Robot Controller Diagnostic Mode

[Ian G]

Randomly, when we shut down the main power on our robot, the Robot Controller enters some form of diagnostic mode(the lights flash in sequence: down up blink). We asked an IFI guy about it, and he said that it normally happens if there is noise on the tether or program ports... Which we didn't have anything plugged into. It never hurt us in competitions, but it was weird. Anyone else have a similar issue?

[bear24rw]

Its not a bug.. just hold the program button down, it will enter diagnostic mode

[Ian G]

Its not a bug.. just hold the program button down, it will enter diagnostic mode

I understand it isn't a bug, I was just wondering why it would enter diagnostic mode on power down some of the time. Doing the same sequence of actions and then powering down would sometimes start diagnostic mode, and sometimes it wouldn't.

[Racer26]

Can't say I've ever heard of it happening on power down before... Strange.

Do you have an onboard program button pusher (a cable from the Digital outs to the program header)?

Maybe the output is changing state when the robot goes onto the backup battery, and thusly pushing the button

[EHaskins]

I see that regularly under several different circumstances, I'm just in the habit of hitting reset when I see it.

[The Lucas]

Is any metal contacting the exernal program/reset header?

[Alan Anderson]

If you have an onboard backup battery charger without a series diode on its input, it's possible that the RC is getting confused by odd voltages on its main power input.

[Ian G]

Do you have an onboard program button pusher (a cable from the Digital outs to the program header)?

Is any metal contacting the exernal program/reset header?

We had nothing plugged into the header, nor was any debris in contact with it.

If you have an onboard backup battery charger without a series diode on its input, it's possible that the RC is getting confused by odd voltages on its main power input.

We didn't have a backup battery charger, but perhaps the backup battery is low, or loose. I am fairly certain that it was recently charged and I tightly plugged in, but if it happens at championships, that will be the first thing I check.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[Ian G]

I see that regularly under several different circumstances, I'm just in the habit of hitting reset when I see it.

Yeah, that is our current solution too. A safety judge near the field got really mad at the drive team because they thought we didn't turn our robot off. So I would like to find something a little more preferment though,, and I have never been a fan of treating symptoms.

[Alan Anderson]

A safety judge near the field got really mad at the drive team because they thought we didn't turn our robot off.

Last year, the RC was typically still running off the backup battery when our robot returned to the pit after each match. Apparently being in communication with the field electronics sets the power-down timeout to something rather longer than the normal five seconds.

I don't remember that being the case this year, but it might just have been the drive team resetting the RC to shut it off after the main breaker was opened.

[lukevanoort]

Apparently being in communication with the field electronics sets the power-down timeout to something rather longer than the normal five seconds. Four minutes, to be exact.

[CarterM]

That's what happens to our robot whenever we turn our robot on. It would enter "programming" mode, which inorder to stop it, we have to reset our robot. The IFI guy was really kind of stumped as to why it happened. So, no, your not the only one that of which it is happening to. Please help!