How maotechh/vex_communication works
This repository documents a hardware and serial-communication setup for connecting third-party devices to a VEX Brain V5. The workflow is to adapt the VEX smart-port RS485 signals to TTL, provide suitable power to the external device, and exchange serial data using the VEX generic-serial API. The tree includes PCB design archives, but no source excerpts are available, so the PCB implementation details and any unshown software behavior are not inferred.
Main entry points: README.md Generic serial API · PCB Board Smart-port breakout PCB · Altium Designer.zip PCB design archives
Components 7
Hardware interface
- RS485-to-TTL module
- Smart-port breakout PCB
PCB Board - PCB design archives
PCB Board/Altium Designer.zip
Power
- 12V-to-5V buck
Serial communication
- Generic serial API
README.md
Other components
- VEX Brain V5
- Arduino device
Connections 8
- VEX Brain V5 → RS485-to-TTL module: RS485 signals
README.md - RS485-to-TTL module → Arduino device: converts to TTL
README.md - VEX Brain V5 → Smart-port breakout PCB: breaks out pins
README.md - VEX Brain V5 → 12V-to-5V buck: supplies 12V
README.md - 12V-to-5V buck → Arduino device: supplies 5V
README.md - Arduino device → Generic serial API: sends serial data
README.md - Generic serial API → VEX Brain V5: receives serial data
README.md - PCB design archives → Smart-port breakout PCB: designs