blog; Motor Controller Options for 2015

[FrankJ]

I would recommend ketchup for tater tots. As previously stated thermal paste would stick to the roof of your mouth.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

I would recommend ketchup for tater tots. As previously stated thermal paste would stick to the roof of your mouth.

How well does peanut butter transmit heat?

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

How well does peanut butter transmit heat?

~0.168 W/(m·K) (Page 15)

[FrankJ]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

~0.168 W/(m·K) (Page 15)

So you have 20 metric tons of peanut butter on a train leaving Chicago heading east at 50 mph...

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by FrankJ

So you have 20 metric tons of peanut butter on a train leaving Chicago heading east at 50 mph...

...and it quickly runs out of track as it reaches the shore of Lake Michigan. Pick a different direction.

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

...and it quickly runs out of track as it reaches the shore of Lake Michigan. Pick a different direction.

> go north

It is pitch dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

Crap.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

> go north



Crap.

> Use Peanut Butter on grue


On a topic I don't think has been covered. How's firmware updating on the new Talon done? Is it simpler that the Jags? And how's the error recovery for if we lose power or connection mid flash?

I assume upgrading firmware isn't really an issue for the Victor?

[Jefferson]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

>


On a topic I don't think has been covered. How's firmware updating on the new Talon done? Is it simpler that the Jags? And how's the error recovery for if we lose power or connection mid flash?

I assume upgrading firmware isn't really an issue for the Victor?

I assume the firmware on the Talon will be updated similar to the PCM and PDP, through the roboRIO webdash. It's straightforward and painless.
I don't know about error recovery during flash, but I'm sure Omar will take care of us.

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

> Use Peanut Butter on grue

As the grue's favorite diet is adventurers, it presumably ignores the peanut butter. You hear horrible gurgling noises from the darkness.

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

On a topic I don't think has been covered. How's firmware updating on the new Talon done? Is it simpler that the Jags? And how's the error recovery for if we lose power or connection mid flash?

I assume upgrading firmware isn't really an issue for the Victor?

They list several communication channels in addition to CAN. I'd assume serial is likely to be a flashing option as well. If they can get a stable bootloader that they won't be upgrading in the flashes, they could presumably use that as a fallback option. I'm guessing it's going to be even harder to get to a JTAG port inside a sealed speed controller, though it'd be nice if they released a JTAG flashable image invade someone tried.

[aldaeron]

Great thread with lots of good info!

There is one question I was hoping would show up but hasn't - will there be an option to pre-order the controllers soon?

The features and prices seem set. I know there will be last minute tweaks based on beta testing. I know they can't provide an exact ship date yet. I am reassured that there will be enough parts.

It is easier with for the folks that handle the paperwork for our school district to be able to pre-order. There are already opportunities to pre-order the rest of the new components. A nice side benefit is that I don't have to keep checking VEX to see when the controllers actually go on sale - I can pay for them now and they will ship when they're ready (As Ron Popeil would say - "set it and forget it").

Thanks!

-matto-

[FrankJ]

I have not seen that the motor controllers are available for per-order. They are on the VEXpro site as coming soon.

[aldaeron]

Originally Posted by ebmonon36

The controller is available for pre-order through AndyMark:
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3000.htm

Eric

I meant the motor controllers. I already have that on order =)

[ebmonon36]

Originally Posted by aldaeron

I meant the motor controllers. I already have that on order =)

Oops, just realized this was the motor controller thread and not the beta test thread. I had opened both threads...

[mrnoble]

Anyone heard anything new about availability? The only source I've seen that says there will be plenty to go around is this thread. What reliable source has said that there will be Victor SP's and Talon SRX's available in quantity in time for kickoff? The most I've been able to do so far is create a wishlist on VexPro.

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

And how's the error recovery for if we lose power or connection mid flash?

Can't speak for the Talon SRX, but I just played around with error recovery for the PCM. I pulled PCM power towards the beginning of the flash, towards the middle of the flash, and towards the end of the flash. In all cases I was able to recover.