LEGO Mindstorms and Robotics General Discussion

[shifted]

I am glad I spent a lot of money on the edu software. Data logging FTW

I think I just became a data logger myself

edit: oops I'll repost links for the new page.

The day has come!

http://www.lego.com/...nredir=lego.com

Download your EV3 retail software here for FREE :)

For the additional sensors, you have to download the blocks from LEGO.com directly:

- http://www.lego.com/...cks/ultrasonic/

- http://www.lego.com/...v3-blocks/gyro/

Edited August 30, 2013 by shifted

[GRogall]

So are we having fun with the EV3 yet?

[Jim]

Spik3r seems to be having fun

Nice pic

I lack the time to do some proper building atm, but I am having fun reading all the stuff and exploring a bit.

Is it me or are the remote and building app not available yet?

http://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/funzone/mobile-apps/robot-commander/

[bats]

Hey. I am running a Windows 7, 64 bit. I want to download the new ev3 software, but it only has OSX and Win 32. Would it be bad for my computer to download the Win 32 version?

Thanks.

[Jim]

No problem, you can run 32bit programs. You are probably running lots of 32bit programs already.

Edited September 2, 2013 by Ted

[sanderbontje]

Hi all! First post for me here. I received our EV3 retail edition last Saturday. Great fun for me and the kids so far!

I'm having one serious problem: I cannot get the Bluetooth connection to work with the Controller app. I activated the Bluetooth option on the brick. I selected 'visible' and 'bluetooth', not 'iPad/iPhone' (as per instructions on the Lego support site). When I search from my Android tablet for Bluetooth devices (I'm using an Asus Google Nexus 7 2013) it sees the EV3. I tap on it and a pairing device window pops up prompting me for the pincode. According to the instructions, at this moment the brick should prompt me to accept the connection and set a pincode. But it does not. Not until I enter the default pincode 1234 on the connection dialog on the tablet and hit 'OK', then the brick prompts me to accept a connection from Nexus 7 and set a pincode. But after a few seconds the tablet drops the connection with a error message about using the wrong pincode. I've tried it with other pincodes, but not yet with other devices (will try with a Transformer Prime this evening).

Has anyone else succeeded in controlling a EV3 with an Android device?

Edited September 2, 2013 by sanderbontje

[Jim]

Hi, welcome to EB!

I don't have an Android device, but I had similar problems with BT on my iMac running Windows 7. I can connect to the brick, the connection is accepted and then it's lost again. Since I only wanted to use BT for uploading a program and I now use a WiFi dongle, I didn't try too much to solve this issue. Had similar issues with the NXT, so these will fall in the same category. Obviously, you want the remote to work, since it's part of the fun!

Couldn't find the remote app for iPad/iPhone yet, so I can't tell you whether it's working for iOS devices.

[sanderbontje]

Thanks!

The apps were released yesterday. The links to the apps (Android and iOS) are on these pages:

http://www.lego.com/en-us/mindstorms/funzone/mobile-apps/robot-commander/.

The Controller app I mentioned before is actually called Robot Commander.

Yeah, it seems something is not right with the order of the BT pairing and authentication sequences in the brick. That takes place on the BT level, outside the app. I'll test on some more devices later tonight.

[Jim]

Ahh great, thanks

Haven't been much online yesterday, so I didn't notice. I will try the iOS app tonight to check whether it's working.

[bats]

Ok. I'll download the 32 bit version then.

Thanks

[sanderbontje]

Tested the BT connection again. It turns out I have done something wrong. I opened the BT menu and under 'connections' there was already a device called NEXUS 7 listed. Probably I connected before, but with a wrong pincode, and after that the brick refused to add the same device twice. I removed that device and started the whole process over again and now they are happily paired. According to BT that is. Redid the same thing on a Nokia 3720C mobile phone (not a smart phone, just for testing the BT sake) and that paired okay too. Tested on a Transformer Prime and pairing went well. I had an old BT USB stick around and plugged that into my Win7 pc. Those two paired okay too. A BT device EV3 with function 'Standard Serial over Bluetooth link (COM3)' was created. The EV3 does not list in the LabView software, however.

And on the tablets the Commander app does not list the EV3 brick as a device in the 'Select device' menu. On both tablets and the brick BT is switched on and the devices have been paired before, the app refuses to see that. Waited for a couple of minutes - nothing. Restarted the app, nope. Tested on two different Android tablets: the Asus TF201 Transformer Prime and the new Asus Nexus 7 HD from 2013.

[Jim]

Thanks!

The apps were released yesterday. The links to the apps (Android and iOS) are on these pages:

http://www.lego.com/...obot-commander/.

The Controller app I mentioned before is actually called Robot Commander.

Yeah, it seems something is not right with the order of the BT pairing and authentication sequences in the brick. That takes place on the BT level, outside the app. I'll test on some more devices later tonight.

So I have downloaded the Robot Commander app. I seem to have a connection to my device, although it didn't go as written in the 5 step overview.

Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I can only edit a remote configuration. When I try to use it, it get's me back in edit mode. Any suggestions?

On my iPad there is no select device menu in the app?!

[Jim]

It seems to be working now. I restarted the app and when I started one of the default robots, it suddensly showed a progress indicator and "Connecting to EV3...". After that, my custom made remote did work as well. Nice app when it's working

[sanderbontje]

Lucky you! What default program did you start, just one of the included Ev3rstorms?

I restarted everything twice, rebooted brick and tablets, no dancing robots yet... The select device screen on the Commander app stays empty. I'll google some more tomorrow. :-)

[Jim]

Lucky you! What default program did you start, just one of the included Ev3rstorms?

Exactly!! One of the included robots.

There is no selected device on the iPad app, so I connect via the control panel of the iPad. After connecting, the control panel asks if I would like to let the app use the BT connection to control my device. After confirming, the app is opened. When I select a robot, I sometimes still get an error about BT not connected, but then it reconnects and it works.

Although the BT works pretty well when it's connected, I am still looking forward to more WiFi options, cause BT.....basically sucks!

[sanderbontje]

I contacted consumer support and am giving the BT problems a rest now, I can't get it sorted out at the moment.

So now it's WiFi time! I see in the FAQ that Lego recommends the Netgear N150 Wireless Adapter (WNA1100). Which is a rather crude and large stick. That would hinder movement and consume a lot of construction space around the brick. Not to mention physical damage to the USB port when it is accidentally pushed too far (I've got three kids running after it). So I am ordering one of the tiny USB plugs that you see more and more nowadays, the Netgear WNA1000M.

[Jim]

So I am ordering one of the tiny USB plugs that you see more and more nowadays, the Netgear WNA1000M.

I have discussed this earlier in this topic, so.....been there done that.....

I tried the exact same dongle (WNA1000M), but to no avail

Maybe it will be supported later on, or with other firmware, but currently it's not working.

Currenty the only one working (what I know) is the "sticking out like a sore thumb"-Netgear USB dongle.

Edited September 3, 2013 by Ted

[sanderbontje]

Whoops, I almost pressed the 'Place order' button! Thanks for the warning.

The gigantic WNA1100 it is then...

[Jim]

Whoops, I almost pressed the 'Place order' button! Thanks for the warning.

Just in time

The gigantic WNA1100 it is then...

It's not so bad.....okay it is bad....

[sanderbontje]

It's not so bad.....okay it is bad....

It is indeed. As you said, it must be a driver issue and I'm sure that will be addressed soon by the community. I can understand Lego officially supporting only one specific adapter, but why on earth did they pick that monstrous one? Perhaps the smaller adapter consumes more power for the antenna or something.

[Jim]

It is indeed. As you said, it must be a driver issue and I'm sure that will be addressed soon by the community. I can understand Lego officially supporting only one specific adapter, but why on earth did they pick that monstrous one? Perhaps the smaller adapter consumes more power for the antenna or something.

There must be a perfectly reasonable explanation for using the gigantous dongle.....I hope

I am also bit disappointed that you need to use a dongle at all. Shouldn't this be built-in?

[Jim]

http://sourceforge.net/p/lejos/wiki/Home/

http://sourceforge.net/p/lejos/wiki/Creating%20a%20bootable%20SD%20card/

The latter page says:

A WiFi dongle that is supported by the EV3. At the moment the only devices used are the NetGear WNA1100 and EDIMAX EW-7811Un. But hopefully this list will be expanded.

I wonder if this is only for Lejos, or would the Edimax also work with the standard firmware?

Reading further:

But to be honest I'd get a dongle the Edimax EW-7811UN works well with the leJOS SD card (but not with the standard firmware).

[Cwetqo]

I tested "commander" app on iPad with Strik3r robo and it works flawless. Setup was also very easy, very "apple" like: enabled BT and ipad/iphone options on EV3 brick, goto to Bluetooth on ipad, click EV3 and thats it. Then I just opened Commander App, selected Spik3r and clicked "play" button. No pairing, no PIN codes, no rebooting...

App works great. There ares liders for movement, and, best of all, for claws. You can close tham as gently as with you fingers. Walikng is also great, you could just creep forward and then suddenly speed up.

Really positive suprise!

I also tested Builder app. It works ok and its handy becaus you dont need to have computer present when building. You can rotate anytime, similar like in 3d design programs.

[Jim]

The different controls (joystick, sliders, etc) are indeed very nice!! You really have the feeling that you are in control of the robot.

[gerkenz]

Got mine today

- Tested all Sensors and Motors , Bluetooth iphone remote controll with Firmware 1.01 - everything is fine.

- built the Gripp3r - kind of cool

- updated to 1.03 and now no BT connection possible anymore.

- tried reboot of EV3, BT new start on iPhone, connection from PC wiht BT -> no connection anymore!

Bluetooth Workaround ( Firmware 1.03 ):

- disable "iphone/ipad..." option

- connect

- pair

- enter PIN

- enable "iphone/ipad" option

- connect

....have fun!

Edited September 3, 2013 by gerkenz