Software cannot recognize AX3500 controller

The ax3500 controller was working fine and then suddenly i couldn\'t connect to it via the PC software Roborun. If i connect the controller to the USB port and select the correct comm port under Controller ID: it says No Valid Controller info. If i hit the restart button on the controller I get the following info in the roboteq.jpg . which is attached. If i hit the load from controller button i get an error message saying \"Controller did not respond.\" If i click on \"Update Controller Software\" I get an error saying Incoherent data received from the controller.

Also, i noticed under the console tab in the software that im just getting a string of \"OKOKOK\" repeating as shown in the console.jpg .

Any help will be throughly appreciated as im completely stuck!

Mike

Stay in the console tab and reset the controller.

Verify that you see the Roboteq startup message followed by a single OK if configured in RS232 mode, or followed by a continuous data string if in RC mode.

Under the console tab, when i hit the reset button on the controller i see the firmware which is 1.9g and the roboenc 1.7. Then the console is flooded with \"OKOKOKOK\" I try and read data from the controller and i get an error message that says controller did not respond. I try and hit switch to RS232 mode under the console and nothing happens.

Any help would be great. Thanks

Mike

This is quite strange. OK normally only shows once after the controller has entered the RS232 mode. Try reinstalling the firmware. Launch roborun with the controller off. Then click on update firmware. Turn on the controller when prompted.

Ill give that a shot later today or tomorrow and ill let you know how that goes.

Thanks again

Mike.

No luck. I powered down the controller. Clicked on the update controller software and then i get prompted to Pwer on or rest the controller. When i power it on i get an error message of \"Incoherent data received from controller.\"

I also tried a different roboteq ax3500 in the lab room and then same errors. Then i tried a different serial to usb cable (which runs on a different serial driver), same errors. I tried a different computer, same error.

Any thoughts?

Mike

Update:

So i had a thought that maybe there is something wrong with the power supply of the motor controller. So the controller is constantly resetting itself, which would explain why there is a constant string of \"OK\" being output to the console tab.

So i hooked up an oscilloscope to the power control tab and the ground tab and i got the following image

Since the line is not linear it makes me believe that there is indeed something wrong with the power supply.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Mike

the image didn\'t upload so here it is

Can\'t see your attachment.

If the controller is contiously restarting, the you should see the full prompt repeating:

Roboteq v1.9g ....

Do you see this or do you just see the OK repeating.

A stable power supply is certainly better. However, as long as the supply is always at 11V or higher (regarless of the shape), it will be OK.

Try powering the controller only through the power control tab.

the attachment should be shown in my previous post because it was to large.

The only thing i see is constant OK no Roboteq v1.9g. If i hit the reset button i do get the software version and encoder version and then an OK and then constant OKs flood the screen. This only happens when i power the controller and reset it and the software actually finds the controller. Sometimes it doesn\'t find the controller and i get random characters.

For instance, if i hook up the controller to the power control tab and dont hit reset and look under the console tab in the software i get strings in the form of \"?*n\" and that floods the screen.

The controller right now is hooked up to the power supply on one of our lab benches and should be stable. And i have it hooked up only to the power control tab, no motors or anything are hooked up.

and if you didn\'t see the attachment here it is.



Thanks,

Mike