3Pi+ 2040 Robot cannot be programmed

Hello there,

I’m a student from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg from Germany.
We ordered 7 robots (Pololu 3pi+ 2040) as part of a student research project. 6 of the 7 robots work wonderfully. One robot cannot be programmed. When a voltage is applied, it boots normally with the standard program that is programmed for it by default. To program it with your own program, you put it in the bootloader, which works normally. However, the PC does not recognize the robot. With the other robots, the robot always appeared as a file and you could then program it. With this one, nothing appears and the PC does not make the typical noise when you add a device.

Can anyone help with this problem?
If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me, or if there is any information missing from the problem description.

Hello.

You mentioned putting the 3pi+ in bootloader mode, but that should not be necessary for just programming the robot. You only need to do that for updating the firmware.

Can you clarify what happens if you connect the 3pi+ to your computer without trying to put it in bootloader mode? What does the robot do when you connect it, and can you post a screenshot of your Device Manager (if you are using Windows) when the robot is connected? Please test it with a cable that you know works with one of your other robots.

- Patrick

Hello PatrickM,

Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it.

The robot still has the Python programs. If I want to program it with c++ (Arduino), I have to put the robot into the bootloader and then upload an .ino file. At least that’s what I thought since I read that on GitHub. Maybe I misunderstood, but it worked great with the other robots. As soon as they were switched to c, you didn’t have to put them in the bootloader anymore, as far as I know this was only necessary to change the programming language for the robot from python to c.

I have attached a jpeg that shows the startup. I have also attached a screenshot of the device manager and a picture of the setup. I use Win 11.

The orange/yellow LED fades on off. The robot starts normally but it doesn’t show up. I double checked the cable, this is a brand new Data USB-C cable, und I tried an older Data USB-C cable. These are the same I programmed the others with.

This is from GitHub →

“Anschlüsse” = Connections


This is me 1h later.
It doesn’t matter which USB port I use, they all behave the same. The PC acts like nothing happened.
But if I use a USB - C Port on the PC, he makes the typical sound of a connection. And this shows up →

Nothing changes on the COM ports, only what I marked red.

normally it looks like this: (robot connected or not doesn’t matter, it’s the same)

I hope you are not as confused as I am :smiley:

If I should clarify anything, or if I can do something to help you to understand the problem, you can always write me. I’m thankful for any help I can get.

Kilian

It sounds like the bot isn’t going into bootloader mode. Are you holding down the B button on the robot while pressing and releasing the Reset button? Is the robot showing up as a USB drive on your PC (either MicroPython or RPI-RP2)?

Yes, I’m holding down B while pressing and releasing the Reset Button. I also disconnected the Robot, press B while connecting to the PC again.
This is what it looks like when he goes in “Bootloader” but he does not show up either what you wrote.
So both green LEDs light up and absolut nothing on the PC.

When he boots normaly, I can manouver through the menu, so the buttons seems to be working just fine.
If you want I can try to film it.

If it’s connected to the PC when you boot it normally and can maneuver through the menu in the MicroPython code, does it show up as a drive then? It should show up as a MicroPython drive. If that isn’t working but using the same USB cable to connect other 3π+ 2040 bots (in bootloader mode) to the same PC does work then it kind of sounds like there is something wrong with the USB connector on that specific bot.

@Halfdrive, can you answer the question from AdamGreen’s last post: does the robot appear as a drive when you power it on normally while it is connected to your PC?

- Patrick

Hello,

It does not show up as a drive either normally when I maneuver through the menu in the MicroPython code or in bootloader mode. It works with the other ones I tried. I am at a loss too.

At this point it seems likely to be some kind of physical damage with the USB connection on the 3pi+ 2040 board. Please contact us with your order information and a reference to this thread.

- Patrick

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Hello to you both,

I wrote to support and they were able to help me. I have received a new circuit board that I can program as usual. Now everything works as it should, I just have to install it. I wanted to thank you both again for your help.

Kilian

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