Bonsai Softcode Connection

MarcoC

Hi everyone,
Sorry to bother again!

I'm currently facing some issues when attempting to make Bpod communicate with Bonsai.

As of now, I'm able to connect via TCP and to send bytes to the state machine to trigger a state change via SoftCode when a certain condition is met (thanks to the SendMessage node).

sma = NewStateMatrix();

sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'WaitingForBonsai', ...
    'Timer', 0,...
    'StateChangeConditions', {'SoftCode5', 'Triggered'},...
    'OutputActions', {});

sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'Triggered', ...
    'Timer', 1,...
    'StateChangeConditions', {'Tup', '>exit'},...
    'OutputActions', {});

However, what I'm struggling to accomplish is to have Bpod talking to Bonsai in the same way:

sma = NewStateMatrix();

sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'SendingBytesToBonsai', ...
    'Timer', 1,...
    'StateChangeConditions', {'Tup', 'Continuation'},...
    'OutputActions', {'SoftCode', 4});

sma = AddState(sma, 'Name', 'Continuation', ...
    'Timer', 1,...
    'StateChangeConditions', {'Tup', '>exit'},...
    'OutputActions', {});

Does not result in anything in the ReceiveMessage node within the same Bonsai instance.

Have you ever encountered similar problems as the one here?
Thanks in advance,
Marco

Josh

Hello Marco,

With a SoftCode output you'll need to set up a soft code handler function on the MATLAB side.
Your handler will have to package the bytes into an OSC packet, and send it to TCP port 11235 (via this if you have MATLAB Instrument Control Toolbox, or this if not).

Integration with Bonsai will be vastly simplified in the next releases of Bpod and Bonsai, on state machine r2 and newer. With firmware v23, the state machine will have a dedicated virtual COM port for 3rd party applications, and Bonsai will have support for raw bytes on COM ports. This is already working on the develop branch of the Bpod_Gen2 repo here. It requires a firmware update to v23 (stable release pending).

-Josh

chris

Hi Josh,
I have some issues with communicating between Bpod and Bonsai.

Previously, I successfully made Bpod listen to Bonsai to trigger state changes. However, I couldn't connect to Bpod to Bonsai using the same code. It seems that the Osc.config file might not be correct anymore since the SendMessage node keeps saying that 'there is an error in xml document (2 2)'.
Now I also want to send a message back to Bonsai but have no idea how to make this work. From this thread , there are two options-either set up a soft code handler or use the dedicated virtual COM port by upgrading to firmware v23. Does the DUE board support one of firmware v23? Can you give me guidance on how to set up the connection on the ends of both Matlab and Bonsai for the two options?

Thanks,
Lei

David_G

Hi Lei/Josh,

Is there any chance either of you (or someone else) has figured out the issue with the Osc.config file (or a suitable workaround)? The APP_SoftCode method seems like it'll work for Bonsai -> Bpod messages, but I still need a way to get information from Bpod -> Bonsai now that my old UDP-based method no longer works.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-David

David_G

David_G wrote[quote='David_G' pid='4576' dateline='1676676320']
Hi Lei/Josh,

Is there any chance either of you (or someone else) has figured out the issue with the Osc.config file (or a suitable workaround)? The APP_SoftCode method seems like it'll work for Bonsai -> Bpod messages, but I still need a way to get information from Bpod -> Bonsai now that my old UDP-based method no longer works.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-David

Ah never mind, found the answer on the bonsai github forum: https://github.com/bonsai-rx/bonsai/discussions/1153 !