"ValueError: empty string for float()" Python 2.6 Ubuntu 10.10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. python IMU_Razor9DOF.py in terminal to run.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
Python runs and gives me the correct visual outputs, but movements are slow and 
jerky and don't represent the position and orientation of the board. After 
about 30 seconds, it crashes and gives me:

i915_program_error: Exceeded max instructions (318 out of 123)
Invalid line
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "IMU_Razor9DOF.py", line 114, in <module>
    L1.text = str(float(words[0]))
ValueError: empty string for float()

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
Ubuntu 10.10
Python v2.6
SF9DOF_AHRS_V1.1
My razor board is a 168

Please provide any additional information below.
I've found trying to get this thing to work to be incredibly frustrating - any 
help would be gratefully received.
One of the frustrations is that the arduino code in SF9DOF_AHRS tells me to 
select:
 Arduino IDE : Select board  "Arduino Duemilanove w/ATmega328"
In order to get it to work i had to select board:
"Arduino pro or pro mini 3.3v..."

Original issue reported on code.google.com by ACBatche...@gmail.com on 9 Jan 2011 at 10:34