How to use Bpod to drive more than 4 water valves?

Oly

Hi Josh,

I would like to know if Bpod can drive more than four water valves. In the Bpod console interface the behavior ports only show valve 1-4. However, in the Bpod liquid calibrator interface, it displays valve 1-8, and in the port config interface, it also shows port input enable 1-8.
(I am sorry that I can't post the figure for interfaces I mentioned above).

I would like to know if the valves 5-8 shown in the Bpod liquid calibrator and the port input enable 5-8 shown in the port config interface are actually usable. Can Bpod drive eight water valves simultaneously? If so, how can this be done? It seems that the Bpod state machine only has four behavior ports, which means it can only drive four water valves.

I also noticed that there is a port array module that can be used to extend behavior ports, but it doesn't seem to directly correspond to the valves in the Bpod liquid calibrator. So if I want to use the port array module to drive more water valves, how should I perform liquid calibration?

Looking forward to your reply. I would really appreciate it if you could help resolve this issue.

Best regards
Oly

Josh

Hello Oly,

The calibrator supports up to 8 valve channels because certain state machine models have 8 ports: v0.5, v0.7-1.0.
State Machine r2 and r2.5 have 4 ports, and r2+ has 5.

Unfortunately the calibration tool only supports port channels onboard the state machine. The port array valves must be controlled separately, via its interface. You would need to write your own calibration script for valves on the port array module.

-Josh

Oly

Hi Josh,

Thank you for your reply.

If I want to drive 8 valves and use builtin calibaration function, I must buy state machine r1?

What other differences are there between the state machine r1 and r2.5? Logically, r2.5 should be an upgraded version. Are there any functions that r2.5 can achieve that r1 cannot? I saw on the website that r1 is out of stock; is it still available for purchase?

Look forward to your reply.

Best regards
Oly

Josh

Hello Oly,

Unfortunately the built-in calibration tool only works with the state machine's onboard ports.
We no longer manufacture r1, unfortuantely. Some of its components have become difficult to source.
r2.5 has several features not available on r1:

Support for more events and module channels, using the processor's improved speed and memory
An isolated valve driver circuit that can drive all valves simultaneously.
A second USB serial port for external applications (e.g. Bonsai)

Beyond r2.5, r2+ adds back one module port and a bank of "flex" I/O channels that can be configured as digital or analog I/O.

Josh

Oly

Josh
Hi Josh,

Thank you for your reply.

Best regards
Oly