Journal: Difference between revisions

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=== Cool new HTPC stuff subsection ===
=== Cool new HTPC stuff subsection ===
== Maxon Motor Control for Robotic Prototype ==
* Motor - Maxon A-max 32 (12V)
** Product page: [http://www.maxonmotor.com/maxon/view/product/motor/dcmotor/amax/amax32/236668 http://www.maxonmotor.com/maxon/view/product/motor/dcmotor/amax/amax32/236668]
** Data Sheet: [http://www.maxonmotor.com/medias/sys_master/root/8816801054750/15-172-EN.pdf http://www.maxonmotor.com/medias/sys_master/root/8816801054750/15-172-EN.pdf]
* Gearhead -
* Encoder -
* Driver - Maxon
** Product page: [http://www.maxonmotor.com/maxon/view/product/control/Servoverstaerker-4-Q-DC/145391 http://www.maxonmotor.com/maxon/view/product/control/Servoverstaerker-4-Q-DC/145391]
** Data sheet: [http://www.maxonmotorusa.com/medias/sys_master/8803609444382/145391-ADS-50-5-Operating-Instructions-En.pdf http://www.maxonmotorusa.com/medias/sys_master/8803609444382/145391-ADS-50-5-Operating-Instructions-En.pdf]

Revision as of 04:18, 30 December 2015

This page is the catch-all page that I use to write some quick notes for future reference.

Arduino IDE Linux Install

I just installed the Arduino IDE on Ubuntu 14.04 for the first time. The process using APT is very straightforward. Just run,

$ sudo apt-get install arduino arduino-core

And then upon first launch $ arduino authenticate via the prompt to configure some permission on the usb port. At this point, everything works perfectly after logging off and then back on again.

But there's one big problem... This version of the IDE (1.0.5 - 8/13/2015) does not support the Arduino DUE! At the time of writing, only the 1.6.x releases are bot supported by developers and are compatible with the Yun and DUE boards.

See: https://www.arduino.cc/en/main/software

Installing IDE from Arduino

Since APT doesn't support the newer Arduino IDE version that support the boards Yun and DUE, the package(s) must be downloaded from Arduino.

The package comes down as an archive in the form arduino-1.6.5-linux64.tar.xz and must be installed "manually" including external dependencies. I found a nice guide that describes the steps required, and I'll make some personal notes about this process here.

  1. Extract the package and move to /opt
    • $ tar -xvf <archive>
    • $ sudo mv <archive> /opt
  2. Install JRE dependency
    • $ sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jre
  3. Configure USB permissions
    • $ sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyACM<number> where <number> is 0, 1, 2, ... for each board used simultaneously
  4. Install shortcuts
    • $ cd /opt/arduino-1.6.5/
    • $ sudo chmod a+x install.sh
    • $ ./install.sh
    • Right click the desktop icon and change permissions to allow execution

Double-click the desktop icon or run from the terminal by,

$ /opt/arduino-1.6.5/arduino

Configuring the IDE

Direct the IDE toward the desired sketch directory by,

File >> Preferences >> Sketchbook Location : <fullFilePath>

The DUE board may not be an available selection at,

Tools >> Board

If this is the case, go to

Tools >> Board >> Board Manager

And install the required resources in the dialog box that pops up.


Rosserial Arduino Install

See: http://wiki.ros.org/rosserial_arduino/Tutorials/Arduino%20IDE%20Setup

Install the ROS package with APT by,

$ sudo apt-get install ros-indigo-rosserial-arduino

$ sudo apt-get install ros-indigo-rosserial

Install the ros_lib libraries for Arduino by running the following command in the Arduino libraries location,

$ rosrun rosserial_arduino make_libraries.py

Sphero Driver for Matlab

I've written a class in Matlab that implements the low-level binary communication protocol to expose the Sphero API functionality in m-code. There's a whole page dedicated to the documentation of Sphero API Matlab SDK as well as a Sphero API primer.

Kinect Human Motion Capture with iPi Soft Products

As part of my work in ARMLAB, I have invested many hours in testing and evaluating commercial software produced by iPi Soft. Their programs Recorder and Mocap Studio (with BioMech addon) enable simultaneous capturing of multiple depth sensors (e.g. Microsoft Kinect), detection and tracking of a human motion model in the fused depth data, refinement of the resulting motion model, and export of the results in Matlab format. I have created a page to collect my notes in the form of a quick-start guide or tutorial at iPi Soft Evaluation.

Testing Math Extension

I just installed the Math extension. Here are some equations ...

The equation I added just started throwing php errors in the front end when viewing the page with rendered equations. Maybe it's related to the 1.26 upgrade?

HTPC Config for Home LAN

Streaming media with VLC

Cool new HTPC stuff subsection

Maxon Motor Control for Robotic Prototype