Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Hi Techies,

I have been away from FRC for a while a I need a kick start with using the Jaguar. Our team's app will need highly accurate speed control for a ball shooter.

1) what speed sensor should we use?
2) what accuracy should we expect to achieve?
3) is there a recommended motor for shooter applications?

Thanks,

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

There are a number of encoders to choose from for your speed sensor, namely the USDigital optical encoder and the magnetic encoders in last year's KoP.

Legal motors are listed in [R48], but I think it's a safe bet to say that you won't be using the Vex motor for your shooter.

Keep [R61] in mind though, because that specifically disallows the use of Jaguars' closed feedback loops.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Interesting. I wonder if they will change this like last year.

"As long as the CAN bus is wired legally so that the heartbeat from the cRIO is maintained, the closed loop control features of the Jaguar motor controller may be used. (That is, commands originating from the cRIO to configure, enable, and specify an operating point for all Jaguar closed loop modes fit the intent of <R49>.)
January 21, 2010"

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

How does R61 Disallow it. The blue box below R52 says otherwise.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Agreed, seems explicitly allowed to me.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

I am looking for some clarification regarding this part of [R61]:

Does this only apply to "command signals" that control the output of the jaguar? I might want to control the jag via PWM but monitor output voltage and current via CAN at the same time. Is this legal?

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

You can do whatever you want for testing. These rules only apply for a competing robot. That said, monitoring via CAN should be legal, but it's lawyering in my opinion.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Would be? Should be? Could be? All three of those are grey area responses. You should post your question in the FRC Q&A Forum to get a legal explicit ruling from the GDC.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Exactly, I'm not the GDC, therefore I can't give an official ruling. I can only offer up my interpretation accompanied by a qualifier.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Rule 61 seems pretty clear to me. You can use either Can-Bus or PWM, but not both on the same Jaguar.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Another thought I had was to wire in both the PWM and the CAN. Then only use the CAN bus to control the robot. The PWM would be there as a failover drive system. I have some concerns about the CAN network being reliable annd want to be able to switch to PWM driving if we detect trouble. Not trying to bend the rules, just want to know what's legal. I will ask my question in the rule QA. Thanks

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

That would not be legal. There is no way of knowing for sure that only one is controlling the robot.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

I don't see any way on the Q&A to ask a question. I can only search..

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

Regarding speed sensors: An encoder is a good fit for this task. However, keep in mind how fast your wheel will be spinning.

Let's say your shooter is powered by a CIM and a 1:1 ratio. You will see ~5000rpm speed on the shooter wheel.

5000rpm is 83.3 revolutions per second. If you use the kit of parts encoders (250 counts per rev), that is more than 20,000 counts per second. In theory, the FPGA can count upwards of 39,000 counts per second. So this arrangement would work if you are doing speed control on the cRIO, but if you wanted to go to, say 10,000rpm on the shooter wheel, you would want a lower resolution encoder. I am not sure about the capabilities of a CAN Jaguar when it comes to maximum encoder rate.

In 2006, we made our own encoder by using an IR reflective sensor (like the ones Banner or Rockwell makes) with strips of reflective tape on the shooter wheel to trigger the counting. This method would of course work in 2012, as well.

Re: Motor speed control uning Jaguar
 

You will need the team account information from your team to post directly to ask a question. See the Q&A - How to Guide for more details.