View Single Post
  #18   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 16-02-2004, 09:07
Unsung FIRST Hero
Al Skierkiewicz Al Skierkiewicz is offline
Broadcast Eng/Chief Robot Inspector
AKA: Big Al WFFA 2005
FRC #0111 (WildStang)
Team Role: Engineer
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Rookie Year: 1996
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 10,798
Al Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond reputeAl Skierkiewicz has a reputation beyond repute
Re: Speed Controller brake/coast setting

Quote:
Originally Posted by andy
Hmmmm.....
Our team tried this last year, we had a set of pedals that acted like "brakes"
The way they worked was they overrided every signal and applied electronic brakes. That way, if we needed to stop, even if the joysticks were pushed all the way down, we could hit the brakes and the robot would come to a stop.
I built a relay box, that had four SPDT relays in it that were controlled simultaneously by a SPIKE.
As far a leagality is concerned... We asked the Q&A and got an ambiguous answer... I will see if I can find the exact response. If time permits we plan on doing the same this year. But instead of four realays we have one 4PDT relay we will use.

Good luck!
-Andy
Andy,
Bad news...Last year and this year are not very much different in use of the custom circuit board....
5.2.8 Custom Circuit Rules
<R50> The use of additional electronics is intended to allow teams to construct custom circuits for their robots.
The custom circuits may be used to indirectly affect the robot outputs, by providing enhanced sensorfeedback to the Robot Controller to allow it to more effectively decide how to control the robot. The custom circuits must draw power from a 20A circuit breaker. Smaller value fuses may be incorporated into the custom circuits for additional protection. All outputs from the custom circuits must be connected to the analog inputs,digital I/O, TTL Serial Port, or Program Port on the Robot Controller.

The way I read that, a custom circuit may not talk to a speed controller. If I were to inspect your robot last year, I would have had to rule against you. Sorry.
The same rule applies for the use of relays that are driven by spikes. The answer in a nutshell is "NO".
__________________
Good Luck All. Learn something new, everyday!
Al
WB9UVJ
www.wildstang.org
________________________
Storming the Tower since 1996.