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August 10, 2008 03:47 PM

Categories: Other WowWee Robots

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Trevor Taylor

Member
Joined: 08/10/2008

I recently bought a RoboRemote, Roboboa and Tribot. However, the RoboRemote does not support the Tribot. The software is dated March.

You can't even "teach" the RoboRemote new codes from the Tribot controller. The light on the RoboRemote flashes, so it is seeing the codes, but nothing appears in the user interface.

I tried to send a message using the Contact Us page on WowWee Support, but no matter what I do I can't complete all the fields. It seems like it does not like my e-mail address or something.

This is really frustrating. So much for the claim that it supports all "past and future" WowWee robots! Clearly this is not true.

Does anyone know the codes for the Tribot? I have found that the codes are stored in text files with the filetype of .uir. There is actually a file for the Tribot, but it is empty. There are also images for use in the program, so it looks like they got halfway through setting it up and then never finished the program.

Anybody got some ideas on what to do next?  

Trevor

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Comments 1-25 of 41 | Latest Comment | 1 2 Next »

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 10, 2008 5:12 PM

http://www.evosapien.com/robosapien-hack/nocturnal2/Tri-Bot/Disassembly#comments

If you do create the files required for tri-bot support, I'm sure several other people would be interested in getting them.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

Currahee Avatar
  Member
August 10, 2008 5:41 PM

thats messed up

Michelle C Avatar
WowWee
August 10, 2008 8:16 PM

I'll look into this for you but I'm pretty sure the latest Roboremote doesn't have full Tri-bot support yet...

Will keep you posted.

Check out my blog: The WowWee Insider.

Generic Member Avatar
Member
August 10, 2008 11:24 PM

I know it does not support the Tribot, that's the point! :-)

However, I would have thought that the infrastructure was already in place especially based on the claim on the package that says "For current and future IR WowWee robots!" If it does not support the Tribot, then this is false advertising. In Australia this could be the subject of legal action.

There are image files for the GUI, and an empty tribot.uri, so it looks like work was in progress to support the Tribot. What I need to know is the line that goes into the robots.uri so that it will appear in the GUI.

The robots.uri contains details that seem to include the IR configuration. I tried copying one of the other robots, but that did not work. So presumably the Tribot is different somehow in the timing or something subtle.

Trevor

Michelle C Avatar
WowWee
August 11, 2008 7:22 AM

I agree with you (re. the false advertising) but we're not here to pull the wool over people's eyes!! Presumably, the engineers had started on implementing the Tri-bot code but due to time constraints, the version that went out last didn't get the full spa treatment (if you know what I mean).

I've mentioned before that our engineers work really hard to make sure everything works properly before it goes out but they only have two hands (well, most of them have two hands...) but sometimes things slip because of deadlines and budget concerns.

But as I said, I'll find out when the next version will be available so please be patient!

Check out my blog: The WowWee Insider.

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
August 11, 2008 7:44 AM

Certainly there's an aspect of "managing expectations" to be tuned here.

If the RoboRemote was advertised as "Software Upgradeable to Support Future WowWee Robots", which is what it is, then folks would realize that a software update will be required to add support for new robots.

Unfortunately, that's not what the ad-copy says.
The page at http://www.roboremoteonline.com/about.html lists the feature

"Works with current and future IR-controlled WowWee robots".

That's not strictly accurate, as the remote, as shipped, does not work with future robots until a software update is available to enable it.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Michelle C Avatar
WowWee
August 11, 2008 9:39 AM

True, but the device works with future robots (despite the fact that the software needs to be updated)...

Check out my blog: The WowWee Insider.

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 11, 2008 10:32 AM

The hardware is capable, the software is not (currently). The files with the software look fairly modular, so hopefully adding an update should be fairly simple.

Trevor Taylor, I wasn't aware the RoboRemote is available in australia yet, where did you find it?

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
August 11, 2008 11:00 AM

Michelle C said: True, but the device works with future robots (despite the fact that the software needs to be updated)...

No, the device doesn't work with future robots, as is. It has the potential to work, if you can get a software update. It does have the capability to record IR signals, and convert them to stored commands, but apparently that only works with the underlying robot specific software support, too.

Without the software updates, there is no support for new robots. It's not built into the remote, or the base software. 

I'm a fan of the RoboRemote, and want it to succeed, but that's not a foregone conclusion. Generating software updates for future robots will be at an additional cost to WowWee. If the legume tabulation squad decides to stop funding that after a year, the support from WowWee for future robots dries up.

Like I said earlier, it's a case of managing expectations. Making a blanket "Supports future IR WowWee robots" statement sets a high bar for customer satisfaction. 

Hopefully the support for new robots is modular, needing only the installation of some code tables, and perhaps a button icon or two to dress up the graphical interface. If that's the case, the incremental cost to WowWee to continue adding support for the RoboRemote is small. Those will either be free, or at a low cost.

Another hope is that the configuration tables might be reverse engineered, or documented up front, so that existing tables can be modified as needed to support new robots and codes. 

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 11, 2008 6:55 PM updated: August 11, 2008 6:56 PM

Since you asked so nicely Mr Scott, here is some basics on the file formats used (sufficient to probably add a new robot). I apologize in advance if it doesn't make to much sense in areas. There is a good reason I'm at home in bed.

If I can find my RoboRemote, I will check the IR codes for the TriBot and create an appropriate uir file.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 11, 2008 8:42 PM updated: August 11, 2008 8:43 PM

I have added an updated Tribot.uir and robots.uir to the previously linked page.

They are untested (my Tribot is... unavailable for testing), and due to some interesting ways the remote functions (coupling multiple codes together), I am not 100% on exactly how Tribot will react to them. For the same reason, don't try using the record feature with Tribot's remote, it has a tendency to cause the software to crash.

For anyone who does try this, I would be very interested in the results.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
August 11, 2008 10:01 PM

While I appreciate your efforts to add bots on the side, that's really not the point of the thread. WowWee says they have support. They don't say that somebody at RoboCommunity might be able to figure it out and provide a hack for it.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 11, 2008 10:41 PM updated: August 11, 2008 10:45 PM

The point of the thread is that RoboRemote does not currently work with Tribot. I will quote a portion of the original post

"Does anyone know the codes for the Tribot? I have found that the codes are stored in text files with the filetype of .uir. There is actually a file for the Tribot, but it is empty. There are also images for use in the program, so it looks like they got halfway through setting it up and then never finished the program.

Anybody got some ideas on what to do next?"

So I would say that I am entirely on topic.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
August 12, 2008 12:18 AM

And so you are. As am I.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 12, 2008 12:34 AM

*Laughs* Then we agree. We are both on topic.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

Generic Member Avatar
Member
August 12, 2008 12:40 AM

Wow! I did not expect such a response.

Michelle C -- I was not threatening anything. I just wanted to point out the hyperbole in the advertising.

Nocturnal -- Do you ever sleep? :-) Your documentation page is pretty much everything that I had figured out. I am in the USA at the moment, which is how I got a RoboRemote. I ordered from the WowWee Store.

Mr. Scott -- I really don't care where I get the support. I have a robot I can't use with the RoboRemote and it is a little annoying given the advertising. However, I can live with it for a little longer if WowWee comes through with an update.

Trevor

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 12, 2008 12:48 AM

:) There is a reason I choose the name Nocturnal.

I did wonder, since you were talking about Australia law.

If you do try the uir files I have created, keep tri-bots remote handy just in case. With Tri-bots remote, it repeatedly transmits the movement command while the button is depressed, and then transmits essentially a stop command when the key is released. So I'm not really sure what will happen with the movement commands.

The other keys (free roam, guard, game, alarm etc) should all work.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

Generic Member Avatar
Member
August 12, 2008 12:58 AM

I could not find the attached files. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place.

Generic Member Avatar
Member
August 12, 2008 1:09 AM

I just read a message from WowWee support. It says that the codes will be available in 6 weeks time. At least that gives me something to look forward to.

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 12, 2008 1:09 AM

*Sighs* One of the dangers of being logged in all the time is that you don't see the anonymous users view. Try it now, the attachments should be visible at the bottom.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

Generic Member Avatar
Member
August 12, 2008 1:23 AM updated: August 12, 2008 1:24 AM

Got the attachements. They looked pretty much like what I had already tried, but I gave them a go.

Unfortunately, it does not work. Here's what happens:

The Tribot appears in the list of robots as you would expect.
You can select commands and construct a command sequence.
However, when you try to play it nothing happens. (I know that my RoboRemote works because I can use it with the RoboBoa)

Now, there is one strange thing -- you can record buttons and they will appear in the command sequence. In fact, they appear very fast if you hold a button down!

So here is the curious situation where the RoboRemote can see commands, but can't send them. I am wondering if it needs to send a continuous stream of commands. That might explain why nothing happens, but in that case it is very different from how other WowWee robots work and the existing program won't be able to do it without some re-writing of the code.

Trevor

P.S. Another possible problem is that the timing is wrong in the robots.uir file.

Nocturnal Avatar
  Member
August 12, 2008 1:54 AM updated: August 12, 2008 1:56 AM

As I said, unfortunately, my Tribot is... unavailable for testing right now...

 

So it will be a while before I can do any testing to figure out whats going on. Try the demo or free roam button.

RoboGuide - Your guide to hacking all things WowWee

roschler Avatar
  Member
August 12, 2008 2:23 AM

For Humans: "In space no one can hear you scream."

For Robots: "In Nocturnal's house, no one can hear you scream." :)

My Rovio Blog for Rovio Fanatics

Michelle C Avatar
WowWee
August 13, 2008 1:37 PM

Just got word that the new software will be available within the next two weeks (they're testing it now) -- stay tuned...

Check out my blog: The WowWee Insider.

MrScott Avatar
  Moderator
August 13, 2008 2:25 PM

Can we get a level set on what's involved in adding support for a new bot? Is it simply an addition of a robot specific command file, or are there changes made in the underlying program to add selection options and IR capture decoding?

I know that Nocturnal took a pass at adding support for Tribot based on some reverse engineering of codes, and editing uir files, but that didn't seem to be the whole answer for getting it to work.

ScottE -- Member (always) & Moderator (when needed)

Discussion:    Add a Comment | Back to Top | Comments 1-25 of 41 | Latest Comment | 1 2 Next »

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