[ttedrow]

Troubleshooting this problem will be much easier if you can get you hands on a clamp- on ammeter. Check with your sponsors and mentors or find a local electrician that could help in finding one.

Put the robot on the bench with the wheel suspended. Use the ammeter to monitor the current of each drive motor. The meter should be placed between the circuit breaker and the speed controller.

Compare both sides running at the same speeds. The current should be close for both sides. There is a slight difference between forward and reverse for the drill motors.

If the current is high (> 10-15 amps) then you may have too much friction in the drive system. If the current is low on both sides, place the robot on the ground and monitor the current for each side while the robot is running straight. IF the robot is drawing much higher current when on the ground vs. the bench, look for things that might add friction when weight is added to the wheels (i.e. wheel axles).

One of these two steeps will tell you where the potential problem is located.

Tim Tedrow