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Unread 19-01-2006, 12:37
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FRC #0639 (Code Red Robotics)
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Rookie Year: 2002
Location: Ithaca, NY
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Re: CMUCam and low voltages

Quote:
Originally Posted by billbo911
Ryan,
You are spot on. We started having really wacky behavior from smooth working camera system. All was well, then it all fell. After a little trouble shooting, we found that the battery was dieing. We had been using the same battery to calibrate and test for 4+ hours. No surprise that we drained it. So, it appears that we now know the symptoms of a dieing backup battery.
How do you prevent this from happening during competition? Easy, change the battery every round.
Remember, that battery not only provides protection to the RC during dips in the main battery voltage, it also powers the camera and all servos.

That brings up a very interesting point. Why aren't the camera and servos just powered by the main battery? It wouldn't make sense to call something a "back-up" battery if it provides essential power systems when the "main" battery isn't dying. I hate to be cynical, but I think someone was cutting corners by doing it this way, but I hope I'm wrong.
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Code Red Robotics - Team 639
Ithaca High School| Ithaca | New York | USA | Earth | Sol System | Milky Way | Universe | Some Alien's Locker

WINNER of the 2005 Finger Lakes Regional, thanks to teams 191 and 494.
WINNER of the 2004 Canadian Regional, thanks to teams 33 and 1112
WINNER of Delphi: Driving Tomorrow's Technology Award at the 2007 Finger Lakes Regional.