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USB Servo Controller Card with Kangaroo X2

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by DannyT, Oct 16, 2013.

  1. DannyT

    DannyT Rider

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    Hi there,

    I am building a motion platform for flight simulation in version 2. The first one was driven with the velleman 8055, sabertooth and electric car jacks. Unfortunetly too noisy and too slow.

    The version 2 will be drivven by wheel chair motors with 300 watts each and the new Kangaroo x2 with a sabertooth motor driver. This small card (Kangaroo) is just awsome and let the motors act as heavy servos.

    The first test was made with other software which can manage USB pololu or phidgets servo card. But this soft is not able to bring the forces to the servos, just for testing puposes.

    Can x-simulator software manage some kind of USB servo controller card?? (Please not the soundcard solution).

    This would be great, as the building would be much easy that way!

    Appreciate feedback.

    Danny
    DannyT, Oct 16, 2013
    #1
  2. DannyT

    DannyT Rider

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
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    ..further to add: I know, that there exsist a Kangaroo x2 plugin, but how to connect the Kangaroo to the PC (wiring)??
    And for better understanding, the Kangaroo card does handle the position feedback itself. Together with the sabertooth
    its a closed system like a r/c servo. So IMHO there should be two ways to control:

    1) with a USB servo card (like mentioned already)
    2) direct connection to the PC

    Could someone please explain how to wire the Kangaroo to PC?

    Hope to have some help here..
    DannyT, Oct 16, 2013
    #2
  3. RaceRay

    RaceRay Administrator Staff Member SimAxe Beta Tester

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, SimforceGT
    Should be not very difficult to implement the Kangaroo x2 driver into SimTools later. There are ready to use vb.net libraries.
    Afaik to that timepoint there is no Kangaroo x2 driver. - @Mods Please correct me if i am wrong.

    You can use any FTDI interface to connect the Kangaroo over USB to the serial TX and RX lines of it. Look at Page 11.
    http://www.dimensionengineering.com/datasheets/KangarooManual.pdf

    I suggest you look for a JRK or arduino alternative or wait until SimTools is released and ask than for a SimTools Plugin for the Kangaroo controller.
    RaceRay, Oct 16, 2013
    #3
  4. DannyT

    DannyT Rider

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    ok, thank you. Any idea or timeline when sim tools will be released?
    DannyT, Oct 16, 2013
    #4
  5. RaceRay

    RaceRay Administrator Staff Member SimAxe Beta Tester

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, SimAxe, SimforceGT
    Can not promise. But hoop at beginning of the next week.
    RaceRay, Oct 16, 2013
    #5
  6. eaorobbie

    eaorobbie Well-Known Member SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

    Joined:
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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, JRK, SimforceGT, 6DOF
    Well I actually drive servos via a Ardunio UNO in my RC Sim Model,
    a few guys are actually working on supporting the Kangaroo directly but as an in between my code and a UNO can be used in between.
    Actually for got this was achievable, thanks, give us a temporary solution while we sort out the driver.

    So in turn yes 1. will work, I have used the serial pololu servo card in SimTools and the other software.
    2. is being brainstormed as we speak.
    eaorobbie, Oct 22, 2013
    #6
  7. chrissunny94

    chrissunny94 New Member

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    Hello i am trying to figure out how to work with Kangaroo x2 .

    I have a sabertooth 2x32 , i control the sabertooth vai USB cable directly (Used the python library for sabertooth).

    Now i want to control the kangaroo x2 vai the sabertooth (On the official manual of Sabertooth 2x32 , its written kangaroo can be interfaced by hooking A1-S2 & A2-S1).


    My ultimate aim is to get all of this ROS enabled . i'd ,"To get to accept /cmd_vel topic and publish /odom topic".


    I have been trying the Software serial + official Arduino Libraries for Kangaroo x2 , havent got it working till now .

    SABERTOOTH DIP SWITCH (OFF OFF ON ON ON ON) , KANGAROO X2(ON ON ON ON)
    • Informative Informative x 1
    chrissunny94, Jan 12, 2018
    #7