Control Unit Requirement.

Any computer with USB port can be connected with the AMBER Robotic Actuator.

AMBER Master Control Unit is the best one with native motion control system for single actuator or multi-actuators like Robotic arm, humanoid, mobile robot and other automation integration.

System Rquirement

Ubuntu 22.04

Python >= 3.10

Internet Connection ( only for installation )

Internet Connection ( only for installation )

Tested on Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS (GNU/Linux 6.2.0-37-generic x86_64)

Connect Mini Hub to your actuator

Install dependencies

Install net-tools if not installed

sudo apt-get install net-tools

Install can-utils if not installed

 sudo apt-get install can-utils

Initialize Mini Hub

When the device is plugged into your Ubuntu computer, its enumerated name might be different.

Find device name by

ls /dev | grep ACM

ttyACM0

So you can initialize adapter with commands below.

sudo slcand -o -c -s8 /dev/ttyACM0 can0
sudo ifconfig can0 up
sudo ifconfig can0 txqueuelen 1000

Always check the device name before initialize.

(Optional) Check out device

To check out if the device is working, use candump

Use candump

candump can0

You can see the messages flowing across the screen if everything works fine.

Download Actuator Tuning Tool

mkdir actuator_tuning_tool
cd actuator_tuning_tool
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AmberSTR/amber-actuator-core/main/actuator_tuning_tool

Start server

Perhaps you need to enable administrator privileges

sudo chmod 777 ./actuator_tuning_tool 
nohup ./actuator_tuning_tool &

Install Python Interface

If there is no pip, please install it first，If so, please proceed directly to the second step

sudo apt install python-pip

pip install amber-actuator

Python Usage

Import Library

import amber_actuator as a

Initialize actuator

With Actuator ID (empty IP address will be considered as "127.0.0.1")

j = a.AmberActuator(1)

... or with Joint ID and IP address ( Works within a LAN Connection)

j = a.AmberActuator(1,"192.168.1.2")

Set Actuator to Position Mode

j.position_mode()

It will return a boolean value, where it will be true if it is in position mode

Set Actuator's target

And it will rotate to it's target.

j.position.target = 120

Get Actuator's position now

j.position.now

119.9921875

Actuator Utility Tools

Utility script adapted for one-click backup and restoration of actuator parameters to JSON .

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AmberSTR/amber_actuator_tools/main/backup.py
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/AmberSTR/amber_actuator_tools/main/restore.py

Configurable parameter

Main Category	Detailed Category	Permission	Is Float
attribute	Status	get/set
	version	get
	mode	get/set	FALSE
	pole_number	get/set	FALSE
	rotation_direction	get/set	FALSE
	zero_position	get/set	TRUE
	gear	get/set	FALSE
	CountNumber	get ONLY	TRUE
position	now	get ONLY	TRUE
	target	set ONLY	TRUE
	Kp	get/set	TRUE
	Ki	get/set	TRUE
	up_limit	get/set	TRUE
	down_limit	get/set	TRUE
	limit_switch	get/set	FALSE
speed	now	get ONLY	FALSE (True)*
	target	set ONLY	TRUE
	kp	get/set	TRUE
	ki	get/set	TRUE
	acceleration	get/set	TRUE
	deceleration	get/set	TRUE
	speed_limit	get/set	TRUE
current	now	get ONLY	TRUE
	target	set ONLY	TRUE
	kp	get/set	TRUE
	ki	get/set	TRUE
	current_limit	get/set	TRUE
	VotageLimit	get/set	TRUE
Built-in Commands	Save ^1	set ONLY
	InitialZeroPosition	set ONLY
	Calibrate ^2	set ONLY

*Depend on Actuator Version

Note:

1, Run save() to save the parameters persistently. Otherwise, the parameters will be lost when power if off.

2, Enable joint to the desired mode first after calibration, or the motor won't move.

Calibrate

Updated at V 0.1.0

The calibrate() function will cause the actuator to give up maintaining its current position( or speed/current ), please pay attention to safety.

After executing the calibrate() function, please wait for about six seconds and query the attribute.zero_position again. If there is a slight change, it means the calibration has been successful.

>>> import amber_actuator as a
>>> j = a.AmberActuator(1)
>>> j.attribute.zero_position
3623.0
>>> j.calibrate()
True
>>> j.attribute.zero_position
3620.875
>>> 

Python Example

​ There are four main categories. You can modify the parameters by accessing the parameter objects under the actuator. 'get/set' indicates that you can both read and write the parameters, 'get only' indicates that you can only read the parameters, and 'set only' indicates that you can only write the parameters.

Attribute

Parameter	version
Description	Display the current version number
Permission	get
Return	version number

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

version=actuator.attribute.version

print(" version:", version)

Parameter	mode
Description	Query in which mode
Permission	get/set
Return	0 : Motor shutdown; fail :false
	1 : Motor powered on; fail :false
	2 : Position mode; fail :false
	3 : Speed mode; fail :false
	4 : Current mode; fail :false
	5 : Moment mode; fail :false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_mode=actuator.attribute.mode

print("Before mode:", Before_mode)

actuator.attribute.mode=0/1/2/3/4/5

now=actuator.attribute.mode

print("current_mode:", now)

Parameter	pole_number
Description	Query the current number of pole of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	False
Return	number

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_mode=actuator.attribute.pole_number

print("Before pole_number:", Before_mode)

actuator.attribute.pole_number=your_value

now=actuator.attribute.pole_number

print("current pole_number:", now)

Parameter	rotation_direction
Description	Query the current rotation direction of the motor.
Permission	get/set
Is Float	False
Return	1 : Counterclockwise is positive, clockwise is negative
	0 : Clockwise is positive, counterclockwise is negative

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.attribute.rotation_direction=0/1

now=actuator.attribute.rotation_direction

print("current_direction:", now)

Parameter	zero_position
Description	Query the current zero position of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	number

import amber_actuator as a
import time

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_value=actuator.attribute.zero_position

print("Before zero_position:", Before_value)

actuator.attribute.zero_position=your_value

time.sleep(3)

now=actuator.attribute.zero_position

print("current zero_position:", now)

Parameter	gear
Description	Query the current number of gears of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	False
Return	number

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_mode=actuator.attribute.gear

print("Before gear:", Before_mode)

actuator.attribute.gear=your_value

now=actuator.attribute.gear

print("current_gear:", now)

position

parameter	target
Description	Set the position parameter of the motor
Permission	set only
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_target fail: false

parameter	now
Description	Query the current position parameter of the motor
Permission	get only
Is Float	True
Return	success: Current position fail: false

import amber_actuator as a
import time

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.position_mode()

Before_position=actuator.position.target

print("Before position:", Before_position)

actuator.position.target = your_target

print("your_target:", actuator.position.target)

time.sleep(4)

current_position = actuator.position.now

print("Current position:", current_position)

Parameter	kp / ki
Description	Set/get the position loop PID parameters of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_value=actuator.position.kp

print("Before position kp value:", Before_value)

actuator.position.kp=your_value

now=actuator.position.kp

print("Current position kp value:", now)

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

Before_value=actuator.position.ki

print("Before position ki value:", Before_value)

actuator.position.ki=your_value

now=actuator.position.ki

print("Current position ki value:", now)

Parameter	up_limit/down_limit
Description	Query the value of the up limit/down limit of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail : false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.position_mode()

Before_value=actuator.position.up_limit

print("Before position up_limit:", Before_value)

actuator.position.up_limit=your_value

now=actuator.position.up_limit

print("Current position up_limit:", now)

Parameter	limit_switch
Description	Check if the motor limit is turned on
Permission	get/set
Is Float	False
Return	0: Closed 1: open fail :false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.position_mode()

Before_value=actuator.position.limit_switch

print("Before position up_limit:", Before_value)

actuator.position.limit_switch=0/1

now=actuator.position.limit_switch

print("Current position limit_switch:", now)

speed

parameter	target
Description	Set the speed parameter of the motor
Permission	set only
Is Float	True
Return

parameter	now
Description	Set the speed parameter of the motor
Permission	get only
Is Float	False
Return	success: your_target fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.speed_mode()

actuator.speed.target = your_target

while True:

	current_speed = actuator.speed.now

	print("Current speed:", current_speed)

Parameter	kp/ki
Description	Set/get the speed loop PID parameters of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.speed_mode()

Before_value=actuator.speed.kp

print("Before speed kp value:", Before_value)

actuator.speed.kp=your_value

now=actuator.speed.kp

print("Current speed kp value:", now)

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.speed_mode()

Before_value=actuator.speed.ki

print("Before speed ki value:", Before_value)

actuator.speed.ki=your_value

now=actuator.speed.ki

print("Current speed ki value:", now)

Parameter	acceleration/deceleration
Description	Set/Get the acceleration/deceleration parameters of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.speed_mode()

Before_value=actuator.speed.acceleration

print("Before speed acceleration:", Before_value)

actuator.speed.acceleration=your_value

now=actuator.speed.acceleration

print("Current speed speed acceleration:", now)

If you want to set the value of deceleration, you just need to replace 'acceleration' with 'deceleration' in the code."

Parameter	speed_limit
Description	the speed limit of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.speed_mode()

Before_value=actuator.speed.speed_limit

print("Before speed_limit:", Before_value)

actuator.speed_limit=your_value

now=actuator.speed_limit

print("Current speed speed_limit:", now)

Current

Parameter	target
Description	Set the target current value of the motor
Permission	set only
Is Float	True
Return

Parameter	now
Description	Query the target current value of the motor
Permission	get only
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.current_mode()

actuator.current.target = 0

while True:

	current_value = actuator.current.now

	print("Current value:", current_value)

Parameter	kp/ki
Description	Set/get the current loop PID parameters of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail: false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.current_mode()

Before_value=actuator.current.kp

print("Before current kp value:", Before_value)

actuator.current.kp=your_value

now=actuator.current.kp

print("Current current kp value:", now)

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.current_mode()

Before_value=actuator.current.ki

print("Before current ki value:", Before_value)

actuator.current.ki=your_value

now=actuator.current.ki

print("Current current ki value:", now)

Parameter	current_limit
Description	Query the current limit value of the motor
Permission	get/set
Is Float	True
Return	success: your_value fail : false

import amber_actuator as a

actuator = a.AmberActuator(1)

actuator.current_mode()

Before_value=actuator.speed.current_limit

print("Before current_limit:", Before_value)

actuator.current_limit=your_value

now=actuator.current_limit

print("Current current current_limit:", now)