AX-12 Robotic Arm Controller Comparison
CrustCrawler currently supports the Propeller, USB2Dynamixel, and CM-5 controllers. If you have any controller questions, please post them on CrustCrawler's community forums.
| Propeller | USB2Dynamixel | CM-5 | |
| Window software |  |
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| Open source Windows software | |
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| .NET Libraries | |
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| USB | |
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| Serial TTL output | |
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| Serial TTL input | |
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| RS-232 | |
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| Wireless option | |
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| C/C++, Matlab, Labview, Visual Studio, VB.NET, C#, Java, and Python Dynamixel interface code. | |
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| Firmware upgradable | |
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| User extensible firmware | |
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| Tools/Utilities | |
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| Sensor interface/integration | |
Propeller Demo Board
$79.95 |
The Parallax Propeller Demo Board functions like the USB2Dynamixel once loaded with the DynaBus serial driver (free download). A computer running software can send and receive Dynamixel network packets through the Propeller. The difference between the Propeller and USB2Dyanmixel is the Propeller can be easily programmed to accept instructions at 2400 baud to 1M bps and pass those instructions to the Dynamixel network at 1M bps. That means any TTL serial device can be used to send instructions to the robot arm through the Propeller. Another benefit is the Propeller can be programmed to execute other tasks like reading and responding to sensor data. The free DynaBus Embedded download contains open source drivers, an instruction manual, and a debug tool. The Propeller option comes with a USB cable. A separate 7-10V 5A source is required to power the AX-12 network!
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USB2Dynamixel
$49.90 |
The USB2Dynamixel is our most popular AX/RX controller. The USB2Dynamixel passes Dynamixel commands from a PC USB port to a Dynamixel network. A separate power supply is required since a PC USB port can not provide enough current to drive an AX/RX network. See the specs page page for Dynamixel power requirements. If you r project requires sensor input, consider using the Propeller. The USB2Dynamixel can not be programmed and requires PC or compatible device to send properly formatted Dynamixel commands.
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CM-5
$145.00 |
The CM-5 programming bundle contains everything needed to bring your AX-12 robotic projects life. The motion editor, terminal application, and behavioral software programmer interface with the CM-5 unit and allow you to create very complex movements with a mouse click. We recommend this package for those that don't want to program.
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