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Unread 15-01-2015, 09:49
Foster Foster is offline
Engineering Program Management
VRC #8081 (STEMRobotics)
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Re: pic: 2015 Prototype Electrical Board

I'll do a +1 for the Anderson's on both ends.

1) All controllers become interchangeable.
2) The Roborio and the PDU gets tucked away to keep them from being damaged. The little pig tails make it easy to swap out controllers without trying to climb into the middle of the robot. It also allow for late season "Well this has to go there so that PDU needs to move"

Or the phrase "that controller is in the way, it needs to move". It's just then an issue of making a new extension.

3) You can design/build a switch that you can quickly plug in place of the controller to test without working robot code.

4) Assembly from Transport / Play configuration. Elements can now have the controller with them or not. It's a quick plug the power pole moment to give you lots of flexibility.

The only thing I would have done is use green/white connectors on the end so that the motors didn't accidentally get plugged into the 12v supply. Or that the 12v power does not get plugged into the wrong end of the controller. (Never underestimate the ability of a rookie roboteer)

I get the cost part, since 100 connectors / covers / roll pins will set you back almost $75. On the other hand if it saves you 30 mins of bag open time it's well worth it.

Nice job! Having an electrical test bed in Week Two is a great thing to have.
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Foster - VEX Delaware - 17 teams -- Chief Roboteer STEMRobotics.org
2010 - Mentor of the Year - VEX Clean Sweep World Championship
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