Kinect - Revision history

GiulioFontana at 16:28, 5 March 2013

2013-03-05T16:28:34Z

GiulioFontana at 16:18, 5 March 2013

2013-03-05T16:18:17Z

GiulioFontana: Created page with "In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect | Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": ..."

2013-03-05T15:56:18Z

Created page with "In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect | Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": ..."

New page

In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect | Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": for robotics it is an interesting, multisensor device which has a low price in comparison to the provided hardware.

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-In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": for robotics it is an interesting, multisensor device which has a low price in comparison to the provided hardware.
+In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": from the point of view of a robotics lab it is an interesting multisensor device which has a very low price in comparison to the hardware provided.
 =Connecting the Kinect=
-Contrary to what you could expect, the issue is not straightforward.
+Contrary to what you may expect, the issue is not straightforward.
-One awkward feature of the Kinect is its bizarre data+power connection system. The cable going out from the base of the device ends in a large, non-standard connector with an orange inner part. Such connector is intended for the combination of USB cable + 12V DC power adapter that Microsoft puts in the box along with the Kinect (and which, of course, sports a matching connector, with orange interior as well).
+One awkward feature of the Kinect is, in fact, its bizarre combined data+power connection system. The cable going out of the base of the device ends in a large, non-standard connector with an orange inner part. Such connector is intended for the strange combination USB data cable + 12V DC power adapter that Microsoft puts in the box along with the Kinect (and which, of course, sports a matching connector, also with orange interior).
-When you connect the Kinect to its power supply/USB cable, on one side of the non-standard socket+plug you have the Kinect, while on the other side you have the power adapter and a short cable with a standard USB connector. You have to connect the power adapter to a 230V power outlet, and the USB plugto a socket of your PC, and you're ready to use the Kinect (on the hardware side, that is).
+When a Kinect is connected to its power supply/USB cable, from one side of the non-standard socket+plug goes out a cable going to the Kinect, while from the other side go out two cables: one that goes to the power adapter, and another terminating into a standard USB connector. To use the Kinect you have to connect the power adapter to a 230V AC power outlet, and the USB plug to a socket of your PC.
-Unfortunately, this setup is very inconvenient for robot-mounted Kinects. Robots don't have 230V AC outlets, so you can't use the standard power supply, though you must use it if you need to connect the Kinect to a PC (which of course is the case). In fact the USB cable is physically linked to the useless power supply. So you have to leave the non-standard plug and socket connected, which provides you with the USB cable (which is good) and a useless, dangling power supply (which is not good). Moreover, the Kinect does not work because it is not powered.
+Unfortunately, this setup is very inconvenient for robot-mounted Kinects. Robots don't have 230V AC power outlets, so you can't use the standard power supply. However, you must connect it to the Kinect if you want to connect the sensor to a PC, because the USB cable is physically linked to the useless power supply. So you have to leave the non-standard plug and socket connected, which provides you with the USB cable (which is good) and a useless, dangling power supply (which is not good). Moreover, the Kinect does not work... because it is not powered.
-The solution to this problem is, of course, to hack the Kinect. Precisely, to cut the cable connecting the power supply to the non-standard connector and use a two-pole connector to rejoin the parts. We used two common "Faston" blade connectors for this. So, when you want to use the Kinect with its own 230V AC power, you simply keep the Fastons connected. When, instead, you need to put the Kinect on board a robot, you disconnect the Fastons, put the Kinect power supply away (but leave the non-standard connectors joined, thus retaining the USB cable and a couple of unconnected Fastons) and finally connect the Fastons to an onboard power supply capable of supplying 12V DC. For instance, a lead battery.
+The solution to this problem is, of course, to hack the Kinect. Precisely, to cut the cable linking the 230V AC power supply to the non-standard connector and rejoin the two sides of the cable with a suitable two-pole connection. We used two common "Faston" blade connectors for this. So, when you want to use the Kinect on 230V AC power, you keep the Fastons connected. When, instead, you want to put the Kinect on board a robot, you disconnect the Fastons, put the Kinect power supply away. You still have the male and female non-standard connectors joined: so you still get the USB cable for PC connection and a couple of unconnected Fastons. The final thing to do is connect the Fastons to an onboard power supply capable of supplying 12V DC. For instance, a lead battery. Mind the polarity!

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:18, 5 March 2013
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect \| Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": for robotics it is an interesting, multisensor device which has a low price in comparison to the provided hardware.	+	In AIRLab we have currently two (first-generation) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinect Microsoft Kinect] sensors. The Kinect is defined as a "motion sensing input device": for robotics it is an interesting, multisensor device which has a low price in comparison to the provided hardware.
		+
		+	=Connecting the Kinect=
		+	Contrary to what you could expect, the issue is not straightforward.
		+	One awkward feature of the Kinect is its bizarre data+power connection system. The cable going out from the base of the device ends in a large, non-standard connector with an orange inner part. Such connector is intended for the combination of USB cable + 12V DC power adapter that Microsoft puts in the box along with the Kinect (and which, of course, sports a matching connector, with orange interior as well).
		+
		+	When you connect the Kinect to its power supply/USB cable, on one side of the non-standard socket+plug you have the Kinect, while on the other side you have the power adapter and a short cable with a standard USB connector. You have to connect the power adapter to a 230V power outlet, and the USB plugto a socket of your PC, and you're ready to use the Kinect (on the hardware side, that is).
		+	Unfortunately, this setup is very inconvenient for robot-mounted Kinects. Robots don't have 230V AC outlets, so you can't use the standard power supply, though you must use it if you need to connect the Kinect to a PC (which of course is the case). In fact the USB cable is physically linked to the useless power supply. So you have to leave the non-standard plug and socket connected, which provides you with the USB cable (which is good) and a useless, dangling power supply (which is not good). Moreover, the Kinect does not work because it is not powered.
		+
		+	The solution to this problem is, of course, to hack the Kinect. Precisely, to cut the cable connecting the power supply to the non-standard connector and use a two-pole connector to rejoin the parts. We used two common "Faston" blade connectors for this. So, when you want to use the Kinect with its own 230V AC power, you simply keep the Fastons connected. When, instead, you need to put the Kinect on board a robot, you disconnect the Fastons, put the Kinect power supply away (but leave the non-standard connectors joined, thus retaining the USB cable and a couple of unconnected Fastons) and finally connect the Fastons to an onboard power supply capable of supplying 12V DC. For instance, a lead battery.