Control Boards (PICS)
 

Well, people always post pics and stories about their robots... but we rarely ever get to see the controllers. So post your pics and stories here.

I'll start. This board was fabricated and painted by a very dedicated mentor named Bill Kunz. As far as i can remember Bill has done our control boards and they look awesome. For the '06 board the students did most of the wiring.


I'll try to get some better pics of it, along with some of our '05 board, this sunday at our meeting. But here are some '06 pics from the La Regional

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/junkma...52.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/junkma...43.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/junkma...6e.jpg&.src=ph
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/junkma...5c.jpg&.src=ph

these pics don't show it, but the '06 controller is awesome. Bill's craftsmanship is superb and he crams so many features. The board can run off vex batteries, the entire top row of switches has the standard disable, autonomous etc.. but it also selects where the board gets it power (tether, AC or build in battery). Also, both sides of the board open to reveal pocketed storage space. We have a radio integrated and hidden in there. Pretty much, it does a lot. The only thing it is missing is a dashboard like some controls I have seen.


But, I know our controller cannot possibly be the best. So share your pics..

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

I don't have any pics but we used standard joysticks for part of the season and one of the boxes with all of the pots and sliders then decided to ditch them. We still used joysticks but were custom made for the drivers and we ditched the control box and just used a joystick with a couple of switches added to it for the operator. Simple and easy. ;) No need to make things even more complicated so I see why we use the standard controllers instead of the fancy boards that I have seen some teams with. :)

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Nothing special in terms of hi-tech functionality, but we got a lot of positive feedback about the aesthetics of our 2006 controller.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/22861

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Wow, that's pretty... reminds me of ous, as soon as I can find a pic, I'll lpost it :)

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Wow that is a nice set of controllers. Very creative never would have thought about screwdriver handles really unique I love them good job guys and very innovated. :)

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

We fit our controller (OI, pots/switches and a playstation controller) into a silver brief case. Very compact and very convenient for those long walks from the pits to the playing field in Atlanta.

Here is a pic of the controller opened up...

Here is a pic of our controller hidden among out tool cases...

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Are those joysticks for a standard tank drive?

if so, does it irritate your driver having two right handed joysticks?

Re: Control Boards (PICS)
 

Yes, and I don't beleive so.
He held the joysticks by their base when driving them
http://invisiblerobot.com/robotics/r.../p3187095.html