.4a version instead of the b
even tried downloading and running the dpinst-amd file from the Arduino github page
:cry:

Update
three more reboots, running the sparki drivers exe from here in the forum (it should be on the intro page as well…),
saying yes to two big red security warnings from MS (good luck getting that past school admins), and it got a connection on com3

/that it failed to upload with a funky msg is almost a win
avrdude: error: buffered memory access not supported. Maybe it isn’t a butterfly/AVR109 but a AVR910 device?

#28

Updated to c edition, all driver issues as a resultof the installer should be solved now, especially for Win8 users.

#29

Version c is working for me.
The only thing I’ve seen for people to look out for is to wait maybe 20-30 seconds after plugging in Sparki for the COM port to settle in. I’ve had it initially appear as COM3, get a failure on uploading a sketch, only to find that the COM port has changed to COM6. Then it stays at COM6 until the next time I disconnect/reconnect Sparki.

#30

Version c is working for me.
The only thing I’ve seen for people to look out for is to wait maybe 20-30 seconds after plugging in Sparki for the COM port to settle in. I’ve had it initially appear as COM3, get a failure on uploading a sketch, only to find that the COM port has changed to COM6. Then it stays at COM6 until the next time I disconnect/reconnect Sparki.[/quote]
I tested the new driver installation (version “c”) on both Win7 (64-bit) and Win8.1 (64-bit) computer systems and it works fine; and it should be noted that there are now 3 driver installs completed with the new version.

Note: There appears to be a two stage process on Sparki power-up where the “bootloader” starts by connecting to COMx and then the USB/Serial connection is made using COMy. The COMy USB connection (“Sparki Programed”) remains active which is what Arduino IDE needs to use.

#31

Hi there. Trying to install version c on XP - unfortunately, the driver for Arduino Leonardo is missing. It only installs the USB driver. Even if I download the driver package separately, it only installs the USB driver, not the one for Arduino Leonardo.

Can someone please help?

N

#32

I ran into some issues uploading code after installing miniBloq. I found that manually uploading code worked for me. You might want to give it a try.

#33

[quote=“nchlo”]Hi there. Trying to install version c on XP - unfortunately, the driver for Arduino Leonardo is missing. It only installs the USB driver. Even if I download the driver package separately, it only installs the USB driver, not the one for Arduino Leonardo.

Can someone please help?

N[/quote]

I just installed today, and had the exact same problem. I’m using Vista and I googled the Arduino Leonardo driver, and from Arduino website I downloaded their IDE program. “arduino-1.0.5-r2-windows” arduino.cc/en/Main/Software I used the windows installer.

After the install, I opened the SparkiDuino program and plugged little sparki and it just worked. So whatever that driver is that is missing Arduino IDE program has it and installs it with no issue.

#34

Is there a version “d” of the installer available yet? Are the changes only being posted to Github only?

#35

have absolutely the same problem on the Sparki just received and Sparkiduino just downloaded from your site - Win7 on MBPRetina. COM port briefly appears and then disappears. Upload fails with ‘leonardo not found’ message. I tried both manual and automatic upload processes suggested on this site

Also, Sparkiduino blue screened my PC twice in the last 30 minutes. I normally have to reboot this machine only every 30-60 days so twice in 30 min is a bit disturbing…

I assume that software I just loaded is the latest version so am not sure what I can do from here.

Thanks,
Valery