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-   -   FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138796)

cgmv123 10-29-2015 12:19 PM
FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...or-controllers

Quote:
Today’s blog post was written by Kate Pilotte, FIRST Robotics Competition’s Kit of Parts Manager.

You may have noticed that every now and then we release information about a season before its Kickoff; sometimes it’s because we think it’s just that helpful to know ahead of time, sometimes it’s because we’re being playful, and sometimes it’s an accident.

This instance is the first one.

We want you to know that the list of legal motor controllers for the 2016 season is expanding.

In addition to the controllers permitted in the 2015 season…
  • Jaguar Motor Controller (Part #s: MDL-BDC, MDL-BDC24, & 217-3367)
  • Talon Motor Controller (Part #s: CTRE_Talon, CTRE_Talon_SR, & am-2195)
  • Talon SRX Motor Controller (Part #: 217-8080 & am-2854)
  • Victor 884 Motor Controller (Part #: VICTOR-884-12/12)
  • Victor 888 Motor Controller (Part #: 217-2769)
  • Victor SP Motor Controller (Part #: 217-9090)

…we’ve also approved the following devices:

SD540 Motor Controller (Part #: SD540x1)
(mindsensors.com has been a long time mentor of FIRST Team 540 and designed this controller jointly with Team 540 students. This controller is manufactured locally with the help of FIRST students. SD540 features include brake/coast, direction selection, 60-amp continuous current and 100 amps peak. It will be available as a single unit, dual or quad banks. They expect availability in early November.)

Spark Motor Controller (Part #: REV-11-1200)
(REV Robotics is a Texas-based company founded by two long-time FIRST team mentors. The Spark features 60-amp continuous current with passive cooling, bi-directional limit switch inputs on-board for smart mechanism control, RGB LED status indicator, and digital brake/coast mode. Sparks will be available for purchase in November from Amazon and REVRobotics.com.)


Every team will get a voucher to order three Victor SPs or two Talon SRXes from Vex Robotics. Additionally, Rookie teams will receive 2 Victor SPs in their Kickoff Kit. There will also be limited quantities of Victor 888s, Victor SPs, Talon SRXes, and Sparks in FIRST Choice.

There’s another nugget of information that you should know… what motor controllers won’t be allowed to control. Considering their obsolescence and resulting scarcity on the market, BaneBots’ 550 and 775 motors will no longer be included on the list of legal motors.

For technical questions about any of the legal controllers, we recommend you contact the Supplier directly.

We’re excited to work with all of the motor controller suppliers for this upcoming season!
Eight, count them, EIGHT legal motor controllers!

Ty Tremblay 10-29-2015 12:24 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
There’s another nugget of information that you should know… what motor controllers won’t be allowed to control. Considering their obsolescence and resulting scarcity on the market, BaneBots’ 550 and 775 motors will no longer be included on the list of legal motors.
Whoa...

Thad House 10-29-2015 12:28 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Losing the 550's and 775's is going to be a major blow to FRC teams if they do not find another supplier. Right now there is a VERY large gap in the motor chart between 150W and 300W. And with the 300W motor being a CIM, you are basically limited to 150W for any single motor, unless you have room to fit a CIM. I hope they can find a new supplier for a ~220W-250W motor, in 775 size.

Taylor 10-29-2015 12:33 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
I'm assuming the AndyMark versions of the 500/775 will still be available. They're still listed on the AM website.

Monochron 10-29-2015 12:37 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ty Tremblay (Post 1502190)
Quote:
There’s another nugget of information that you should know… what motor controllers won’t be allowed to control. Considering their obsolescence and resulting scarcity on the market, BaneBots’ 550 and 775 motors will no longer be included on the list of legal motors.
Whoa...
I was literally about to order around 10 775 motors today. Thank god I procrastinate sometimes....

Thad House 10-29-2015 12:38 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor (Post 1502192)
I'm assuming the AndyMark versions of the 500/775 will still be available. They're still listed on the AM website.
Yes they are, however they are nowhere close to the power provided by the banebot motors. The 9015 is 179W vs 253W, and the AM 775 is only 150W vs 273W. So there are similar size motors, but nowhere near similar power. That means if you want more then 250W in a motor you either need to double up motors, or go to a CIM, where there just sometimes isn't space.

Jay O'Donnell 10-29-2015 12:41 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Does anyone else dislike that it feels like they tried to stick the information about the 775 and 550 into a blog post? It's like they didn't want us to notice or something. This is a fairly large deal that teams need to know about and it feels like an add-on to a blog post that not everyone would normally read.

Michael Hill 10-29-2015 12:43 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell (Post 1502198)
Does anyone else dislike that it feels like they tried to stick the information about the 775 and 550 into a blog post? It's like they didn't want us to notice or something. This is a fairly large deal that teams need to know about and it feels like an add-on to a blog post that not everyone would normally read.
Where would you suggest they put this kind of information? Blog posts are one of the more effective means of communicating to the teams. I'm sure it will come out later in an e-mail blast to the teams, just the blog post came out ahead.

Knufire 10-29-2015 12:45 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell (Post 1502198)
Does anyone else dislike that it feels like they tried to stick the information about the 775 and 550 into a blog post? It's like they didn't want us to notice or something. This is a fairly large deal that teams need to know about and it feels like an add-on to a blog post that not everyone would normally read.
In my mind they're doing us a favor. They're under no obligation to tell us what motor controllers or motors are legal until the manual is released.

I am surprised about the decision concerning 775s. Banebots discontinuted the motor but still has ~2300 in stock, and I imagine lots of veteran teams have big stockpiles of these motors.

Michael Hill 10-29-2015 12:45 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knufire (Post 1502200)
In my mind they're doing us a favor. They're under no obligation to tell us what motor controllers or motors are legal until the manual is released.
That's exactly how I feel. I'd much rather know now in a blog post than to read it in the rules.

Basel A 10-29-2015 12:47 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knufire (Post 1502200)
In my mind they're doing us a favor. They're under no obligation to tell us what motor controllers or motors are legal until the manual is released.
+1 I feel like letting us find out Kickoff Day is their regular MO, so this is great.

AdamHeard 10-29-2015 12:49 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thad House (Post 1502196)
Yes they are, however they are nowhere close to the power provided by the banebot motors. The 9015 is 179W vs 253W, and the AM 775 is only 150W vs 273W. So there are similar size motors, but nowhere near similar power. That means if you want more then 250W in a motor you either need to double up motors, or go to a CIM, where there just sometimes isn't space.
That's assuming you trust the banebots power rating. Many people suspect they were over rated performance wise.

Monochron 10-29-2015 12:51 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knufire (Post 1502200)
In my mind they're doing us a favor. They're under no obligation to tell us what motor controllers or motors are legal until the manual is released.

I am surprised about the decision concerning 775s. Banebots discontinuted the motor but still has ~2300 in stock, and I imagine lots of veteran teams have big tockpiles of these motors.
He's talking about hiding in a blog post that is talking about something else. It's like a rider on a bill.

The news of the motors being disallowed was going to make teams upset, so I figure they wanted to temper that by informing us in an otherwise very positive blog post.
Too bad that the focus is on this instead of REV and MindSensors' new products.

AllenGregoryIV 10-29-2015 12:53 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Basel A (Post 1502203)
+1 I feel like letting us find out Kickoff Day is their regular MO, so this is great.
If I remember correctly when we lost Fisherprice motors in 2013 we didn't know until kickoff.

The banebots issue has been on the horizon for a while if you read this thread.

As far as motors go we have been pretty spoiled the last few years having MiniCIMs, BAGs, AM motors, BB motors, and more. There a lot of people who don't remember the days of designing arms that were powered by van door motors. Don't get me wrong I love more motor power as much as the next guy, namely because I think it makes the robots more entertaining but if we have to go without for a few seasons teams will adapt.

techhelpbb 10-29-2015 01:10 PM
Re: FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers
 
Happy to see the competition for this non-optional FIRST part!
I'll buy at least one of each of the new products for my R&D bots.


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