POP! Project, POP-168 board

SerialServer, Arduino addon

by Dan O’Sullivan

SerialServer relays bytes back and forth from an internet socket connection to a hardware serial port. It is sort of like an ethernet to RS232 converter. This is especially useful for software like Flash which has an easy time making socket connections and a hard time making serial connections.

For Win32 user, AvrIDE.com Team had re-package for easy install to Arduino software, publish on AvrIDE.com only , http://www.avride.com/pop/store/SerialServerSetup.exe

install on Arduino software folder, SerialServer icon created on Start Menu and click to run..

For Linux user, download http://www.avride.com/pop/store/ss6linux.tar and extract files on disk (Arduino folder recommended)
copy RXTXcomm.jar and librxtxSerial.so into JAVA Runtime -> lib -> ext
pathname depand on Version you are using (root permission needs for files copy),
$ sudo cp RXTXcomm.jar /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.03/jre/lib/ext
$ sudo cp librxtxXSerial.so /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun-1.6.0.03/jre/lib/ext
then run ss6.jar on console
$ java -jar ss6.jar

for MacOS X (Intel) users, download http://www.avride.com/pop/store/ss6mac.zip and extract files on disk (Arduino folder recommended)
copy RXTXcomm.jar and libSerial.jnilib into /Library/Java/Extensions/.

for FTDI USB Serial adapter (UCON-232) can download driver package V2.2.10 on http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP/MacOSX/UniBin/FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_2_10.dmg
also available on folder ” Arduino -> driver “.
Unpack and install package and restart needed.

after boot again, plug FTDI USB Serial to machine and open ” System Preference -> Network “.
the notification “New Interface detected” as FT232R USB UART and click “Confirm”

next procedure for avoid report “Port already in use” (issue on 081024) and status is <Bad>

because application cannot access to use folder /var/lock was missing on new Machine

Let’s do it, open Terminal and type
sudo su

(System user password needed herer to access system change)
then change permission on “/var/spool/uucp”
chmod 755 /var/spool/uucp

and take owner by system
chown root:wheel /var/spool/uucp

if folder “/var/lock” is not apper , you need to create new one
mkdir /var/lock

and change permission too
chmod 777 /var/lock

That’s all done… call ss6.jar and check port status and shoulld be appear <OK>

visit Dan O’Sullivan site here
http://itp.nyu.edu/~dbo3/SerialServer/SerialServer.html

Updated on 2008-11-02, <Worapoht K.>

Posted in Software | No Comments »

Arduino-0012 Release annoucement (Win32 / MacOSX / Linux)

Arduino 0012 release version. This is almost identical to the release
candidate, except that it fixes problems which prevented the Stepper
library and AnalogFirmata examples from compiling.

Release notes:
* Added Arduino Nano to the boards menu.
* Arduino Pro or Pro Mini (8 MHz) to the boards menu.
* Added Firmata library by Hans Steiner and others. This provides a
standard protocol for communicating with software on the computer.
* Added an Ethernet library for use with the Arduino Ethernet Shield.
* Added a Servo library based on the work of Jim Studt.
* Added a LiquidCrystal library based on the work in the playground.
It supports both 4- and 8-bit modes.
* Improved millis(): it now overflows after 49 days instead of 9
hours, but now uses slightly more processing power.
* Fixed reversing direction bug in Stepper library. (Thanks to Wayne
Holder.)
* Moved insertion of #include to after any comments and
#include statements in the main sketch file. This means that an
#include now works.
* Upgraded to newer versions of avr-gcc (4.3.0) and avr-libc (1.6).
This provides support for newer Atmel chips, but may increase the size
of sketches.
* Allowing per-board specification of the upload.using preference,
allowing upload via bootloader to some boards and via a programmer to
others.
* Added return values to some functions in the Wire library to allow
for better error handling.
* Fixed random() to work with long values.
* Creation of an abstract Print base-class to allow Serial,
SoftwareSerial, and LiquidCrystal to share code for print() and
println().
* Incorporated ladyada’s watchdog timer mods to the bootloader source,
but only compiling them in for the Pro and Pro Mini (because they are
included in the bootloader being burned on the boards by SparkFun).

Windows: http://www.arduino.cc/files/arduino-0012-win.zip
Mac OS X: http://www.arduino.cc/files/arduino-0012-mac.zip
Linux: http://www.arduino.cc/files/arduino-0012-linux.tgz

David

Worapoht K., report

Posted in Hardware, Software | No Comments »

SoftwareServo library remake for Arduino 0012

Since Servo library published with Arduino 0012 package and seem to be problem to old Servo library code. Because new library which derive from ServoTimer on Playground and replace old “Servo” name.

new “Servo” library using built-in Timer for automatic refresh signal pulse which more ease to use, but limited to pin 9 and 10 only (that capable only 2 motors).

old “Servo” library published on Playground using derive work from Wiring project which connect to any pin on arduino, upto 20 instance (pin 0 to pin 19).
and code always called Servo.refresh(); at least every 50ms. for continue signal send and get work properly.

then I’d remake this library again and rename to “SoftwareServo” avoid name conflict to 0012 Servo library
you can download library below link
http://www.avride.com/pop/store/SoftwareServo_millisSet_addon.zip

unzip file on current Arduino folder, and overwrite “wiring.c” and “wiring.h” because I’d add new millisSet(unsigned long); function, for direct millis() counter can be set or clear to zero (useful for timer applcation)

on SoftwareServo library, I’d also put two example,
one is “sweep” : just control Servo on pin2 looping
another is “SerialServo” : control Servo motro by Serial Monitor command, adapt form example on playground. simple command key are listed below
“A” for select motor on pin2
“B” for select motor on pin4
“0″ to “9″ control recent selected motor’s position from 0 to 180 degree, each value step represented to position multiply by 20 degree.

for more information on library, Credit and refer to original Playground library page here http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Servo

Post by K.Worapoht, dev [at] avride.com

Posted in Application, Hardware, Software | No Comments »

POP-168 getting start on MacOS X Leopard 10.5.x , Arduino 0012

From online guide “How to get Arduino running on MacOS X 10.3.9 or later”
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/MacOSX
Test on MacOS X Leopard 10.5 (Intel),

First, download Arduino software MacOS X package on
http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software , about 63.45MB
unpack to Desktop and get in the folder “arduino-0012”

because modern Mac machine no have generic Serial port built-in like PC, then USB to Serial port adapter is needed for communication. We’d recommend adapter using FTDI chip (INEX’s UCON-232S)

open subfolder “drivers” then open (mount) FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_2_9_Intel.dmg (If you using PPC, mount another file FTDIUSBSerialDriver_V2_1_9.dmg) then run the extracted package installer file and follow the instruction .

after finished, system will force to restart machine again..

after back to MacOS X , Arduino is Ready to use..

Run Arduino software and open menu

Select Board -> Arduino Mini for POP-168 Module

and Select port -> /dev/tty.usbserial-A1000q5a (or other in /tty.usbserial-Axxxxxxx format) for FTDI chip (also UCON-232S adapter)

if you machine is not Apple Inc. machine (AKA. MacClone, HackIntosh) which generic RS-232 Serial Port available. It’s will appear on menu as /dev/tty.serial1

Posted in Knowledge Base, Software | No Comments »

Getting start Arduino 0011 on Linux (Ubuntu 7.10 / 8.04 / 8.10)

from original document on http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Linux/Xandros
run Arduino on EeePC’s Xandros Linux which use Debian online update apt-get command then Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, 8.04 Hardy Heron, 8.10 Intrepid Ibex also work too..

Step by step on Installation via internet update service. (High speed connection recommended)

1.open Terminal (Console)

2.use pico change Debian repository,sudo pico /etc/apt/sources.list

then add line

deb http://www.uk.debian.org/debian stable main contrib non-free

3. write file back and start online update,

sudo apt-get update

(time depand on internet connection speed)

4.then update need package softwares

sudo apt-get install sun-java6-jre

sudo apt-get install build-essential

sudo apt-get install avr-libc

sudo apt-get install gcc-avr

5.download Arduino Linux 0011 from http://www.arduino.cc then unpack to Desktop, or using command-line

cd

wget http://www.arduino.cc/files/arduino-0011-linux.tgz

tar -xvzf arduino-0011-linux.tgz

6.test run Arduino

cd arduino-0011

./arduino

if everything okay, Arduino software IDE will appear and no error message pop-up

for FTDI USB-Serial adapter

must be uninstall braille terminal first before using FTDI USB Serial adapter, type command

sudo apt-get remove brltty

after remove package you can plug USB-Serial adapter and open Arduino software IDE will apear /dev/ttyUSB0 on Serial port menu

open arduino, Select board -> Arduino Mini for POP-168 and choose proper port name before uploading

Posted in Knowledge Base, Software | No Comments »

POP-168 wire connection

(Click image for larger size)
Only regulated +5V.DC supply and RS-232 conection to PC’s serial port (COM) to work POP-168

Schematic diagram

POP-168 Schematic diagram Rev.A 20080131

POP Interface board Schematic diagram Rev.B 20080226

Posted in Hardware | No Comments »

POP-Loader : Bootloader utility for POP-168

POP-Loader : Bootloader utility for uploading user code (.hex) from other AVR tools such as AVR Studio into POP-168 (For Windows)

Version 1.02 build 2008.01.08

Download here: http://www.avride.com/pop/store/POPLoaderSetup.exe

Fix : correct flash section on download, File -> Save .hex Flash as file

Posted in Software | No Comments »

Most recommended Arduino programming start guide

Arduino Programming Notebook (the original page from Freeduino.org) , Brian Evans has just published the Arduino Programming Notebook. You can get a printed copy for only $5.33, or download the PDF for free!

Tod E. Kurt’s Spooky Projects Serieshttp://todbot.com/blog/spookyarduino , Get more idea inside..

Posted in Application, Hardware, Software | No Comments »

Getting start Arduino on POP-168

After download and install Arduino software on machine, configuration must be choose on the first times.

Step by step guide

Run “Arduino” program, Set microcontroller type, by menu : Tools -> Microcontroller (MCU) -> and select “atmega168″. (since Release 0010, this sub menu was changed to “Board” select instead , set Board -> Arduino Mini)

Set communication port, on menu : Tools -> Serial Port -> select “COM” port as POP-168 present

Open LED demo blinking example, on menu : File -> Sketchbook -> Examples -> Digital -> select “Blink” demo sketch

then prepare POP-168 into Bootloader

- Power off POP-168
- Hold BL switch , then Power on POP-168
- Release BL switch
If Blue LED on POP-168 was lighted and not blink,
then POP-168 had entered Bootloader mode and ready to uploaded.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Software | No Comments »

Turn your Stamp application to POP-168

POP-168 is fitted on 24 pin form like BASIC Stamp I/O and Code downloading via RS-232.

A little changed on power input, POP-168 didn’t provide on-board voltage regulator. Only apply +5V.DC on pin21 directly and continue your exist application.

here is example on Parallax’s Professional Development Board (PDB) modification to work with POP-168
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Application, Hardware | No Comments »