RP6 ROBOT SYSTEM - 3. Hardware and Software Setup
user program to execute anyway. Standby mode may be terminated via the USB In-
terface, by pressing the Start/Stop Button or by shortly switching the robot off and
on. Even in standby mode the robot uses a small amount of energy (up to 5mA) – and
please remember to turn off the RP6 completely if you do not want to use the system
for a longer time! With a program in memory the robot will not automatically switch to
standby mode. Instead the system will continue waiting for user commands either
from the serial interface (simply send an “s”), from the I²C Bus or the Start/Stop But-
ton.
3.8.1. Connecting the USB Interface and start RobotLoader
Next we will test a program upload with the USB interface. Please connect the USB in-
terface to the PC
(always start by connecting it to the PC!)
. Then connect the
USB interface to the “PROG/UART” connector of the Robot located directly beside the
Start/Stop Button!
The connector has mechanical polarity protection and you cannot insert the 10-pin
plug with reverse polarity unless you push it really hard.
Now start the RobotLoader.
Depending on selected languages the menus may be
labelled different.
The screenshots show the English versions and you
may alter the language if you want by selecting the
menu “Options->Preferences”, followed by “Language”
(only English or German right now) and pressing OK.
Having altered the language you have to restart the
RobotLoader!
Open a port - Windows
You may now select the USB Port. As long as your
PC does not provide another USB Serial Adapter
with FTDI Controller, the port list will show only
one single entry, which you can select. If there
are several ports, you can identify the correct one
by looking for “RP6 USB Interface” (or “FT232R
USB UART”), followed by a pre-programmed serial number.
If no port is shown, please refresh the list by selecting the menu item
“RobotLoader-->Refresh Port list”!
Open a port – Linux
Linux handles the USB-Serial Adapter just like any
other standard comport. Installing the D2XX
drivers on a Linux-system is not that easy and
modern Linux kernels already provide the stand-
ard Virtual Comport (VCP) drivers. In general, us-
age is similar to Windows, but you will have to try
out which port actually is the RP6 USB interface and you should not remove the USB
Port from the PC while the connection is open (otherwise you may have to restart the
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