Using PicoBorg Reverse and XLoBorg Together

Submitted by CodyErekson on Thu, 11/20/2014 - 15:44

Forums:

Hello,

I am working on putting together a demonstration robot for an upcoming Raspberry Jam, and I want to make it as "fully loaded" as I possibly can. Right now it's heart is an RPi B Rev 2. I currently have a PicoBorg Reverse and a BattBorg attached (which I fired up last night for the first, and I must say that it couldn't have gone better!)

I would like to make use of an XLoBorg. How would I go about doing so in conjunction with the PicoBorg Rev? I would also like to consider using a PicoBorg that I have to run some auxiliary motors.

Would you suggest picking up a TriBorg? Or can this be accomplished with a breakout board? Or can it not really be done due to conflicting resources?

The final consideration is that I intend to replace the current RPi with an A+ once I can acquire one within a few weeks (your recent A+/BattBorg tests have *really* got my heart pounding!)

Thanks a lot,

--Cody Erekson
Cache Valley Raspberry Jam

piborg's picture

piborg

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 18:36

You should be able to use a PicoBorg Reverse, an XLoBorg, and a PicoBorg all at the same time from a single Raspberry Pi.

The PicoBorg Reverse and XLoBorg both use the same pins (power and I2C), but they have different addresses so that you can connect both at the same time.

The PicoBorg uses different GPIO pins, so no problem there either.

Given that the PicoBorg Reverse and XLoBorg both share the same pins a breakout board will only be up to the task if you can attach more than one connection to the same Raspberry Pi pin.

You could use a TriBorg with the A+, remember to plug it into the first 26 pins.

The TriBorg would allow you to connect the PicoBorg Reverse (+BattBorg) to the first header, XLoBorg to the second header, and PicoBorg to the third header.

CodyErekson

Thu, 11/20/2014 - 18:53

Okay, so it sounds like the TriBorg is the answer to my dilemma then. I can certainly manage that.

Thanks so much for all of the information. I'm very excited that this is possible. I really used to think that the Raspberry Pi was so limited, with *only* 8 GPIO pins. In the past two years I have learned about so many ways to expand its offerings and make use of things like I2C and SPI in fantastic ways that it seems nearly limitless!

BTW, do you guys have any plans to create a B+ TriBorg?

piborg's picture

piborg

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 15:03

We are currently deciding what board(s) to make next.

What I can say is that a 40-pin version of TriBorg for the A+ / B+ is on the short-list.

CodyErekson

Sat, 12/06/2014 - 01:38

My TriBorg just arrived! Now it's time to really get down to business with this robot of mine.

rburg

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 00:19

Diddy borg just built today. Fantastic! I'm already now looking for accessories!
I found this post as I wanted to do the same thing. Ideally install xloborg and ledborg in a diddyborg. It looks like triborg is no longer available. Whats the best way of achieving this now?

piborg's picture

piborg

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 02:44

Well I can confirm that we do not intend to make any more of the original TriBorg now.
Instead we will be producing a TriBorg+ which has the following improvements:

  • Replicates all 40 pins found on the A+, B+, V2, and Zero
  • It is reversible so it can be mounted either way around
  • It has mounting holes which match the A+, B+, V2, and two from the Zero
  • It has the same footprint as a standard HAT

We expect to have them in stock early next year.

Alternatively you could do any of the following:

You do not actually need the whole header duplicated for either board:

  • For XloBorg the first six pins are enough, just like PicoBorg Reverse.
  • LedBorg needs five pins, but they are not all in one place.
    For power it needs 5V (pin 2) and Ground (pin 6).
    For the signals it needs pins 11, 13, and 15 for red, green, and blue respectively.
    The pinout is shown here: http://pinout.xyz/pinout/piborg_ledborg

If you need any GPIO headers ModMyPi has a good selection of them:
http://www.modmypi.com/search/?search=gpio

rburg

Tue, 12/29/2015 - 07:37

Ok. Thanks piborg. I think I have a breadboard I can use till triborg+ is released.

piborg's picture

piborg

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 18:47

It has taken a while, but TriBorg+ is finally here:

Click here for the full description

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