pic: FRC Control System in a box

[tickspe15]

[cdm-description=photo]39173[/cdm-description]

[safiq10]

This is really cool! i'm interested in trying this now

[kjohnson]

AndyMark released a box like this (http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2534.htm) over the summer. Video here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vww6-nhOvMM)

[tickspe15]

AndyMark released a box like this (http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2534.htm) over the summer. Video here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vww6-nhOvMM)

AndyMarks box came out just after we started the build and didnt make sense four our desired aplication.
the showcase is bigger, only has 2 talons, drives around(not what we needed), no support for external motors or inputs and outputs for pneumatics, sensors, encoders, and doesnt work with box closed

[Nate Laverdure]

Nate checked the case. Wow! This is a nice case!

[MrForbes]

that's neat! And if you do something about the connections to make them water tight, you're half way to being ready for a water game :)

http://www.oneheadlightink.com/sindication/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/NMFilm-Production-La-Vida-Robot.jpg

[Bpk9p4]

i really like this idea. What size Pelican case did you use? Have you though about adding a fan to the system?

[tickspe15]

i really like this idea. What size Pelican case did you use? Have you though about adding a fan to the system?

we used a pelican 1500 case. We have a plan for adding a fan if needed but have been watching the temps and haven't had a problem yet with the box closed.


there will definitely be a fan in the pneumatics box to cool the compressor

[tickspe15]

Here is a top view of the bottom section of the case.
http://i41.tinypic.com/de1eg2.jpg

[BitTwiddler]

I just finished building a table-top trainer/test lab for some electronics and programming training I'm giving. Hadn't thought about putting everything inside of a Pelican case. Pretty slick idea though. Nice workmanship too.
... Oh wait! Where's the big blinky light?

[yash101]

Naiiice! :D

[yash101]

I have been thinking about doing something like this, but 3D printing the case so it fits exactly, and make it modular so it can be directly placed on the robot. It'll probably protect the electronics from the Aluminum shards that tend to short them out all the time! :D

[gr8dragon]

If you were to mount this on a robot, would you close the case or leave it open?
I understand its a bit of a silly question but I am wondering if you know of any performance implications it may have on the router. I think some teams had issues with their router being covered and having little connectivity issues.

[tickspe15]

We usually use it closed and have not had any issues with the router

[Whippet]

If you were to mount this on a robot, would you close the case or leave it open?
I understand its a bit of a silly question but I am wondering if you know of any performance implications it may have on the router. I think some teams had issues with their router being covered and having little connectivity issues.

The issues with the router being covered was caused by the metal robot parts blocking the signal. A plastic box is transparent to radio waves.

[Avrum Goldman]

I have been working on a pneumatics test stand (you can see my thread in the pneumatics forum). At present it is a complete stand-alone system that functions without the robot control system. I would be interested in discussing with you how to combine the two concepts:

1) Stand-alone fully functional control system
2) Stand-alone fully functional pneumatics system
3) Link to match them up

This would give a great learning and prototyping tool for trying out new concepts and hardware in a controlled environment!

Avrum

[tickspe15]

Our current plan is to wire up a quick disconnect terminal to the pneumatic break out and mount thru the wall of the box with the control system in it similar to how we have the encoder's wired. We then will make an identical connector in the pneumatic box but wired to the solenoids instead of the breakout.

We will then make a wire connecting the terminal on each box and another one from the pneumatic box to a panel of switches that will be 3d printed

[kgzak]

We made on of these a few years ago: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/35144

They are really nice. Also lets you test your code before putting it on the robot at competition.