This control supports the Sabertooth H-Bridge Motor Driver as a movement panel with variable speed in Simplified Serial mode.
How to add the Sabertooth Movement Panel robot skill
- Load the most recent release of ARC (Get ARC).
- Press the Project tab from the top menu bar in ARC.
- Press Add Robot Skill from the button ribbon bar in ARC.
- Choose the Movement Panels category tab.
- Press the Sabertooth Movement Panel icon to add the robot skill to your project.
Don't have a robot yet?
Follow the Getting Started Guide to build a robot and use the Sabertooth Movement Panel robot skill.
How to use the Sabertooth Movement Panel robot skill
This skill supports the Sabertooth Motor Controller as a Movement Panel with variable speed in Simplified Serial mode. The Sabertooth Motor Controllers are high power. They come in many versions that range from 5Amp to 60Amp. The ARC software supports the Simplified Serial Mode at multiple baud rates on a configured software serial or hardware UART port.
Main Window
1. Movement Panel Buttons These buttons will allow you to control the motors attached to the Sabertooth Motor Controller (left, right, forward, and reverse).
2. Speed Sliders These sliders will allow you to control the speed of each motor attached to the Sabertooth. If the sliders are at the bottom the speed will be 0% (off) and the top is 100%.
Configuration
1. Software Serial Option Checkbox This uses any EZB digital I/O port to send a emulated serial signal to control the Sabertooth. This section includes a drop-down for the serial communication speed (baud rate) and a Button to change I/O ports. *note: Software serial should only be used if the ezb does not have hardware uart.
2. Hardware UART Option Checkbox This uses a EZB UART port to send a serial signal to control the Sabertooth. This section includes a drop-down for the serial communication speed (baud rate) and another drop-down to select the hardware UART number. *note: Use the ezb hardware uart if available over software serial.
3. PC COM Option Checkbox This uses a PC COM port (commonly a USB-to-Serial device) to send a serial signal to the Sabertooth to control it. This section includes a drop-down for the serial communication speed (baud rate) and another drop-down to select the COM port number. This option has the unique feature that allows you to connect the Sabertooth motor controller directly to a computer.
Wiring
The EZ-B connects to the GND and Signal to the Sabertooth. The Signal from the EZ-B connects to S1 on the Sabertooth, which is used for Simplified Serial mode. The Sabertooth will get its power from the Power terminals that you connect to the battery. The GND must be shared between the EZ-B and Sabertooth, even if the battery supply of each is different.How to Use Sabertooth Movement Panel
- Physically configure your dip switches on the Sabertooth Motor Controller.
DIP Switches Consult the Datasheet of your Sabertooth product for dip switch settings. The suggested Sabertooth setting is Simplified Serial at 38400 Baud. Lower baud rates can be used if interference or poor functioning is experienced. For the 2x25, here is recommended dip switch settings.
Add the Sabertooth Movement Panel Skill to your ARC project (Project -> Add Skill -> Movement Panels -> Sabertooth Movement Panel).
Configure the Sabertooth Movement Panel skill. Set the communication option and speed (baud rate) that matches the Sabertooth DIP switch setting.
Baud Rate It is important to understand how the EZ-B and Sabertooth communicate. This is done over a serial connection. Serial may seem simple enough in wiring, but the baud speed is a very important attribute that prevents the communication from working. The baud rate of the serial connection is the absolute most important property and must match between the EZ-B and Sabertooth. If the speed is not understood between the sabertooth and EZ-B controller, it won't work. Ensure both the EZ-B and Sabertooth are using the same baud rate.
Consult the manual for your Sabertooth model for the baud rate settings. The suggested baudrate is 38400, which much match the setting in the config menu of this control. Press the options menu on the Sabertooth control to view settings. Lower baud rates can be used if interference or poor functioning is experienced.
- Click the Sabertooth Movement Panel buttons to move your motors.
Video
Resources
Here's a helpful community post: https://synthiam.com/Community/Questions/Fun-With-A-Kangaroo-sabertooth-8542/commentsCustomer Support For customer support of Sabertooth devices and understanding their datasheets, please contact them here: Dimension Engineering Support.
Product Documentation Dimension engineering has PDF manuals for all of their products. The most popular product is the 2X25, which you can find the product page here.
Product Details Sabertooth allows you to control two motors. You can build many different robots of increasing complexity for years to come with a Sabertooth. Sabertooth has independent and speed+direction operating modes, making it the ideal driver for differential drive (tank style) robots and more.
The operating mode is set with the onboard DIP switches so there are no jumpers to lose or complicated programming sequences. Sabertooth features screw terminal connectors - making it possible for you to build a robot without having to solder.
Sabertooth is the first synchronous regenerative motor driver in its class. The regenerative topology means that your batteries get recharged whenever you command your robot to slow down or reverse. Sabertooth also allows you to make very fast stops and reverses - giving your robot a quick and nimble edge.
Sabertooth has a built in 5V BEC that can provide power to a microcontroller or R/C receiver. It also features a lithium cutoff mode allowing Sabertooth to operate safely with lithium ion and lithium polymer battery packs - the highest energy density batteries available.
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Did you try lowering the baudrate? Try 9600 to be safe
what uart port do you have selected?
you should not need to isolate the wire
I am using uart 0 on the ARC software and s1 on the controller, it is indeed set to 9600
The baudrate is 9600 on both the sabertooth dip switches and the robot skill configuration screen? They need to match
oh also, so you think the sabertooth is browning out? Is it getting enough power? I guess there’s no real way for us to know if the micro ever reboots. A surge of power draw from the motors might cause it to reboot which would have these issues.
There are soooooooo many ARC users that use the sabertooth and I’ve never seen this behavior.
I like how DJ is thinking. Try moving the power feed from the charging circuit to a direct feed from the battery. Make sure your Sabertooth dip switches are set properly for this.
I don't recall anyone feeding a ST from a charging circuit.
This is a head scratcher.
I will give that a try, for reference this is the charging circuit i am using, for reference its agreat bit of circuitry that senses when you connect and disconnect power to the circuit and charges and discharges accordingly.
xaxxon_power_v2_datasheet.pdf
Ah, it looks like a very nice device. However, and this is just a shot in the dark, it may be screwing with your request to turn on the power to move your motor through the ST. If it's not sensing your request for power properly it may not be providing the "on switch" when you want. Or it could be the other way around. The ST isn't synching properly with this power management device.
Maybe there is a adjustment on the power management board or maybe you could try a different dip switch setting on the ST? Again just a guess but that Lipo Battery dip switch on the ST may be messing with this setup.
Another thought; I haven't seen you mention that you have tried simply writing a script (EZ Script or JavaScript) with movement commands and eliminate the movement panel. I know you want the Movement Panel but this could be a simple troubleshooting exercise to see if you have something wrong in the movement panel. Have the script move the robot forward, pause for a few seconds, then repeat with each direction.
The custom Movement Panel could be used for additional troubleshooting on your end: https://synthiam.com/Support/Skills/Movement-Panels/Custom-Movement-Panel-v2?id=21148
this is such a head scratcher!