My Masterpiece...
 

So over the years I have learned better methods for the control system. Since this is my last year on the team, I wanted to use everything I have learned and leave something to be remembered by. I took all my knowledge and created this:




To see what it looks like on the inside, click here.
I didn't want to put them all into this thread and make a massive wall of pics, so I used imgur.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

sweet. do the victors get enough airflow in there?

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Yes, there is also a large fan at the front right behind the handle. You can see on the inside that it is actually quite open. Air goes in at the handle and vents out the back.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

WOW!!!

Great job; how long did it take to build and design this? Also, what's the final cost weight?

Amazing!

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Wow, that's so pretty (best word I can think of haha) and organized. I'm jealous.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

that's shows some awesome skill, but, why a box sir?

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

I think this is very awesome!!!!

One side note you might want to put the radio on the outside so you and the FTA can see whats going on. but I love it!

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

I chose a box for a few reasons. The important ones were strength, and resistance to metal shavings. Plus as compact as possible.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

So the robot can have a black box?

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

This. It's stated in the rules (though I can't remember if the wording is "should" or "must").

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

This is sweet!! But I believe you need to put the radio outside of the box:

[R56]
The DAP-1522 wireless bridge must be mounted on the Robot such that the diagnostic lights are visible to Arena personnel.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Started planning in the summer, finally picked a case during week 2, and I just finished it two days ago. The box weighs 20lbs

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Hmm I missed this one I guess... I'll work it out. Perhaps some fibre optics of some sort...

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

You seem to have a clear plastic inside the lid, right next to the radio. Pull that and the radio out, make sure the rest of the electronics are covered, and start cutting a hole in the lid. Replace the plastic and the radio when you have a big enough hole. That should do the trick.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

This is kind of the sexiest thing ever.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Is the intention of this to be the electronics board of a competition robot? If so, I feel like it could be significantly lighter without compromising the compact size. If you do end up on putting this on a competition bot, I would recommend making a second. Why? Because a movable electronics board for testing mechanical systems can be very useful. Our programming team also makes frequent use of a plywood electronics board that can be only described a "jankey." Your board looks great (although heavy)! Too bad there isn't a jaguar version...

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

It is actually lighter than any other box we have made. A second one is out of the question because we do not have the money to spend on another 4 slot crio. Plus I dont want to do this over again, it wouldnt be fun. this can quickly be removed for testing.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Another reason to move the radio outside the box is that the speed controllers and the 12->5v converter (and probably the power distributions board) are noisy and will interfere with the radio.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Is there a practice bot? This electronics board would be an easy switch between the competition robot and the practice robot.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

and what is the case?

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Wow. I was hoping to do something like that this year, but I didn't plan ahead well enough. Anyway, congrats!! Did you do this singlehandedly?

- Oliver

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Wow. This if my first of five years I will be in FRC (I know, so lucky, right? My team accepts 8th graders). I will be sure to try to do something like this, as it is just pure awesomeness from a controls team standpoint.

Might want to mount one of these on it. It is basically the smallest windows compatible device you can buy that doesn't cost a ton:

http://www.amazon.com/Clarion-MiND-B.../dp/B001LMB6M2

What dellagd? It runs linux not windows! Well, google it running xp and you can actually get it on there! So awesome...

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Where's the RSL? I can't find it.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

our Electrical team is doing something VERY similar for housing our motor controllers using a radio shack project box.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

our team tried to do that in 2008, but we made the box out of clear plastic, that wasn't built very well, and we used serial and VGA cables for our switch inputs, and they didn't use heat shrink on the connectors... I used to refer to it as "short circuit city", until I completely rewired it

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Congratulations on such a lofty accomplishment! Great utilization of space and resources available. You've sparked my interest in such a system for our team, I plan to begin designing something of a similar nature during the post-season.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

You are a God. I attempted to build the same thing myself, But its made of wood packed with 9 Jags.


Nice Job.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

I'm proud of you good sir, i had the same plan myself years ago on my team, but got distracted by other projects like a chairbot. I tip my cap to you. :D

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

This is purely beautiful.

1. Create circuit
2. Put it in a box
3. ????
4. PROFIT...or GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM!

:]

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

This would make an interesting carry on luggage item.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

I posted a link to it but it got removed by a mod... pm me if you didn't see it.

Yep, I am the only one (unfortunately) on our team that knows the electrical.... and I'm a senior... I am making LOTS of documentation >_<
We used to make them out of 1/4" polycarbonate... Weight a ton and offered 0 protection.

Thank you and best of luck!

We had/have an xbot chassis with a chair duct taped to it... good times...
Especially with our test program that clicks the 4 relays every .5 seconds. Tick... tick... tick...

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

If only there was room, but I would hate for that to get broken :P

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Incase anyone was wondering, we did some tests on the signal strength with having the bridge in the box. Here is the bizzare thing: The signal strength is actually better with the box closed than open....

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Brandon:
What regionals will you be at this year?
I want to see this, and show it to our students.
This strikes me as the kind of design that makes some companies/products great (think Apple).

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

We will be in spokane, possibly st louis if we win the regional.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Just. Awesome.

Where can I buy one ;)

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Wow that is really organized. One possible problem comes to mind though, it might get hot in there! I'd want to do a simulated match and see if anything overheats due to the reduced airflow to the motor controllers.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

As I have stated a couple times now, the temperature is not a problem as there is a 90mm fan in front that keeps everything colder than it would be in the open.

Re: My Masterpiece...
 

Good luck explaining that to the TSA at the security check point! :ahh: