Hi, I'm trying to activate the haptic component with the code below, nothing happens. what am I doing wrong? perhaps some initialization that should be done?
final Haptic boardHaptic = board.getModule(Haptic.class);
boardHaptic.startBuzzer((short) 500);
Comments
Do you have a buzzer attached to the board?
No I don't, I thought that the board (MetaMotionR) has this inside. can you explain how to attach a buzzer to the board? the only visible interface is the micro-USB used for charging
The board has an HCD pin you can use to drive haptic devices. Check your board's datasheet to find where on the board the pin is located.
https://mbientlab.com/documentation/
If you aren't experienced with soldering micro-electronics, MbientLab does attach buzzers to the board. You will have to talk to support to see what they can do about your specific order.
https://mbientlab.com/product/buzzer/
ruthif,
If you are looking for the haptic version of the board, you simply need to purchase the MetaMotionR+ version of our board.
MetaMotionR+ ? I see the MetaMotionR on the website and just purchased 10 a month ago. I'd like to use the HCD pin - does this mean that I don't have the right board? Or will the MetaMotionR work with the HCD pin to drive an external circuit?
All boards have the HCD pin
MetaMotionR+ has a coin vibration motor on it already placed on the HCD pin and ground. It is used to gently vibrate the board much like when your smartphone gets a call in silent mode. You can buy a coin vibration motor and solder it yourself to your MetaMotionR boards if you want to: https://mbientlab.com/store/coin-vibration-motor/
Got it.... that's what I suspected, but wasn't sure as I was having difficulties enabling the HCD pin on a test MetaMotionR I need to do further testing. I might have a couple boards that are not functioning as expected or I'm missing something.
I connected a coin vibration motor to a test device and got it to work, however I connected it to another board and it didn't work. The only physical difference is the one that worked had a battery connected while the other board (that didn't work) was only connected to power via USB.
So a quick question before I continue to dig into testing, will the HCD pin work to control a motor if there is NO battery attached? My test seems to indicate that the battery HAS to be attached for the HCD pin to be able to drive a motor and that power from USB only will not work.
Generally speaking, the MMR boards require the battery.