USB robot arm.

[nickon314]

Hi,
I have one of those maplin robotic arms which have been mentioned in several other posts on this forum.

Mine has an integrated USB interface.

I am trying to use the code from here:
http://notbrainsurgery.livejournal.com/38622.html

But, it assumes that I know the VendorID etc from the USB device.

When I plug in the robot arm into the Pi, I get the following in /var/log/messages:

Sep 3 06:04:46 raspberrypi kernel: [ 400.005718] usb 1-1.3: new low speed USB device number 5 using dwc_otg
Sep 3 06:04:51 raspberrypi kernel: [ 405.465855] usb 1-1.3: new low speed USB device number 6 using dwc_otg
Sep 3 06:04:52 raspberrypi kernel: [ 405.925855] usb 1-1.3: new low speed USB device number 7 using dwc_otg
Sep 3 06:04:52 raspberrypi kernel: [ 406.425871] usb 1-1.3: new low speed USB device number 8 using dwc_otg

So, that shows that Linux is detecting something. But, it doesn't show the VendorID etc.

Am I out of luck?

Regards

Nick

[Jim JKla]

The Maplin order number would help. Or a link to their on line catalogue page.

[nickon314]

Hi,

It's this one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/robotic-arm-kit ... ace-266257

I didn't put a link on originally (sorry) as I see some other forum posts regarding this robot.

Regards

Nick

[Jim JKla]

The turnover on this forum is its own phenomenon

That aside I am sure you will get an answer soon. I added a question to the FAQ for the product over at maplins site.

[maksm]

try lsusb

[nickon314]

try lsusb

Yes, tried that.
lsusb doesn't show anything for the robot.

It has 4 entries (one is the keyboard, can't remember the others).

But, the list is the same whether the robot is in or out.

Regards

Nick

[Jim JKla]

Feedback from Maplins

Your FAQ Question: Are there Linux drivers for this product

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Maplin Technical Support,

This is only compatible with 32 bit versions of Windows.

I hope this helps and please do not hesitate to contact us with any additional queries you may have.

Kind Regards,



Daniel Hirst

Technical Department

Maplin Electronics Ltd

[bredman]

Issue 3 of the MagPi magazine (page 14) shows how to control this arm, it uses the USB id 1267:0000.
www.themagpi.com

I am very surprised that lsusb does not show anything, this means that the USB device has not been detected. You need to fix this first.

Have you tried using a powered USB hub or directly to the RPi? Avoid using unpowered USB hubs if possible.

[nickon314]

Issue 3 of the MagPi magazine (page 14) shows how to control this arm, it uses the USB id 1267:0000.
http://www.themagpi.com

I am very surprised that lsusb does not show anything, this means that the USB device has not been detected. You need to fix this first.

Have you tried using a powered USB hub or directly to the RPi? Avoid using unpowered USB hubs if possible.

Yes.
I was plugging in directly to the Pi. I will try a powered USB hub when I get chance.
I thought that it was going to be OK since there is stuff appended to /var/log/messages when I plug the robot in. But, nothing is shown in 'dmesg', and no VendorID specific stuff appears.

So, still some work to do.
I notice that some people talk of a USB remote control module for the robot. Maybe I have a different thing. My robot has a USB integral to the robot - it's not like an aftermarket addon.

Regards

Nick

[nickon314]

Well, some progress.

If I plug in the robot arm - without the USB keyboard present then something is detected:

[ 308.009692] usb 1-1.2: new low speed USB device number 4 using dwc_otg
[ 308.112289] usb 1-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=1267, idProduct=0000
[ 308.112334] usb 1-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0

And, lsusb now shows this:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 1267:0000 Logic3 / SpectraVideo plc

But, that is using the USB port directly - I haven't yet tried it with a powered USB HUB. Will try that soon.

Regards

Nick

[nickon314]

OK, sorted. It does work after all.

The main problem was with getting the Pi to detect the device.
Once that was sorted I used the 'armedgetest' code at:

http://notbrainsurgery.livejournal.com/38622.html

And now I can control the robot from 'C' code.

I had to # sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0-dev first though to get the libusb.h file and stuff.

Thanks for the help.

Regards

Nick

[windy54]

Hi,

now did you get the PI to detect the arm, I am having exactly the same problem?

lsusb does not show anything.

I am plugging the arm into a powered hub.

The arm works as I have connected it into a windows laptop.

thanks

Steve

[pddring]

I've been playing around with one of these robotic arms with some students at my school. I've used the information on http://notbrainsurgery.livejournal.com/38622.html to write a control interface library that can be used in your own programs (C++) but also comes with a sample control program so you can control the robot arm using a keyboard connected to a raspberry pi.

I've tried to write up the steps needed for how to get it up and running: https://github.com/pddring/robo-arm-pi/wiki

Hope this is useful for other schools / students.

[ma10]

Stumbled into this post randomly... If anybody is interested, Maplin has reduced the price on these to 29.99 GBP atm. Also, this forum post talks about getting it to work in Linux which includes what have already been suggested here but also a way to use Python as well:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... rm-851033/

[LeoWhite]

Stumbled into this post randomly... If anybody is interested, Maplin has reduced the price on these to 29.99 GBP atm.

Hmm, tempting to get another one. I managed to damage the circuitry in one of my and it no longer rotates left and right.

Also, this forum post talks about getting it to work in Linux which includes what have already been suggested here but also a way to use Python as well:

I've got some python code for controlling the Robot ARM using a PS3 controller on my site at http://www.mybigideas.co.uk/RPi/RobotArm/

I use that on my RaspberryPi and a variant of it to control my BigTrak with robot Arm (Not yet posted).

Leo