Quote:
Originally Posted by Coach Seb
Any guidance on using the Cree flashlight would be totally awesome... we do have a spike relay.... assuming that would be connected on the Relay port on the RIO and then a voltage regulator between the Spike and the light to get me to the right voltage should do right ? Any picture would be appreciated.
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4242 used a setup like this at the CHS Greater DC District event with great success. Not only did it provide a bright focused beam for aiming at the low goal (we're a low goal shooter), but more importantly, it was actually bright enough to shine through the Sally Port and Drawbridge "wood" decals. Our driver was able to use it to square up to the defense without seeing the robot.
We used the following:
- LED Flashlight with zoom
- DC-DC Voltage Converter/Regulator
- Spike Relay
The LED flashlight had internal circuitry that allowed for 3 modes (high, low, flash). We only wanted the high setting so we took the circuit board out and wired the LED board directly to the voltage converter. This made wiring much easier as the LED board fit cleanly back inside the original housing. More conveniently, we used the metal clip on this flashlight as a mounting bracket by reversing it and drilling out the hole a bit. Next, we locked the flashlight in the zoomed position using a zip tie. Finally, we used a bunch of hot glue to secure the wires inside the area where the battery would go.
So, the full setup is how you described - Power Distribution Board > Spike Relay (with pwm wire connected to the Relay port on the RoboRIO) > Voltage Converter > Flashlight. FYI - We soldered all connections but lost power connection somewhere in our semifinal match during a BIG collision. We're still not sure what happened but we know it's the power because the relay still responds to the driver's commands.
Sorry I don't have any photos because the robot is currently bagged up. I can also provide screen shots of our labview code if anyone's interested.