I recently (within the past four weeks) outfitted my BlueROV2 drone with the Heavy Configuration Retrofit Kit and gripper. I’m having an issue with the gripper; it’s not responding to ArduSub input. I hooked the Lumen lights up to Aux 1, the camera servo to Aux 2, and the gripper arm to Aux 3. I’m using a Logitech GamePad F310.
• I have two of the buttons for the “servo_3_min_momentary” and “servo_3_max_momentary” functions to run the gripper, two buttons to run the lights, and two buttons for the “mount_tilt_down” and “mount_tilt_up” functions.
• ArduSub: The Pixhawk Firmware flavor installed is Stable 3.5.3
• Companion Software is up to date
• I checked the voltage across the terminals with a multimeter and there’s an appropriate amount of voltage across the terminals.
• I tried the lights on Channel 11 (Aux 3) and the channel worked
I have pictures available if you want to check it out yourself.
To get it straight, the gripper is plugged into aux3, it doesn’t work. You unplug the gripper and put the lights on aux3, not changing anything else, and they work? Are you able to adjust the brightness of the lights (as if you were trying to open and close the gripper)?
If so, there’s a problem with the gripper hardware.
Yes! I unplugged the gripper from Aux 3 and plugged the lights, didn’t change anything else, set the lights channel to Aux 3, and I was able to adjust the brightness of the lights. So, there’s nothing wrong with Aux 3. Since it’s a problem with the gripper hardware, what should be done? I need a functioning gripper for the project I’m using the BlueROV2 for.
I recently purchased several of your Newton Subsea Grippers to use on our ROV,s I’ve been trying to get the Gripper to be controlled by an Arduino, but nothing seems to work. I used the “Gripper Test Sketch” that I copied form your help forum and the Gripper would open and close as expected. But when I modified the sketch so that I could open and close the Gripper using two switches it would simply stall for a while and then randomly open and close on it own. Using pin 10, and 11 as logic pins to control the output to pin 11. I also incorporate delay to keep the Gripper from fluctuating between opening and closing.
#include "Servo.h"
#define GRIPPER_PWM_PIN 8 // Gripper PWM output pin
#define OPEN_TIME 5.0 // Gripper open time (seconds)
#define CLOSE_TIME 5.0 // Gripper close time (seconds)
#define BUTTON_PIN 10
#define CLOSE_PIN 11
#define OPEN_PWM_US 1100 // Gripper open PWM output (us)
#define CLOSE_PWM_US 1900 // Gripper close PWM output (us)
Servo gripper;
// Attach gripper to proper pin
gripper.attach(GRIPPER_PWM_PIN);
int ButtonState = 0;
void setup() {
pinMode(BUTTON_PIN, INPUT);
}
void loop() {
// Open the gripper
ButtonState = digitalRead(BUTTON_PIN);
if (ButtonState == HIGH)
{
gripper.writeMicroseconds(OPEN_PWM_US);
delay(OPEN_TIME*1000);
}
else if (ButtonState == LOW)
{
// Let the gripper open up (microseconds)
gripper.writeMicroseconds(CLOSE_PWM_US);
delay(CLOSE_TIME*1000);
}
// Close the gripper
// Let the gripper close for a while (microseconds)
}
Hi,
I’m having an issue with the Newton gripper.
It is open on ignition (when first configured) but can not be controlled later.
I’m using :
-win 7 pro 64 ( i also test on win10)
-Logitech GamePad F310 or xbox 360.
-QGroundControl v3.2.4-BlueRobotics-Rev6.
-ArduSub: The Pixhawk Firmware installed is Stable 3.5.4
-I have set the buttons for the “servo_3_min_momentary” and “servo_3_max_momentary” functions to run the gripper with Shift or normal mode
-Companion Software is up to date 0.0.16
-I tried on Aux1/Aux 2/Aux 3 ( and servo corresponding in QGC)
Everything else works well, truster tilt camera, led,
Check the orientation of the signal connector on the gripper, make sure you are connecting it to signal pin on the pixhawk, not ground.
Check the voltage of the gripper supply. The gripper should be connected to 12-16V.
You may also try to plug the gripper where your camera is and see if it moves when you ‘tilt the camera’. The signals look the same for the camera servo and the gripper. You know that the camera signal is working correctly, so you can try the signal from the camera on the gripper too.
@cyril
I notice that you are using windows 7 but windows 10 is the supported system for br2. I tried win 7 ages ago n had many flaky problems but it all stopped when changed win 10. Win 10 will allow you to develop system n get good support from blue robotics.
I will try to connect the gripper on the connector of the tilt camera,
This is 8 connector on the Pixhawk, That’s right ?
But why that will not work on the 3 aux channel ?
I would do the test on Win 10 only.
Hello,
I just tested by putting the gripper on pin 8 of the Pixhawk,camera tilt, (polarity respected),
but the gripper does not work either.
My provider will give me a second gripper to test.