Datasheet

• gb_upload_exe.tgz – executable for uploading new firmware to the Gertbot
microcontroller
• rmc_2.6.crypt – latest version of firmware for the Gertbot microcontroller
Following the advanced manual, the
upload executable was used which,
despite showing a scary warning
about the possibility of a dead board if
the procedure should fail, worked well.
After the new firmware had been
uploaded to the Gertbot the system
was rebooted and the
GUI Log checked to see the new
version working as expected.
Note that it is possible to run your
own firmware on the Gertbot's
microcontroller if you wish, but this
requires the use of an Atmel JTAG
debugger and is beyond the scope
of this article. See the advanced
manual for more information.
Controlling from Python
'Drivers' / libraries for the Gertbot
are available for C/C++ and Python
from the Gertbot website. Example
source code is also available – I
downloaded the 'Simple Rover' for
Python example and took a look at
the code.
The Python example is well
commented and thus easy to
understand and modify. Written for a
two-motor roving robot it includes
keyboard control for direction. It was
still possible to use this file to test
control of the motor connected
previously by simply commenting
out the 'development environment' variables section and using the 'rover' variables section –
defining the board as number 0 and left motor as 0.
Note that you must use Python 3 rather than Python 2 for correct operation of the Gertbot
examples:
$ python3 rover.py
The program allows the user to control the motors from the numeric keypad on the keyboard.
Remember that if only one motor is connected, as in our example, not all of the controls will
cause the motor to spin.