Slamtec A1M8 - User Manual

Need help?

Do you have a question about the Slamtec A1M8 and is the answer not in the manual?

Summary

Overview

Items in the Development Kit

Lists the components included in the RPLIDAR A2 development kit, such as the RPLIDAR unit and USB adapter.

Connection and Usage

Connection

Explains the step-by-step process for physically connecting the RPLIDAR A2 to a PC via the USB adapter.

Install Driver for the USB Adapter

SDK Introduction and Usage

RPLIDAR A2 Pin Definition and Specification

Details the pinout and electrical specifications of the RPLIDAR A2 connector for hardware integration.

Pin Definition for the USB Adapter

Configure RPLIDAR A2 Scan Frequency

Operation Recommendation

Pre-Heating for Best Performance

Recommends pre-heating the RPLIDAR for optimal measurement accuracy by running it for at least two minutes.

Ambient Temperature

Advises on temperature limits to prevent damage and ensure performance, avoiding extreme heat or cold.

Ambient Light

Warns against strong light sources interfering with measurements or causing sensor damage, especially direct sunlight.

Appendix

Image and Table Index

An index listing all figures and tables within the document for easy navigation.

The RPLIDAR A2 is a low-cost 360-degree laser range scanner, designed for evaluating RPLIDAR's performance and initial development. It allows users to observe the cloud map of the environment scanning points and begin development using the provided SDK.

Function Description

The RPLIDAR A2 is a 360-degree laser range scanner that collects environmental scanning point data. It comes with an embedded PWM motor driver, allowing for configurable scan frequency by tuning the motor speed. The motor can also be turned off for power-saving purposes. The device connects to a PC via a USB cable and adapter, enabling data visualization and further processing through a GUI demo application or the SDK.

Important Technical Specifications

Model: A2M4
Power Supply: The RPLIDAR A2 uses a single 5V DC power supply for both the scan motor and the scan core. No additional power is required.
Motor Control: Features a built-in, speed-adjustable motor driver. The motor's start, stop, and rotating speed can be controlled via the MOTOCTL signal.
PWM Frequency (for MOTOCTL): 20kHz.
Connectivity: Uses an XH2.54-5P specification plug for connection. The USB adapter also uses an XH2.54-5P specification socket, allowing direct connection to the RPLIDAR A2.
USB Adapter Chip: CP2102, which converts UART to USB.
Operating System Support (SDK): Windows and Linux platforms are supported. The SDK source code can be embedded into other operational or embedded systems.
Measurement Accuracy: Best achieved after a pre-heating period.
Environmental Operating Conditions:
- Ambient Temperature: Sensitive to temperature; avoid extreme high (>40 degrees Celsius) and low (<-10 degrees Celsius) temperatures to prevent damage.
- Ambient Light: While not highly sensitive, strong light sources (e.g., high-power lasers indoors, direct sunlight outdoors) can lead to errors or permanent damage to the image sensor, invalidating measurements. The standard version may have a reduced measurement range in strong sunlight.

Usage Features

Easy Connection: The RPLIDAR A2 connects to a PC in a few simple steps:
1. Connect the RPLIDAR A2 to the USB adapter.
2. Connect the USB adapter to the PC using a Micro-USB cable. The USB indicator light will illuminate, but the RPLIDAR will not start scanning until commanded.
Driver Installation: The USB adapter requires a device driver (for the CP2102 chip), which can be found in the SDK package or downloaded from Silicon Labs' official website. Installation involves selecting the correct driver version (x86 for 32-bit OS, x64 for 64-bit OS) and following the wizard.
Demo Application (Frame_grabber):
- A GUI demo application is provided for Windows users to directly view scan results and save them for further processing. Source code is included in the SDK.
- For Linux and macOS users, simple demos are available in the SDK.
- To run the demo, ensure the RPLIDAR is connected to the PC, and the device driver is correctly installed.
- The application displays the firmware/hardware version and serial number of the RPLIDAR.
- Scan Control:
  - Start Scan: Initiates the scan core, and scan data is displayed.
  - Stop Scan: Puts the scan core into power-save mode.
  - Save Scan Data: Saves the current scan data to a local file.
  - Restart RPLIDAR: Resets the scan core to clear internal errors.
  - Adjust Motor Speed: Allows users to configure the motor speed via a dialog box or by dragging a progress bar. The current rotating speed and scan frequency are displayed in real-time.
- Data Visualization:
  - The scan outline is displayed in the UI.
  - Users can zoom in and out using the mouse wheel.
  - Moving the cursor over a sample point shows its distance and degree value from the RPLIDAR in red font.
  - The scan frequency is also displayed in the UI.
SDK Integration: SLAMTEC provides an SDK for both Windows and Linux, allowing users to embed the source code into other operational or embedded systems for custom development. The SDK includes functions to configure the motor speed and thus the RPLIDAR A2's scan frequency.
Pin Definition: The RPLIDAR A2 uses an XH2.54-5P plug with defined pins for VCC (5V power), TX (serial output), RX (serial input), GND (ground), and MOTOCTL (motor/PWM control signal, active high).

Maintenance Features

Troubleshooting: If the scan core or laser power operates abnormally, the device enters protection mode. This state can be detected via the SDK API, and a "restart command" can be sent to reset the scan core.
Pre-heating: For optimal measurement accuracy, it is recommended to pre-heat the RPLIDAR (start scan mode with the motor rotating) for more than 2 minutes.
Environmental Considerations: Adhering to specified ambient temperature ranges and avoiding strong light sources (especially direct sunlight) is crucial to prevent damage to the sensor and ensure valid measurements.