Robot looses comms when hit/jolted

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Brandon,
There are a few things that could lead to your problem.
1. The power connector on the DAP has a spring clip for one side of the power input. If you tried to insert a large diameter plug at some point or if the connector was bumped in the past, this spring could be deformed enough to cause intermittent connection. The plug should be snug when inserted. Sometimes a small probe can be used to bend the spring back into position.
2. The power cable to the radio is not supported near the radio. My recommendation to all teams is to use a wire tie near the radio to secure the wire. During violent robot action, the wire and connector will not move.
3. Loose wires or stray strands of wire can easily move to an adjacent contact during violent robot action. Make sure the screws holding the wire are tight, tug test the wire and make sure there are no strands visible.
4. Some PD boards were manufactured with a small, surface mount capacitor near the edge of the board where the radio and crio power supplies are located. It is possible that this cap has come loose and is floating around in the vicinity of the radio power supply.
I am of course, expecting that you are using the 5 volt regulator, connected to the +12 volt radio connector on the PD and that all regulator connections are tight/soldered and insulated.