My pib does not move in Joint Control or Brick Viewer, and the camera is not working. What should I check?

If both the motors and the camera stop working at the same time, this almost always points to a hardware power issue or a USB voltage drop (brownout) on the Raspberry Pi rather than a software bug.

Common Causes:

  • Voltage Drop under Load: If the power supply cannot deliver stable voltage, the Raspberry Pi may temporarily disable its USB ports for self-protection, cutting off both the camera and bricklets.
  • Loose Power or Data Wiring: A loose connection between the power supply unit (PSU), HAT, and Servo Bricklets.
  • Defective or Shorted Bricklet: A single faulty Servo Bricklet can destabilize the entire communication bus.

How to fix it (Step-by-Step):

  1. Check Power Connections: Ensure all cables between the PSU, power distribution board/HAT, and Servo Bricklets are tightly seated.
  2. Inspect via Brick Viewer: Open Brick Viewer to see if all connected bricklets are detected properly.
  3. Isolate Components (One by One): Disconnect all Servo Bricklets and plug them back in one at a time. If the system crashes or freezes when a specific bricklet is connected, that component is likely defective or overloaded.
  4. Test the Camera Separately: Unplug heavy motor loads to confirm the camera stream recovers once power stabilizes.

Note: Once the underlying power or wiring issue is resolved, both Joint Control and camera streaming will resume normally.