ArbotiX Commander Getting Started Guide
This guide will help you build and set up your ArbotiX Commander.
Commander Kit
The ArbotiX Commander is an Arduino based hand-held controller designed for controlling a variety of robots.
A standard ArbotiX Commander kit consists of the following:
- 1 x Geekduino (An Arduino-Compatible board with an ATmega 328)
- 1 x ArbotiX Commander Shield
- 1 x Hardware kit
The ArbotiX Commander will require the following to function:
- 4 x AA 1.5v Alkaline Batteries (Do not use rechargable battereis with lower voltages)
- 1 x XBee Communication Module
- 1 x Micro USB Cable (Optional for re-programming)
The ArbotiX Commander can control any robot that meets the following criteria
- Has an XBee Module
- Can Communicate at 38400bps over a UART serial port
- Can read the commander data packet
The ArbotiX Robocontroller meets all of these requirements. It has a built socket for an XBee module, can communicate at the needed baud rate, and can interpret the commander packet useing the Commander
library. The ArbotiX Robocontroller is used in every InterbotiX Robot, making every InterbotiX robot compatible with the ArbotiX Commander. Just load the appropriate firmware on to the Robocontroller, plug in configured XBees into the Commander and the Robocontroller and you can control the robot via the Commander.
The assembly guide for the ArbotiX Commander Kit can be found Here.
Programming
Every Geekduino board included in the ArbotiX Commander comes pre-programmed with the stock Commander firmware. However, if you would like to re-load or modify the firmware, continue reading.
You will need a USB micro cable to connect the Geekduino to your computer.
Before you can program the ArbotiX Commander, follow the first three steps of the ArbotiX Getting Started Guide. This will help you to install the Arduino IDE and the ArbotiX Hardware and Libary files which include the ArbotiX Commander firmware. Once you have followed the steps, open the Arduino IDE. Then you can find the firmware at:
File -> Sketches -> ArbotiX Sketches -> Commander
The Geekduino is board compatible with the Arduino Duemilanove, so pick the following board from the board menu.
Tools -> Board -> Arduino Duemilanove w/ ATmega 328
If you want to learn more about programming the Geekduino, see the Geekduino Getting Started Guide
You do not need the commander library to load the commander firmare. Only robots on the receieving end of a commander need the library.
XBee Setup
Configuring XBee modules
For the ArbotX Commander to communicate with an ArbotiX-M robocontroller, you will need 2 XBee modules. This guide will help you set up the IDs and baud rates for the 2 XBees.
The ArbotiX Commander and ArbotiX-M are not designed to work with XBee Pros because of power limitations.