Ubuntu
util-linux package

USB to Serial into a Robot

Asked by Allen Moore

I am attempting to connect a Bioloid robot into a Ubuntu 10.04 machine. it only has a serial interface cable and the machine only has USB. We got a USB to Serial cable and we have the robot physically connected. However, the program needs a COM port specified to use with the robot...the options are COM1, COM2, COM3, and COM4. Can/How can a USB port be configured through a serial converter cable to be recognized as one of those COM ports? Thanks in advance.

Allen.

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Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#1

What is the brand and model of the USB-to-serial adapter?

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#2

Also, with the USB-to-serial adapter plugged into the computer's serial port, please open a Terminal window (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and run the command:

lsusb

(To run a command, paste it in, or type it carefully, and then press enter.)

Then please copy all the text from the Terminal (Edit > Select All; Edit > Copy) and paste it here.

Revision history for this message
Allen Moore (allen-destinationtc) said : 		#3

All it says on the adapter is "USB to RS-232" and "Made in China". There's no brand name on it.

Here is the result of the LSUSB command.

:~$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 04b4:0060 Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS WLA-54L 802.11bg
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 054c:021f Sony Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

I also did it with the -v switch with the following results (I've only included the ones with something there):

Bus 004 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 1.10
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x067b Prolific Technology, Inc.
  idProduct 0x2303 PL2303 Serial Port
  bcdDevice 3.00
  iManufacturer 1
  iProduct 2
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 39
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 3
      bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass 0
      bInterfaceProtocol 0
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x000a 1x 10 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 0
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS WLA-54L 802.11bg
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
  bDeviceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x0ace ZyDAS
  idProduct 0x1215 WLA-54L 802.11bg
  bcdDevice 48.10
  iManufacturer 16
  iProduct 32
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 46
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 4
      bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass 0
      bInterfaceProtocol 0
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x04 EP 4 OUT
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 1
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 054c:021f Sony Corp.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x054c Sony Corp.
  idProduct 0x021f
  bcdDevice 3.15
  iManufacturer 1
  iProduct 2
  iSerial 3
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 39
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 2
      bInterfaceClass 8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass 6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol 80 Bulk (Zip)
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
        ** UNRECOGNIZED: 07 21 07 e8 03 fe ff
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Thanks.

Allen.

Revision history for this message
Allen Moore (allen-destinationtc) said : 		#4

All it says on the adapter is "USB to RS-232" and "Made in China". There's no brand name on it.

Here is the result of the LSUSB command.

:~$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 04b4:0060 Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS WLA-54L 802.11bg
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 054c:021f Sony Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

I also did it with the -v switch with the following results (I've only included the ones with something there):

Bus 004 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 1.10
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x067b Prolific Technology, Inc.
  idProduct 0x2303 PL2303 Serial Port
  bcdDevice 3.00
  iManufacturer 1
  iProduct 2
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 39
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 3
      bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass 0
      bInterfaceProtocol 0
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x000a 1x 10 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 0
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0ace:1215 ZyDAS WLA-54L 802.11bg
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
  bDeviceSubClass 255 Vendor Specific Subclass
  bDeviceProtocol 255 Vendor Specific Protocol
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x0ace ZyDAS
  idProduct 0x1215 WLA-54L 802.11bg
  bcdDevice 48.10
  iManufacturer 16
  iProduct 32
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 46
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 4
      bInterfaceClass 255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass 0
      bInterfaceProtocol 0
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x04 EP 4 OUT
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0040 1x 64 bytes
        bInterval 1
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 054c:021f Sony Corp.
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass 0
  bDeviceProtocol 0
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x054c Sony Corp.
  idProduct 0x021f
  bcdDevice 3.15
  iManufacturer 1
  iProduct 2
  iSerial 3
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 39
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower 500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 2
      bInterfaceClass 8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass 6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol 80 Bulk (Zip)
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x02 EP 2 OUT
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x82 EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes 2
          Transfer Type Bulk
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0200 1x 512 bytes
        bInterval 0
        ** UNRECOGNIZED: 07 21 07 e8 03 fe ff
can't get device qualifier: Operation not permitted
can't get debug descriptor: Operation not permitted
cannot read device status, Operation not permitted (1)

Thanks.

Allen.

Revision history for this message
Allen Moore (allen-destinationtc) said : 		#5

Sorry for submitting that twice.

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#6

Try this: http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?12,4546

If that doesn't work, or you need help with those instructions, please post again.

Revision history for this message
Allen Moore (allen-destinationtc) said : 		#7

Thanks. I went through the procedures there and had the desired results. However, the program that we're using to connect to the robot wants to send the programs through a COMM port (COMM1-COMM4). Is there a way to set up that USB to Serial to be recognized as a COMM port so that the program will correctly communicate through it? I posted this on the blog site too but it's been quite a few months since anyone's posted there too. Thanks.

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#8

Is the software you're using to interface with the robot Windows software, which you are running through Wine?

Revision history for this message
Allen Moore (allen-destinationtc) said : 		#9

It is running through Wine.

Revision history for this message
Eliah Kagan (degeneracypressure) said : 		#10

From the instructions at http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?12,4546, you presumably figured out the device name of the serial port provided by your USB-to-serial adapter. The device name is probably /dev/ttyUSB0, but it might be something else. With that information, you can follow the instructions at http://www.winehq.org/docs/wineusr-guide/misc-things-to-configure to expose your serial port to Wine. Those instructions explain how to make Wine map your serial port device to a Windows device name (i.e., COM1:, COM2:, COM3:, or COM4:).

Generally speaking, Wine doesn't support USB devices. However, in this case, since the USB device is acting like a serial port, I suspect that this will work. Please post again if it doesn't, and we'll keep working on the problem.

Revision history for this message
Patricia Wang (wangpw) said : 		#11

Hello Allen,

I have the same setup (USB/Serial converter) and am experiencing similar problems with the setup of the Bioloid CM-5 controller.

I was wondering if you were able to configure your USB port so that the Bioloid software was able to recognize it?

I have so far still received errors like "Cannot connect to CM-5" (Behavior Control Programmer) or "Can not open COM1, 57600 bps" (Robot Terminal).

Thank you in advance!

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask Allen Moore for more information if necessary.

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