API¶

Overview¶

This document outlines the main API used to interface with Tinymovr. This API comprises a series of read/write endpoints. The endpoints are defined taking into account the capabilities and constraints of the CAN bus, the main communication bus used by Tinymovr.

The Tinymovr API allows full hardware control from within Python scripts, using a high-level interface to hardware. At the same time, it is possible to interface directly with the CAN bus endpoints, for instance in an embedded application. In both cases, the API Reference provides all the necessary information.

Tinymovr API is part of Tinymovr Studio. For help installing Studio, please take a look at Studio Installation.

Use with Python¶

Here below is an example using the API from Python scripts and controlling hardware:

import can
from tinymovr import Tinymovr
from tinymovr.iface.can_bus import CAN

bus = can.Bus(bustype="slcan", channel="your_com_port", bitrate=1000000)
iface = CAN(bus)
tm = Tinymovr(node_id=1, iface=iface)

tm.calibrate()

The above code block will instantiate a Tinymovr with CAN bus id of 1 and calibrate it. Following the above, you can issue commands such as:

tm.position_control()
tm.set_pos_setpoint(0)

tm.velocity_control()
tm.set_vel_setpoint(80000)

Shortcuts¶

A few commands exist in Tinymovr studio which are shortcuts to Tinymovr endpoints with specific argument values. These are mostly shortcuts to changes of states and modes that are easier to read and remember. They are briefly presented below.

idle()¶

Switch to idle mode and disable the inverter.

Shortcut for tmx.set_state(0, 0)

calibrate()¶

Start calibration sequence. This command presents a safety notice that needs to be accepted by the user before proceeding.

Shortcut for tmx.set_state(1, 0)

position_control()¶

Switch to closed loop control (enable the inverter) and to position control mode.

Shortcut for tmx.set_state(2, 2)

velocity_control()¶

Switch to closed loop control (enable the inverter) and to velocity control mode.

Shortcut for tmx.set_state(2, 1)

current_control()¶

Switch to closed loop control (enable the inverter) and to current control mode.

Shortcut for tmx.set_state(2, 0)

API Reference¶

Note

Where “float32” is mentioned, an IEEE 754, 32-bit floating point representation is assumed.

state¶

endpoint: 0x03

type: Read-only

Retrieves an object containing the controller state, control mode and error flags. The object is pretty-printed if inside the Tinymovr Studio iPython environment.

This command has been revised as of firmware 0.8.2 and studio 0.3.3 to report multiple error flags if available. The above and newer versions can display up to five error flags simultaneously, and with the order that they were registered by the firmware error handler.

Tinymovr Studio 0.3.3 and newer is backwards compatible with the legacy error reporting system, as such newer Studio versions can be used with older firmware. However, newer firmware (0.8.2 and later) is not compatible with older Studio versions. Make sure that you run the latest version of Studio before upgrading your firmware.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset
`errors`	Legacy Error Flag	uint8	0
`state`	Control State	uint8	1
`mode`	Control Mode	uint8	2
`errors`	1st Error Flag	uint8	3
`...`	2nd Error Flag	uint8	4
`...`	3rd Error Flag	uint8	5
`...`	4th Error Flag	uint8	6
`...`	5th Error Flag	uint8	7

Example¶

Legacy system

>>>tmx.state
{"error": 0, "state": 0, "mode": 0}

New system

>>>tmx.state
State: Idle     Mode: Position
Errors:
    Invalid State (1): Attempt to transition to invalid state

>>>tmx.state.mode
0

set_state()¶

endpoint: 0x07

type: Write-only

Sets the controller state and control mode.

Note

Results of calibration are not automatically saved to Non-Volatile Memory (NVM). You need to issue a save_config command after calibration is finished to save calibration data to NVM.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset
`state`	Control State	uint8	1
`mode`	Control Mode	uint8	2

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_state(state=0, mode=0)

can_config¶

endpoint: 0x05

type: Read-only

Retrieves the CAN configuration.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset
`id`	CAN Bus ID	uint8	0
`baud_rate`	Baud Rate	uint16	1

Example¶

>>>tmx.can_config
{"id": 1, "baud_rate": 250}

set_can_config()¶

endpoint: 0x06

type: Write-only

Sets the CAN configuration.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset
`id`	CAN Bus ID	uint8	0
`baud_rate`	Baud Rate	uint16	1

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_can_config(id=1, baud_rate=250)

encoder_estimates¶

endpoint: 0x09

type: Read-only

Retrieves the position and velocity encoder estimates.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Estimate	float32	0	ticks
`velocity`	Velocity Estimate	float32	4	ticks/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.encoder_estimates
{"position": 1000.0, "velocity": 0.0}

setpoints¶

endpoint: 0x0A

type: Read-only

Retrieves the position and velocity setpoints of the controller.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Setpoint	float32	0	tick
`velocity`	Velocity Setpoint	float32	4	tick/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.setpoints
{"position": 1000.0, "velocity": 0.0}

encoder_config¶

endpoint: 0x0B

type: Read-only

Retrieves the encoder configuration.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`type`	Encoder Type	uint8	0
`bandwidth`	Encoder Bandwidth	float32	1	radians/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.encoder_config
{"type": 0, "bandwidth": 1500.0}

set_pos_setpoint()¶

endpoint: 0x0C

type: Write-only

Sets the position setpoint, and optionally velocity and current feed-forward values. Due to the fact that data types of feed-forward values are limited by type, multiples of the root units are used.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Setpoint	float32	0	tick
`velocity`	Velocity Setpoint	int16	4	decatick/second
`current`	Current Setpoint	int16	6	centiampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_pos_setpoint(1000.0)

>>>tmx.set_pos_setpoint(position=1000.0, velocity=10000.0, current=0.0)

set_vel_setpoint()¶

endpoint: 0x0D

type: Write-only

Sets the velocity setpoint, and optionally current feed-forward value.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`velocity`	Velocity Setpoint	float32	0	ticks/second
`current`	Current Setpoint	float32	4	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_vel_setpoint(10000.0)

>>>tmx.set_vel_setpoint(velocity=10000.0, current=0.0)

set_cur_setpoint()¶

endpoint: 0x0E

type: Write-only

Sets the current (Iq) setpoint.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`current`	Current Setpoint	float32	0	amperes

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_cur_setpoint(0.5)

limits¶

endpoint: 0x15

type: Read-only

Retrieves the velocity and current limits of the controller.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`velocity`	Velocity Limit	float32	0	tick/second
`current`	Current Limit	float32	4	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.limits
{"velocity": 300000.0, "current": 10.0}

set_limits()¶

endpoint: 0x0F

type: Write-only

Sets the velocity and current limits of the controller.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`velocity`	Velocity Limit	float32	0	tick/second
`current`	Current Limit	float32	4	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_limits(velocity=200000.0, current=15.0)

gains¶

endpoint: 0x18

type: Read-only

Retrieves the position and velocity gains of the controller.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Gain	float32	0	1/second
`velocity`	Velocity Gain	float32	4	ampere*second/tick

Example¶

>>>tmx.gains
{"position": 35.0, "velocity": 0.000012}

set_gains()¶

endpoint: 0x19

type: Write-only

Sets the position and velocity gains of the controller.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Gain	float32	0	1/second
`velocity`	Velocity Gain	float32	4	ampere*second/tick

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_gains(position=25.0, velocity=0.00001)

offset_dir¶

endpoint: 0x02

type: Read-only

Retrieves the user defined rotor position offset and rotor direction values.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`offset`	Offset	float32	0	tick
`direction`	Direction	int8	4

Example¶

>>>tmx.offset_dir
{"offset": 0.0, "direction": 1}

set_offset_dir()¶

endpoint: 0x08

type: Write-only

Sets the user defined rotor position offset and rotor direction values.

Note

The direction field only accepts -1 or 1 as values. All other values are ignored.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`offset`	Offset	float32	0	tick
`direction`	Direction	int8	4

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_gains(offset=2500, direction=-1)

vel_integrator_params¶

endpoint: 0x18

type: Read-only

Retrieves the velocity integrator gain and deadband parameters.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`gain`	Velocity Integrator Gain	float32	0	ampere*second/tick
`deadband`	Velocity Integrator Deadband	float32	4	tick

Example¶

>>>tmx.vel_integrator_params
{"gain": 0.0001, deadband: 200}

set_vel_integrator_params()¶

endpoint: 0x19

type: Write-only

Sets the velocity integrator gain and deadband parameters.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`gain`	Velocity Integrator Gain	float32	0	ampere*second/tick
`deadband`	Velocity Integrator Deadband	float32	4	tick

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_vel_integrator_params(gain=0.0001, deadband=300)

Iq¶

endpoint: 0x14

type: Read-only

Retrieves the current (Iq) setpoint and estimate.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`setpoint`	Iq Setpoint	float32	0	ampere
`estimate`	Iq Estimate	float32	4	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.Iq
{"setpoint": 1.0, "estimate": 0.9}

Iphase¶

endpoint: 0x10

type: Read-only

Retrieves the measured phase currents.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`A`	A Phase Current	int16	0	ampere
`B`	B Phase Current	int16	0	ampere
`C`	C Phase Current	int16	0	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.Iphase
{"A": 1.0, "B": -0.6, "C": -0.4}

set_encoder_config¶

endpoint: 0x11

type: Write-only

Sets the encoder configuration.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`type`	Encoder Type	uint8	0
`bandwidth`	Encoder Bandwidth	float32	1	radians/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_encoder_config(0, 1500)

plan_t_limit¶

endpoint: 0x20

type: Write-only

Generate and execute a time-limited trajectory.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`target_position`	Target Position	float	0	tick
`total_time`	Total Trajectory Time	uint16	4	millisecond
`acc_percent`	Acceleration Phase Percent	uint8	6	(none, values 0-255)
`dec_percent`	Deceleration Phase Percent	uint8	7	(none, values 0-255)

Example¶

>>>tmx.plan_t_limit(100000, 3000, 50, 50)

plan_v_limit¶

endpoint: 0x21

type: Write-only

Generate and execute an acceleration- and velocity-limited trajectory.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`target_position`	Target Position	float	0	tick
`max_velocity`	Max Velocity	float	4	tick/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.plan_v_limit(100000, 50000)

set_max_plan_acc_dec¶

endpoint: 0x22

type: Write-only

Set maximum acceleration and deceleration values for trajectory generation.

Note

This command only sets values, it does not execute a trajectory. For trajecotry execution with set values, make a call to plan_v_limit.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`max_acc`	Max Acceleration	float	0	tick/(second^2)
`max_dec`	Max Deceleration	float	4	tick/(second^2)

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_max_plan_acc_dec(50000, 50000)

device_info¶

endpoint: 0x1A

type: Read-only

Retrieves device-related information.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`device_id`	Device ID	uint32	0
`fw_major`	FW Major Ver.	uint8	4
`fw_minor`	FW Minor Ver.	uint8	5
`fw_patch`	FW Patch Ver.	uint8	6
`temp`	MCU Temp	uint8	7	°C

Example¶

>>>tmx.device_info
{"device_id": 99999, "fw_major": 0, "fw_minor": 7, "fw_patch": 1, "temp": 45}

motor_config¶

endpoint: 0x1E

type: Read-only

Retrieves motor config (flags, pole pairs, calibration current).

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`flags`	Calibrated, Gimbal	uint8	0
`pole_pairs`	Motor Pole Pairs	uint8	1
`I_cal`	Calibration Current	float	2	ampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.motor_config
{"flags": 1, "pole_pairs": 11, "I_cal": 5.0}

set_motor_config¶

endpoint: 0x1F

type: Write-only

Sets motor config (flags, pole pairs, calibration current).

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`flags`	Gimbal	uint8	0
`pole_pairs`	Motor Pole Pairs	uint8	1
`I_cal`	Calibration Current	float	2	ampere

Example¶

High-current motor: .. code-block:: python

>>>tmx.set_motor_config(0, 14, 5)

Gimbal motor: .. code-block:: python

>>>tmx.set_motor_config(1, 14, 0.5)

timings¶

endpoint: 0x1B

type: Read-only

Retrieves MCU timings in each control cycle.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset
`total`	Total MCU Cycles	uint32	0
`busy`	Busy MCU Cycles	uint32	4

Example¶

>>>tmx.timings
{"total": 7500, "busy": 1000}

estop()¶

endpoint: 0x02

type: Write-only

Emergency stop: Idles the MCU immediately.

Arguments¶

No arguments.

Example¶

>>>tmx.estop()

reset()¶

endpoint: 0x16

type: Write-only

Resets the MCU.

Arguments¶

No arguments.

Example¶

>>>tmx.reset()

save_config()¶

endpoint: 0x1C

type: Write-only

Saves board configuration to Non-Volatile Memory.

Note

Saving config only works when Tinymovr is in idle mode, otherwise the command is ignored.

Arguments¶

No arguments.

Example¶

>>>tmx.save_config()

erase_config()¶

endpoint: 0x1D

type: Write-only

Erases the configuration stored in NVM and resets the MCU.

Note

Erasing config only works when Tinymovr is in idle mode, otherwise the command is ignored.

Arguments¶

No arguments.

Example¶

>>>tmx.erase_config()

get_set_pos_vel()¶

endpoint: 0x25

type: Read-Write

Gets and sets Position and Velocity feedforward in one go.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Setpoint	float32	0	ticks
`velocity`	Velocity Setpoint	float32	4	ticks/second

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Estimate	float32	0	ticks
`velocity`	Velocity Estimate	float32	4	ticks/second

Example¶

>>>tmx.get_set_pos_vel(1000.0, 0)
{"position":0.0, "velocity": 0.0}

get_set_pos_vel_Iq()¶

endpoint: 0x26

type: Read-Write

Get and set Position, Velocity feedforward and Iq feedforward in one go. Due to the fact that data types of feed-forward values are limited by type, multiples of the root units are used.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Setpoint	float32	0	tick
`velocity`	Velocity Setpoint	int16	4	decatick/second
`current`	Current Setpoint	int16	6	centiampere

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`position`	Position Estimate	float32	0	tick
`velocity`	Velocity Estimate	int16	4	decatick/second
`current`	Current Estimate	int16	6	centiampere

Example¶

>>>tmx.get_set_pos_vel_Iq(1000.0, 0, 0)
{"position":0.0, "velocity": 0.0, "current": 0.0}

motor_RL¶

endpoint: 0x27

type: Read-only

Retrieves motor resistance and inductance values.

Return Values¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`R`	Phase Resistance	float32	0	ohm
`L`	Phase Inductance	float32	4	henry

Example¶

>>>tmx.motor_RL
{"R": 0.2, "L": 0.00005}

set_motor_RL¶

endpoint: 0x28

type: Write-only

Sets attached motor resistance and inductance values.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`R`	Phase Resistance	float32	0	ohm
`L`	Phase Inductance	float32	4	henry

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_motor_RL(0.5, 0.0001)

set_watchdog¶

endpoint: 0x2A

type: Write-only

Enables/disables the CAN timeout watchdog, and sets the timeout length in seconds. This watchdog sets the control state to idle after a period of inactivity on the CAN bus. Maximum of 536s.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`enable`	Enable/disable	uint8	0	state
`timeout`	Watchdog timeout	float32	1	second

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_watchdog(1, 5)

>>>tmx.set_watchdog(0)

set_vel_inc¶

endpoint: 0x2B

type: Write-only

Sets the maxiumum increment by which the velocity can change each control loop, making it ramp between velocities to reduce voltage spikes. Default of 100. Setting this to 0 disables velocity ramping.

Arguments¶

Member	Description	Data Type	Data Offset	Default Unit
`increment`	Velocity increment	float32	0	ticks

Example¶

>>>tmx.set_vel_inc(100)

Error Codes¶

Tinymovr uses error codes to indicate faults in operation. These are listed below. Note that using Tinymovr studio, the error codes are already presented with an explanation.

0: `NO_ERROR`¶

No error present.

1: `INVALID_STATE`¶

An invalid state has been requested. This can be triggered when attempting to transition to a state whose controller state constraints are not satisfied. E.g. switching to closed loop control without calibrating.

2: `ILLEGAL_VALUE`¶

This is a legacy error code that is not in use.

3: `VBUS_UNDERVOLTAGE`¶

The bus voltage has dropped below the undervoltage threshold. In a current-limited power supply, this may also indicate excessive current demand from the power supply.

4: `OVERCURRENT`¶

The phase current has exceeded the overcurrent threshold. The overcurrent threshold is 1,5 times the user-defined current limit, and in any case no more than 50A.

5: `PWM_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`¶

This is a legacy error code that is not in use.

6: `PHASE_RESISTANCE_OUT_OF_RANGE`¶

The phase resistance measured during calibration is out of range. The defined range is 5mΩ to 1Ω.

7: `PHASE_INDUCTANCE_OUT_OF_RANGE`¶

The phase inductance measured during calibration is out of range. The defined range is 2μH to 5mH.

8: `INVALID_POLE_PAIRS`¶

The pole pair detection algorithm did not converge near an integer number during calibration.

9: `ENCODER_READING_UNSTABLE`¶

Encoder reading variation is over maximum allowed threshold. This is usually the casse if the magnet is misaligned, too far away from the encoder IC, or missing.