Troubleshooting

The following list describes the most common problems and their remedies.

Check our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) at www.robotics.com/arobot/faq.html

Problem: Turning the power switch ON does not result in any activity.

Remedy: ARobot is not getting power. Insure that the batteries are good and installed correctly.

Insure that the batteries are touching the contacts on the battery holder. Insure that the power connector is plugged into the controller card correctly. Remove any expansion connector to eliminate the possibility of defective expansion circuitry.

Problem: Whiskers activate without being touched

Remedy: Make sure all whisker wires are resting in the center of the bracket’s hole. Make sure that the screw that holds the wire is tight.

Problem: Drive motor never stops when asked to go a certain distance.

Remedy: The optical encoder system is not working. Check the cabling and connectors. Make sure that the encoder wheel is INSIDE the slot of the encoder sensor. Make sure that the entire front wheel assembly is tight.

Problem: ARobot will not move even though the drive motor is turning.

Remedy: Tighten all the nuts on the front drive axle. Don‘t damage the threads of the axle. If the rubber part of the wheel is turning against the plastic hub, you‘ll probably have to squirt some glue between the rubber and the plastic to keep them together.

Problem: ARobot quits working when the drive motor or accessory is activated.

Remedy: A low battery could cause this. Or an accessory that is defective or pulling to much current or creating electrical noise.

Problem: Communication can not be established with ARobot.

Remedy: Insure that you are using the correct communications parameters. Make

sure you are using the right serial (COMM) port number. Check cable connections.

Problem: ARobot does not drive in a straight line when requested to.

Remedy: Make sure you’re using a steering direction of 80. Adjust the steering arms using the steering program. Make sure the servo horn on the steering motor is straight when in the center of travel.

Problem: Some other problem.

Remedy: If you©ve read the manual and our on-line FAQ but the problem still can©t be resolved, don©t waste another second, e-mail us at info@robotics.com for the answer!