rPi Hardware Servo Control

Today’s lunch consisted of cold chicken and some fun with servos. Servos, Python, Linux, IO, chicken…nice little Friday.

The goal of this abbreviated session was to figure out how PWM works in the trenches. However sold I am on the rPi in general, I have an uneasy feeling that the CPU is going to be a pain in my ass with respect to stuff I’ve taken for granted on simpler hardware. Whereas the Arduino platform and my beloved IOIO were effectively real-time operating systems, the rPi’s IO pins’ calls are no different from any other PID that is spawned. The amazing Linux-y stuff does in fact have a downside…i.e. no guaranteed execution times.

Anyhow, this is what I am currently poking at. Today’s session was a case-in-point as a matter of fact.

schwervo
schwervo

The setup is as simple as it gets…what I call the ‘junior servo’ hooked up to 3.3V, a ground, and to the single PWM-capable pin (18) on the rPi. I have previously pushed Servo Jr. with 3.3V with the IOIO, so I had a level of confidence I wouldn’t tear down the box. On a bit of a side note, I did verify that ripping 5V off of the board and attempting to push a full sized hobby servo did in fact take the rPi to its knees. Be sure to power any servos externally for any real tests or prototyping.

I again chose to use Python to mash around. Two data points aren’t many, but will definitely allude to a trend you will likely continue to see here: I’m more comfortable with Python than C, and that is our chosen rPi workhorse at Swan Tron Global HQ. Sadly, as opposed to playing around with LEDs from my last rPi post, the GPIO library doesn’t have any PWM support at this point. The workaround is to call out the pin directly…this is pretty easily done with any of the main rPi distros. I am *fairly* certain I am still on Occidentalis v0.2 from Adafruit.

Here is another non-snippet-but-here’s-a-screenshot-worthy two minute py script I put together to push the servo:

bonus cap reflection
bonus cap reflection

As I feared, the hardware instance is begging for well-designed software in order to produce anything predictable. The following video was taken from a fresh boot (READ: after I wiped the thing out with a continuous drive servo) sans any networking. As bare-bones as you can get…the OS executing a Python script and writing to one pin…what you see is:

Executable 1) Software calling for servo to alternate between 0 and 180 degrees, with a delay between position changes

Executable 2) Software calling for servo to step between 0 and 180 degrees with slight delay between position changes

Executable 3) Software calling for servo to step through scenario #2, albeit with a negligible delay between position change calls

Take a look:

Result 1) With adequate time between writes, the servo itself sets the cadence, and smoothly

Result 2) 180 position writes manifests as a jumpy mess, even with ample pauses introduced

Result 3) …and boom goes the dynamite

With the hardware being handcuffed by the CPU, timing on the software level is the name of the game. Sort of fragile, but still wholly awesome.

The next step is going to be a full-out network setup and some real memory profiling. I am going to figure out how to access this thing via ssh and see what that leaves me to work with. The step after that is going to be driving multiple servos…provided software PWM is a possibility. We’ll see where that ends up.

The pipe-dream? Think Roomba with an onboard rPI. SSH access via WiFi on a device that can decouple itself from a charging dock. Basically, I am hung up on the notion of being able to ssh into a robot…I’m not sure it gets much cooler than that.

As always, stay tuned. As also always, feel free to contact me @ [ joe at swan tron dot com ] with any feedback or questions.

Python IO on rPi

My next ‘real’ project involves implementing a web interface to control some of the things around swan tron global HQ, the half of the garage I reserved for my lab. I’ve been a huge fan of the Raspberry Pi since the mission was announced. Linux and IO…you have my attention. Add in the $35 price tag and my penchant for destroying hardware…huge fan is correct.

Before I start planning my real project, I need to figure out how this differs from the microcontrollers I’ve used in the past to deal with similar implementations. I know the CPU is going to show itself, but not to what extent. Time to start poking around.

I decided to horse around and knock out a few birds with one stone…python library, digital out, and basic pin function. Oh, and LEDs. Everyone loves LEDs.

the 80s called, they want their printer cable back
cobbler and bread

Prior to this effort, I have mainly explored the rPi via x. I’ve spent a decent amount of time inspecting the file structure (Debian, no surprises) and the xwin UI. It is no speed demon, but it does the trick. I have the wireless adapter configured and set to auto-start, which was most of the battle. It basically performs as advertised, which on paper is very awesome for the price.

My general setup for this was very simple. I bought a cobbler set from Adafruit, which acts simply to pull the IO pins out to a breadboard. Two LEDs, two resisters. A few jumpers. Very simple.

I booted the device, and used aptitude to update and snag the rPi GPIO library.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install python-rpi.gpio
That does the heavy lifting with the python implementation…sample code is available on the main python site. The update was I used vim to create a dirty python script…unworthy of a repository, but worth a pic:

fugly code
no comments, no worries

The digital outs worked as anticipated. Timing was a bit odd…I ended up playing around a bit with some pauses in order to tune the blinks as I wanted. It looks like coordinating pin outs might be tricky for more complex operations, but at least the library and hardware is up and running.

Don’t take my word for it:

The next steps will be interesting. Figuring out how to ssh into the box in order to run a script of this magnitude will be next, followed by profiling the voltage on the pinout. It should be able to throw my 5v relay with a little tweaking…if not I’ll figure out PWM and tackle the switching mechanically. Fun stuff to come…happy to be playing with the rPi finally. Stay tuned.

Adafruit Raspi Kit

Time to blow the figurative cobwebs off my figurative Python skill set…

pi case
cobble cobble

Adafruit RasPi kit has arrived…the cobbler kit is the final piece I’ve been waiting for. I have a USB hub and my wifi configured…time to cut code.

Debian on Raspberry Pi

Up and running on the 47 inch Vizio…

rpi
rpi

So cool.

Next item: get WiFi configured and working.
Next next item: poke around with the pin-outs.
Next next next item: something awesome involving Python.

Raspberry Pi Unboxing

It has arrived…

Raspberry Pi Unboxing
awesome

My condolences go out to my Arduino and IOIO boards. This thing is very amazing. Long story short, we have a full blown Linux box with a bunch of interface options. Stay very tuned.

My small sidekick and I shot an unboxing vid out of excitement:

Need to put the new house together quickly so I can play with this thing.