MDC2250C !G command? !M command?

Hello, Ive just purchased two mdc2250c controllers and both are behaving oddly? or more likely I dont quite know what I am doing yet.

I am just testing in open loop mode using USB.

In both roborun+ console mode and serial term the same behaviour occurs.

the GO command. eg !G 1 400 doesnt always work.
sometimes it works.
sometimes nothing.
sometimes it remembers a past Go command and does that instead of latest command.
sometimes using the !G command on motor 1 will make motor
2 go as well, seemingly remembering previous settings.

The sliders work fine, and if I copy the command that roborun seems to use, eg,
!M 200 400 that works.

So why am I getting different behaviours and cross channel motor motion with !G commands?

And also, although !M command works to control motors, I cannot find any reference to that command in the reference manual?? or am i mad??

thanks, Dave

it is the watchdog that is fooling you.

You must send a new command (ie stating with !) within 1 second otherwise the motor stops.

For your tests, try disabling or extending the rs232 watchdog.

It is not the watchdog, Ive bumped my head into that one before.

As I said, I get varying behaviour with !G, even both motors going at once or speed not responding as stated.
and I didnt notice this behaviour the other day.

The watchdog simply turns the motors off after a second.

And where can I find documentation on !M ??

Also, both controllers do exactly the same if I swap them over on the work bench so its not likely that ive accidentally configured one incorrectly.

USB connection is stable and batt level >12v


thanx.

The user manual has the information regarding the commands used with our controllers.

As for your controllers, are they in open loop or closed loop operating mode?

!M is not listed amongst the run time commands in table 18 on p.164 of nxtgen controller manual v1.2.

as stated the controllers are in open loop mode or so roborun is reporting.

it is hard to imagine any electronic damage could have occurred or behave so selectively.

it must be a configuration issue???
I will try reseting to default settings
then re install roborun if that doesnt work.

The !G command I believe is a steady given repeated signal when in the run tab using the slider. So !G in the console tab will go to 500 and when reached, stops unless you click send again, or give it a different value. The console command needs a repeat signal to keep the motor at the desired value.

Look, thanks for your attention, but you guys are simply not reading what Ive written

The watchdog is responsible for shutting off the motor, but as stated that is NOT the problem.

The !G command is making BOTH motors move at once.

As stated the !M command DOES work which proves the controller can control both motors properly and independently.

Now I have another problem.
I tried to update firmware by clicking on the button provided for that purpose in Roborun and now the USB device driver is not loading and the controller does not work AT ALL.

I am not having much fun anymore as this is a severe waste of time and not a cheap product. I purchased this product for its apparent quality and USB connectivity which is usually plug and play, but this is anything but.....

Can someone who knows what is going on please help???

Hi,

Ive uninstalled Roborun+ and re installed it.

Now Roborun+ is not running.

Apparently an UNHANDLED EXCEPTION!!!!

What on earth is going on??

This is a relatively new laptop 1yr with winows7.

Hi,

Some success, reinstalled again,
Roborun back up, USB connectivity back up.

Still have same issue with !G command moving both motors.

What is the syntax command you are giving it?
!G .......

Seeing the same thing on my unit here with the mdc controller.

If I give it the !G 1 1000, both motors spin
however I did have a moment where if I did !G 2 1000, motor 1 moved, but motor 2 did not.

This issue is being investigated.