Welcome to Synthiam!

The easiest way to program the most powerful robots. Use technologies by leading industry experts. ARC is a free-to-use robot programming software that makes servo automation, computer vision, autonomous navigation, and artificial intelligence easy.

Get Started
Australia
Asked

Using Cytron Smart Drive Duo-10 With ARC And EZ-B

We know that ARC platform supports the Sabertooth dual DC motor drive in all its modes .. communicating via its serial packetized iface (I think).  Do you have support for the Cytron Smart Drive Duo-10 MDDS10? This is a similar module to the Sabertooth tho considerable less expensive.  It supports a packetised iface and has independent and mixed modes.

Related Hardware EZ-B v4

ARC Pro

Upgrade to ARC Pro

ARC Early Access will give you immediate updates and new features needed to unleash your robot's potential!

AI Support Bot
Related Content
Synthiam
Based on your post activity, we found some content that may be interesting to you. Explore these other tutorials and community conversations.
PRO
Synthiam
#1  
Should be easy to modify the sabertooth plugin to work with that. Do you have a datasheet with the communication protocol?
Australia
#2  
Unresolved .. I was sent a link describing where to source the Cytron smart drive duo-10 but my question is: does the ARC platform manage this motor controller pls?
PRO
Synthiam
#3   — Edited
Of course ARC can support anything if you know the protocol. Should be easy to modify the sabertooth plugin to work with that. Do you have a datasheet with the communication protocol?
Australia
#4  
mdds10_users_manual.pdf

Sorry .. my mistake .. I did not see DJs comment.  Pls see data sheet.  The serial comms protocols are at the end.
Australia
#5  
DJ .. is this something that I would do .. would I access the Sabertooth plugin > copy it and rename the copy > then access the protocol and change to suit the Cytron board??  or this something that would have to be done by your team?
PRO
Synthiam
#6  
I am offering to help, personally. I merely need a datasheet or some document or webpage that displays the protocol commands to send.
Australia
#8  
Hello DJ .. is this document enough?
PRO
Synthiam
#9  
It sure is. I'll give it a look through - stay tuned
PRO
Synthiam
#10  
Looks like the Sabertooth Movement Panel is compatible with the Cytron Smart Drive Duo in Simplified Serial Mode. Follow the instructions in the manual you attached to set the Cytron into simplified serial. Keep note of the baudrate and connect it to your EZ-B's UART port.
Australia
#11  
Thanks DJ.  So if I have this right .. both Sabertooth and Cytron Smart Drive Duo use simplified serial protocol and both connect to one of the EZ-B UART ports.  I understand that every digital port can be configured as one direction serial ie. TXD?? Eg. I could put my Sabertooth on D0 and my Cytron on D1.  Is this correct?  Or , do I have to use the dedicated UART ports UART0, 1, 2?
Australia
#12  
Then, do I select the same plugin (Sabertooth) for both my Sabertooth and Cytron modules?
PRO
Synthiam
#13  
1) yes you use the sabertooth skill to control the cytron. The Sabertooth Movement Panel is compatible with the Cytron Smart Drive Duo in Simplified Serial Mode.

2) I advise using the UART ports to ensure accurate data transmission. The sabertooth config control will also mention the same advice when configuring the control.
Australia
#15  
DJ .. thanks for this .. so that I am clear then, rather than using any of the digital channels in serial mode I should use the (black) dedicated UART0 port .. but only the TXD pin?
PRO
Synthiam
#16  
Correct. There are three uarts. You can choose to use which of the the three are most convenient for your setup
Australia
#17  
DJ .. understood .. so there is:
UART0 - on dedicated (black) connector
UART1 - on D5:6
UART2 - on D18:19

but simple serial only communicates in one direction .. EZ-B to module via TXD line.
PRO
Synthiam
#18   — Edited
ezb tx to Sabertooth rx
and ensure both devices have a common ground. 

have fun!
Login to post a comment