New Electronics System Diagram

[ImOn3618]

Our team (3618) made a diagram of the new electronics system in AutoCAD, showing flow and general wire gauge. Attached it if anyone is interested.

-- -- -- -- = CAN
----------- = POSITIVE
----------- = NEGATIVE

[Jon Stratis]

Why run the CAN bus with the PCM at the end? That means you have to manually include a terminator resistor, AND remember to move the jumper on the PDP to remove the built-in resistor there. The recommended path is to terminate at the PDP and have the PCM and any speed controllers in the middle.

[Alan Anderson]

A diagram like this can be a good resource for teams to use, but it's hard to know how much detail to include. For example, you don't have any of the network components, and the motor speed controller is missing its control signals. As long as you're explicit about the scope of what you are showing, that's not a bad thing.

Leaving things off is okay, but the CAN wiring that is shown in the diagram will not result in a working system. CAN is a two-wire bus, and you've only drawn one wire. You're also showing the high side terminal of one component connected to the low side terminal of another. And as Jon pointed out, you don't have proper termination identified.

You have a pneumatic solenoid wired in, but you don't have the compressor and pressure switch wiring shown. Even if you use an off-robot compressor, you will still need to control it through the PCM.

I am highly confident that the 2015 robot rules will permit only the D-Link bridge/router to be connected to the 5V/2A output of the Voltage Regulator Module. Powering an Axis camera as you show is not likely to be permitted.

[TikiTech]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

I am highly confident that the 2015 robot rules will permit only the D-Link bridge/router to be connected to the 5V/2A output of the Voltage Regulator Module. Powering an Axis camera as you show is not likely to be permitted.

There are two connections for of each of the different voltage outputs. From what I have seen the camera and Dlink both use one 2a output each..

A good overview was posted by Simbotics the other night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1T9B...OX8kFryYAO4NTA
That is how they have their beta board wired, though They did mention they only have power to the camera at the moment and haven't started programming it.

I agree with the other statements. This need to be more specific on what wiring you are trying to describe. If you wish to do power, then leave other control wiring off. I suggest making several, one for power, one for control.

Otherwise a great project to work on. It will always be beneficial to learn as much as one can prior to actual delivery of the KOP.

Keep at it!

Aloha

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by TikiTech

There are two connections for of each of the different voltage outputs.

There are two connections, but they are both connected to the same point. The 2A rating is for the total current that can be supplied by the regulated output. And it's actually a peak rating, with the potential for the VRM to be overloaded if that much current is drawn continuously. The Beta Test teams have been advised not to exceed a continuous 1.5A load.

From what I have seen the camera and Dlink both use one 2a output each.

Doing that is "not recommended" at present. Remember that there is only one 5V/2A regulated supply. The D-Link pulls about 500-700mA in normal use, perhaps a little more when starting up, and the M1011 camera is specified at about 1.3A. Depending on further characterization of exactly how much power the camera actually uses, I expect it to be "not permitted" in the 2015 robot rules.

[TikiTech]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

There are two connections, but they are both connected to the same point. The 2A rating is for the total current that can be supplied by the regulated output. And it's actually a peak rating, with the potential for the VRM to be overloaded if that much current is drawn continuously. The Beta Test teams have been advised not to exceed a continuous 1.5A load.



Doing that is "not recommended" at present. Remember that there is only one 5V/2A regulated supply. The D-Link pulls about 500-700mA in normal use, perhaps a little more when starting up, and the M1011 camera is specified at about 1.3A. Depending on further characterization of exactly how much power the camera actually uses, I expect it to be "not permitted" in the 2015 robot rules.

Not good. And there seems no ability to add another VRM unless they plan on making one for the fused connections on the PDP. Maybe why there are 2 USB ports on the RoboRio? Guess it is time to move to a new USB camera.. Sure wish were selected to beta, going to be a stressful first week on the control team.

Thanks for the information!

[Ernst]

Originally Posted by TikiTech

Not good. And there seems no ability to add another VRM unless they plan on making one for the fused connections on the PDP. Maybe why there are 2 USB ports on the RoboRio? Guess it is time to move to a new USB camera.. Sure wish were selected to beta, going to be a stressful first week on the control team.

Thanks for the information!

We should be receiving a new camera to beta test soon. Not every beta testing team will receive a new camera. Teams were given the option to request one.

The email we received about the cameras said that it is the Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000.

Some teams should also start receiving CAN Talon SRX's soon. The new Pneumatic Control Modules are also in transit.

[NotInControl]

This looks good, but for anyone looking for a full control system diagram. FIRST has released one a while ago, which I think has a lot of useful detail.

The one thing that is missing is the D-link, which would plug into the VRM for power, and connect to the RoboRio via Ethernet cable.

This diagram still shows the early thought of using a USB Bridge directly plugged into the RoboRio (which was scraped after Alpha testing and replaced by using the trusted D-link)

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...tem-kop-survey

Hope this helps,
Kevin

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by TikiTech

...there seems no ability to add another VRM unless they plan on making one for the fused connections on the PDP.

The power input is just unregulated battery voltage. If you need another VRM for a second 5V supply, there should be no problem connecting it to a 20A-or-smaller-protected generic Wago output from the PDP.

The same is true of the Pneumatic Control Module -- if you want to use more than one of them, the "extras" can get battery power from the PDP's Wago connectors. That's what the Beta Test teams have been told to do with the old PCM when we receive the new "tougher" ones.

[TikiTech]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

The power input is just unregulated battery voltage. If you need another VRM for a second 5V supply, there should be no problem connecting it to a 20A-or-smaller-protected generic Wago output from the PDP.

The same is true of the Pneumatic Control Module -- if you want to use more than one of them, the "extras" can get battery power from the PDP's Wago connectors. That's what the Beta Test teams have been told to do with the old PCM when we receive the new "tougher" ones.

This is good. I was only slightly concerned since it seems when FIRST has a dedicated output they expect that there would be only one of that powered item and would have to be powered only from there. I think it would be wiser to put the PCM and such on the Wago fused connectors since those use Snap Action circuit breakers and would reset when tripped and not just burn out the automotive fuse keeping those systems non power for the rest of a match.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

IM,
Nice drawing. If you would like a few hints on cleaning up the drawing, you can send me the AutoCad file and I will make some changes and send it back.

[philso]

ImOn3618

Would you mind sending me your drawing in AutoCAD format? I am leading a workshop on electrical components and this would be very helpful.

Where did you get the images for the various components? Did you use the pdf or STEP files from the VEXPRO web site?

Thanks.

Phil