Resolved by Dunning-Kruger!
I recently purchased a EZ4 board and I was anxious to use it. I went through two cables (mini din to molex) both of them traced correctly but yet I got nothing when I went into ARC.
The camera functioned (although it appears to only take up half the image window), I could connect to the web server no problem, but not the Roomba (although it acted like it wanted to connect).
In your pin out you have two pins being used one is ground and one is sending 5 volts (pin 3) to the create. Which confuses me because the directions make note to measure the voltage coming from the cable however I believe pin 3 SENDS to the Roomba not receives, am I misunderstanding?
My last attempt I took a PS2 cable put a meter lead on the pins you mentioned and then on the bare wire, until I had a complete connection. I attached those two to a molex connector with servo wire double checked the connections and still nada.
Help? stress tired
The web server is wifi, the Roomba is serial.... apples and oranges... Totally unrelated...
Pin 3 --- to data pin on ezb D0 Pin 7 --- to the grd pin on the ezb D0
First are you connected to your ezb in ARC? That means a solid green or blue led on the ezb...
Which version of the Roomba do you have 400 series or 500 series? (I think you said Create, but what version 1 or 2?)
3 Have you tried the built in Roomba control in ARC yet? Are you using port D0 on your ezb?
If you wired the plug correctly it will work ( I own a couple of 400 series Create and a 500 series Create is on the way)...
I have an ARC file on how to connect and drive around a series 500 Roomba with a EZB4 here in the EZ cloud... Look under robot apps, then sharing in the drop down box for it... It is called Roomba 500 custom movement panel... It works after all I wrote it lol...
No no no do not connect power from ezb to roomba or you will damage the roomba! The instructions clearly say to connect the signal and ground to the roomba. Hopefully you did not damage the roomba by giving it power to the signal port. Fingers crossed!
hal, IRobot Roomba or Create has its own power, only connect 2 wires (to send serial commands), ground and pin 3. Not sure of your actual application? Here is what I use on IRobot Create V1, I just tested it on EZB4 with my public file, CaptainAnndroid public is in the cloud.
3 pin is RXD 0-5V Serial input to Roomba
As Richard said refer to IRobot Roomba SCI. If you are just trying to send commands, pin 3 is correct. Turn on your IRobot power. This app will send the "init" command at connection. It will also use a custom Movement Panel for forward, etc.. This is first time trying it on a EZB4 using D0, it seems to work great sending all of my custom Movement Panel send serial commands. Steve S "Edit"- ... Video to follow
Hal, here is short video showing EZB4 on a IRobot Create v1 using my app CaptainAnn....., after power is first enabled on your Irobot, with the "init" command @ connection, and my custom Movement Panel send serial commands. You forced me to try something new today! Hope something helps. Steve S
Okay, so let me see if I can answer everyones wonderful feedback ...
(No DJ, I'm pretty sure I'm safe on connecting the power... thanks though ...
)
The cable I had connected from the Roomba to the Ez4 had the pins in the diagram connected to the servo cable. There was no power coming from the cable and I wouldn't have expected it since we're not trying to power between the two.
The cable is from an old PS2 mouse with the center tab removed and to confirm the two cables I had connected I metered from the pin in the connector to the end of the wire. They matched the two in the digram (although something now must be jacked up).
My earlier comment on the page being incorrect is that it mentions you should get 5v across the cable when you measure it plugged into the Roomba, I am not sure how though as the cable is only made to send commands not for power so I am thinking something doesn't jive on the directions.
This is a Roomba Create Version 1. (I keep forgetting the changed the color and called it new
).
Here's the answers to the other questions from above:
Yes, my comment was intended to show the board had power, was live and I was able to get the ARC tool to see it. They are related as much as the board has to be active.
Correct, although it doesn't have to be D0 but that is what I attempted to use.
I think this is part of the confusion, so the PS/2 has 6 actual pins I can connect to coming out of the top of the cable and then off to the servo cable, and I think what's getting me jacked up are the pin numbers being used. The instructions are referencing pin numbers on the Roomba connector but and not the PS/2 connector (and again as I said the mention of power ... which struck me as odd).
I looked over the screenshot (https://synthiam.com/Robots/Files/109/resized_img_0155.jpg) if that is a PS/2 connector with the tab removed the two pins showing at the top that would be closest together (with the notch at the bottom as shown) would be white on pin 4 and black on pin 5.
So I've ordered from Amazon a PS/2 mini din that I can just get to the pins on and a servo connector with the molex end on it. I'm just going to solder it from scratch instead of using an existing cable. I want to make sure I've got this correct ...
Just my thinking here but for someone who's not as savvy as us, it may help to reference pins on each side. I can toss together a quick diagram (once I'm up and running here).
Yes.
Create Version 1 - So it's a 500 series I think.
Yes, as mentioned before I can see the camera, I can see the board, the board just doesn't see the Roomba via D0.
Somewhere around I believe. On page 3 it shows the PIN out and I see that 3 is input to Roomba and 7 is ground (same as 01 and 14 on the serial connector).
The meter says it's wired correctly, my gut tells me somethings hinky though. I even took apart a Bluetooth cable I had working since I knew the pins / cables were correct ... no joy. I am sure it's between the two cables and their connection.
Thank you I will take a look, the next project is RoboPhilo, Parrot Two, Myo Armband and Darwin Mini ... Yes, it's an addiction
I found that my 655 Roomba wasn't working right in the Roomba control in ARC. Richard sent me a project file from which I got the roomba to work. Maybe you are having the problem too?
Create 1 is a 400 series (it is white, green is the new version 2)... Yes, you can use any port but D0 is the only port you can use with the Roomba control panel... If you have the white Create in the settings you have to use the "Old Protocol" not the 500 series one...
Oh before I forget THANK YOU all for your help with your answers and you too Steve. Once I get this cable sorted out, I have a question for you about why I'm only getting half image on the camera.
(This create FYI, was running ROS before with Kinect, Beaglebone and cape, then went to Bluetooth with Beaglebone and custom code). If I can get this working like I think it will this will be MUCH easier !
Thanks again guys!