RoboteQ AX1500, AX2550 Using the Console, Terminal Screen, Command Entry, Keep Watchdog Alive

Using the Console

cannot be established (e.g. “Controller not found”, no response to command changes, communication errors, ...etc.). The Roborun utility will let you exercise and monitor the motors, sensors and actuators using a computer. This feature is particularly useful during development as you will be able to visualize, in real-time, the robot’s Amps consumption and other vital statistics during actual operating conditions.

Figure 95 shows the Console Screen and its various components.

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FIGURE 96. Raw ASCII data exchange in Console

1- Terminal Screen

This area displays the raw ASCII data as it comes out of the controller. After the controller is reset, it will output a prompt with the firmware’s revision and date. Then, if in the RC or Analog mode, the controller will output a continuous string of characters for data logging. If in RS232 mode, the controller will output an “OK” prompt and is ready to accept com- mands.

2- Command Entry

This window is used to prepare up to 3 command string and send them by clicking on their associated buttons. The string is sent to the controller when clicking on the send button. Commands can only be sent when the controller has entered in RS232 mode. See “Con- troller Commands and Queries” on page 128 for the complete list of commands and que- ries. See “RS232 Encoder Command Set” on page 145 for the list of Encoder related commands and queries.

3- Keep Watchdog Alive

If the controller is in the RS232 mode with the watchdog enabled, then after 1 second of inactivity motors will be stopped if they were one and a “W” character will be sent to the terminal. When this checkbox is checked, Roborun will send a Null character to the control- ler on a regular basis so that the watchdog time-out is never reached.

AX1500 Motor Controller User’s Manual 175