VOXL 2 No ESC(s) detected
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I am following the installation instructions for VOXL 2 found here. I've reflashed the system image with release 0.9.5 from 3/30, installed the slpi uart bridge package to VOXL2, disabled px4, and created the symlink for libpx4. I've also doublechecked that the MCBL_00029-1 cable is correct per this wiring diagram.
I've run out of options, can someone help me troubleshoot connecting/configuring the VOXL 2 ESC board? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Outputs are below, thanks in advance,
Taylormdr@mdr-System-Product-Name:~/Downloads$ adb shell ▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂▂ ▂▄▆▆██▛▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▜████▆▆▄▂ ███╗ ███╗ ██████╗ ██████╗ █████╗ ██╗ ▗▆████▀▔ ▔▔▀▀▀▀▚▄ ████╗ ████║██╔═══██╗██╔══██╗██╔══██╗██║ ▗▟████▀ ▗██▖ ▐█ ▝▀▆▄▄▄ ██╔████╔██║██║ ██║██║ ██║███████║██║ ▟████▀ ▗█▘▝█▖ ▐█ ▜█▀ ██║╚██╔╝██║██║ ██║██║ ██║██╔══██║██║ █▌ ▐█▌ ▗█▘ ▝█▖ ▐█ ▐▄ ██║ ╚═╝ ██║╚██████╔╝██████╔╝██║ ██║███████╗ ▀████ ▗█▘ ▝█▖ ▐█ ▂▄███ ╚═╝ ╚═╝ ╚═════╝ ╚═════╝ ╚═╝ ╚═╝╚══════╝ ▀▀██▄▄ ▂▆███▀ ▀▀██▄▄ ▀▀▆▄▄▄▄▆██▀▀▀▘ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- system-image: 1.5.5-M0054-14.1a-perf kernel: #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Mar 24 00:48:55 UTC 2023 4.19.125 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hw version: M0054 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- voxl-suite: 0.9.5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- voxl2:/$ cd /home/root/voxl-esc/voxl-esc-tools/ voxl2:~/voxl-esc/voxl-esc-tools(dev)$ ./voxl-esc-scan.py Detected Python version : 3.6.9 (default, Mar 10 2023, 16:46:00) [GCC 8.4.0] Found voxl-esc tools bin version: 1.1 VOXL Platform: M0054 Detected VOXL2 M0054 or M0104! INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 2000000 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 250000 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 921600 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 230400 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 57600 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 115200 INFO: Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 38400 Updated baud rate to 38400 INFO: Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 230400 Updated baud rate to 230400 ERROR: No ESC(s) detected, exiting. voxl2:~/voxl-esc/voxl-esc-tools(dev)$ voxl-inspect-services Service Name | Enabled | Running | CPU Usage --------------------------------------------------------------- docker-autorun | Disabled | Not Running | docker-daemon | Disabled | Not Running | modallink-relink | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-camera-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-cpu-monitor | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-dfs-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-imu-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-mavlink-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-modem | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-portal | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-px4-imu-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-px4 | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-qvio-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-remote-id | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-softap | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-static-ip | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-streamer | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-tag-detector | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-tflite-server | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-time-sync | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-vision-px4 | Disabled | Not Running | voxl-wait-for-fs | Enabled | Completed |
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Hi @Taylor-Presley ,
Confirming you are using J18 as the UART port to the ESC, and that the ESC has VBatt power (e.g. when you apply power you get an LED blink at least).
Do you have access to an oscilloscope to probe? That's my next step with comms issues, I'll try to just probe the UART and make sure there's traffic.
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@modaltb confirmed I'm using J18 and the ESC has power (I get an LED blink and quick chirp on connection). I've got a borrowed oscilloscope and confirmed there is traffic on the ESC. I also tried switching TX/RX on the cabling and this didn't help. I've also now installed voxl-esc per this discussion now and still get the following:
voxl2:/$ voxl-esc scan enabling bridge bridge enabled Detected Python version : 3.6.9 (default, Mar 10 2023, 16:46:00) [GCC 8.4.0] Found voxl-esc tools bin version: 1.1 VOXL Platform: M0054 Detected VOXL2 M0054 or M0104! INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 2000000 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 250000 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 921600 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 230400 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 57600 INFO: Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 115200 INFO: Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 38400 Updated baud rate to 38400 INFO: Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/slpi-uart-2, baud: 230400 Updated baud rate to 230400 ERROR: No ESC(s) detected, exiting. FAILED to ping ESCs disabling bridge bridge disabled
What would you recommend for next step?
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What if we remove VOXL2 from the equation real quick, and try to go host PC to the ESC? This would be my next step, and we use little USB to Serial adapters for this, e.g. this dongle.
We have a guide here and this would reduce a variable for us.... I'm semi scratching my head at this point.
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Hi @Taylor-Presley
Make sure if you get that dongle modaltb suggested, you set the interface voltage to 3.3V. -
@modaltb @Vinny I'm using an Adafruit USB to TTL cable that I had around. Only gnd, tx, and rx are connected, and the ESC is powered by the power supply. It had the same issue.
mdr@mdr-System-Product-Name:~/voxl-esc-dev-python27/tools$ python voxl-esc-scan.py INFO: Device and baud rate are not provided, attempting to autodetect.. Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 250000 Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 2000000 Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 921600 Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 57600 Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 115200 Scanning for ESC firmware: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 230400 Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 38400 Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 230400 Scanning for ESC bootloader: /dev/ttyUSB0, baud: 921600 ERROR: No ESC(s) detected, exiting.
I can order the other dongle, but I'm measuring traffic on Tx and Rx. Thoughts?
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Can you check using two scope probes that there is a tx packet into ESC and a reply from ESC immediately after? Also check the signal levels - both should be at 3.3V. Tx and Rx could be shorted, appearing that there is rx and tx traffic. Can also measure resistance between tx and rx lines.
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@Alex-Kushleyev @Vinny @modaltb It has taken a while for me to run this to ground, but I have an update. It does look like there is a tx packet into ESC and a reply when I run the script, and from what I can tell they are simultaneous. Both are at 3.3V and measuring resistance between the lines is ~40-50 kilohms.
I've ordered another ESC and will perform the same tests to see if I can get a successful scan on it. Thanks for the help so far!
Taylor
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Hi @Taylor-Presley give me a holler if after you get the new setup you still have problems and I can get on the phone with you and try to troubleshoot!
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@Taylor-Presley , just to clarify, when you checked TX and RX on the scope, you should have seen first TX data coming from VOXL2 to ESC and then almost immediately ESC responding, right? (not RX and TX showing data at the same time)
If that is true, then the ESC seems to be working fine (at least in terms of UART communication) and there may be an issue that is outside of the ESC. Considering that you tried running voxl-esc tools on VOXL2 and on a PC, I am a bit puzzled.
Just to be absolutely sure, can you please run the
voxl-esc
tools from master branch, not the python27 branch. The python27 branch should still work but we are no longer testing it. the latest and greatest is in the master branch.Thank you!
Alex
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Hello @Taylor-Presley , were you able to resolve your issue? I am curious what it was or you still need some help. Thanks!
Alex
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@Alex-Kushleyev we were able to run voxl-esc tools but could only spin up 3 motors. The new ESC that you sent us works now and I'm able to spin all the motors. I wasn't able really to trace a root cause, but I'm just happy that it's working now. Thanks for all the help so far!