Forum >FAQ for Vortex (updating)
FAQ for Vortex (updating)
Leff 2016-03-26 01:51:29 26157 Views5 Replies Hi every Vortex backer,
Thank you so much for your support on our cute Vortex (VT), but the naughty VT would get sick sometimes, here we will give you some idea on how to take care of him/her and if Vortex got sick, what could you do to heal him/her or drop us a line asking help.
Here, we will tell some tips on how to use it and some notes in case of make it sick, then following up tickets, I will write some common problem&solution, hope all of these would help you!
TIPS
If you find VT speed is slow, LED is dull/ blinking while you playing. Then please stop playing and replace with new sets of batteries. According to our test, comman AA battery could last around 2hrs.
Make sure your phone/ ipad or other devices are compatible
iOS: iPhone 4S + (Bluetooth 4.0 version); iPad 3+; iPad Mini 2+
Android: Android ROM 4.3+; Bluetooth 4.0
Make sure to play VT on ground or on a table with fence around, in case of that VT fall from a high place to make it broken.
Do not run VT on rug/ carpet whose fur would be drawn into VT's wheel, run it on tiled/ wooen floor or the map we offered is suggested.
Do not drench VT with water, VT is not waterproof.
2016-04-30 21:49:05 FAQ on Arduino
Leff
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Vortex Arduino library, schematic and more open source needed.
A: The wiki (including all the VT Arduino open source) can be found here. Any suggestion are welcome to post on Forum.
Leff 2016-04-20 02:36:02 FAQ on Scratch for Vortex
Leff
- I installed DF4S on laptop. But I can’t connect with Vortex from PC via Bluetooth. Help me how to do that? For testing purpose I used USB for connection with vortex. It is OK.
A: As you could find the reminder in Scratch usage for Vortex, it requires a USB BLE-Link to inserted on your computer, other BLE integrated on your laptop/ computer is not compatible, even it could pair with VT, it can't communicate properly.
Leff 2016-04-20 00:47:41 FAQ on WhenDo
Leff
- WhenDo programming NOTE
Due to the WhenDo would be updated from time to time, hence its handbook coming along with the package maybe out of dated, please read following notes in case of making you confused about WhenDo programming.
1. Duration(seconds) of all the modules has been updated to Delay(seconds)
2. Firmware/ factory setting module has been canceled. You can do it through your phone, how to reset Vortex/ do factory setting/ upload its original firmware?)
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Android/ Windows or other platform version of WhenDo?
A: We are developing the Android version WhenDo, it will be finished around December. 2016. But other platform are not under plan.
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I am trying to write a simple program to run Vortex, and when Vortex runs onto an obstacle, it will stop? Can you show me an example?
A: Clike to find the example.
- I can’t upload programs to Vortex via the WhenDo app, what should I do?
A: 1) Please ensure that your device is connected to the Internet via WiFi or a high-speed mobile network
2) Ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on your device
3) Ensure that Vortex is powered on
4) Ensure that your device and Vortex are paired.
- If WhenDo have linked with Vortex, but failed to uploading program. (It is the same that the phone can connect Vortex, but can not update its firmware.)
A: Click here: How to use a UNO (or other Arduino boards) to fix VT bootloader issue?. What's more, please read here, Common Arduino Operation Notes, No. 1 to know in what situation, the Arduino bootloader would get lost.
- After I upload a new program to Vortex, I can’t use it to play the app’s games anymore. Why?
A: Hey, it's normal. Vortex’s firmware/ default sketch is stored in chip ATmega328p, and once you used WhenDo to program it, the new program you created will erase the previous one. Hence that when you want to use your phone to play VT, it would remind you to update firmware. Here is a simple guide about this: How to restore Vortex’s factory default firmware.
Leff 2016-03-28 23:45:14 FAQ on App_VortexBot
Leff
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Why the app VortexBot can not connect VT? I have turned on BLE in the Control panel, and connected VT through it. But after I opened the app, placed my phone to VT nearby, side by side, hoping they can connected, but nothing happened.
A: Please do not connect VT through Control Panel, or it will requir the pin/password (for HID mode). After you turned on BLE, open the app, put your phone close to VT (distance should be < 1m), they will build connection automatically after several seconds, if not, restart VT&App or use another phone to try (we found some Android phones can not connect VT freely as iPhone).
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Not compatible with you Android device? e.g. Can not be installed./ Can not be opened.
A: 1. Make sure your Android system is 4.3+, BLE supported.
2. Make sure your phone have enough space to install the app (about 14M).
3. Make sure you have set your phone to allow the third party app.
4. Is your phone's RAM > 1G? Because we found some "old" android devices (bought 3~4 years ago) got some hardware limitation, e.g. [email protected], 512M, even the syetem has been upgraded to 4.3+, it is still hard for VortexBot to run.
5. Android marked is chaotic, different brand would use many different customized ROM, hence it causes the compatibility problem. If you know how to root Android phone, you could try the suggested ROM on Github or go to CyanogenMod.
6. For Android 6.0 user, it is reported that some Android 6.0 is not compatible, you could try the suggestion above in NO.5.
- My phone can connect Vortex, but can not update its firmware, nor to say to plat VT? (It is the same problem as WhenDo have linked with Vortex, but failed to uploading program.)
A: Click here: How to use a UNO (or other Arduino boards) to fix VT bootloader issue?. What's more, please read here, Common Arduino Operation Notes, No. 1 to know in what situation, the Arduino bootloader would get lost.
Leff 2016-03-26 02:19:50 FAQ on Vortex itself
Leff
- When I turn on the power switch, Vortex doesn’t react to my gesture anymore, i.e. if I wave before its eyes, no LED changed color... Why?
A: Several possible reasons:
1. WhenDo programmed VT before, click to read more, FAQ on WhenDo > 1
2. VT was connected with another device (phone/ laptop/ iPad etc.). Once VT was connected with another BLE devcie, it can not dance anymore according to the Quick Start Guide manual. Turn off all the BLE devices around will cut break off BLE connection, then VT can dance.
- My Vortex has stopped running and has begun a series of frantic beeps!/ Why don’t the top dome lights light up even after I install new batteries?
A: As the battery is new, it's possible that VT's firmware, i.e. the code in chip ATmega328P, was lost. Click here, how to fix.
Running VT in low battery would get its code lost
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Why my VT can't go forward very straightly when I use the app to run it forwardly?
A: if you have checked with these possible reasons without any help, then the encoder on the motor became defective, this can not be fixed by yourself, please seek for aftersale help.
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Why my VT can't go forward, instead, it always keeps turning left (or right) when I use the app to run it forward?
A: Click here: How to fix if VT can not go straight?
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After I use WhenDo to program VT, maybe my code is written wrong, VT didn't run as my code asked? But that's not the biggest trouble, the problem is VT is completely died, I mean even it can be connected to my phone, but I could not control it, and the app won't tell me to update VT either!! WhenDo is the same: connect no problem, failed to upload any code. Even in Arduino IDE, upload failure appeared finally.
A: Click here: How to use a UNO (or other Arduino boards) to fix VT bootloader issue?. What's more, please read here, Common Arduino Operation Notes, No. 1 to know in what situation, the Arduino bootloader would get lost.
Leff 
