FRC Blog - 2016 Motor Controllers

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Mark Sheridan

Since FIRST is open to to adding speed controllers. I am willing to bet at least someone has been pitching a new motor idea for them to consider.

That wouldn't surprise me one bit. I'd bet that if someone doesn't do it for 2016, there will be at least one pitched for 2017.


Ya know... There's a lot of folks who think brushless is a great way to go. The real question is, can you keep a brushless motor from stalling? And... is one in the same power class as a 775 at a reasonable price? (Actually, I'd bet the answer to the second question is "yes", and to the first is "it depends on what I'm using it for".)

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by EricH

Ya know... There's a lot of folks who think brushless is a great way to go. The real question is, can you keep a brushless motor from stalling? And... is one in the same power class as a 775 at a reasonable price? (Actually, I'd bet the answer to the second question is "yes", and to the first is "it depends on what I'm using it for".)

Unless teams start the match with their motors spinning there is no way to prevent them from stalling.

[BBray_T1296]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Unless teams start the match with their motors spinning there is no way to prevent them from stalling.

Ok...

Keep them from obtaining an insurmountable load

[mman1506]

Originally Posted by EricH

That wouldn't surprise me one bit. I'd bet that if someone doesn't do it for 2016, there will be at least one pitched for 2017.


Ya know... There's a lot of folks who think brushless is a great way to go. The real question is, can you keep a brushless motor from stalling? And... is one in the same power class as a 775 at a reasonable price? (Actually, I'd bet the answer to the second question is "yes", and to the first is "it depends on what I'm using it for".)

What's wrong with stalling brushless motors?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by mman1506

What's wrong with stalling brushless motors?

Magic smoke. Most of the brushless motors in the hobby market--a likely source for FRC-level motors--are designed to run at speed with light loading. If you put a heavier load on them, they have a hard time.

There was a thread about a year or two ago with a lengthy discussion on benefits/drawbacks of brushless motors.

[Ari423]

Originally Posted by EricH

There was a thread about a year or two ago with a lengthy discussion on benefits/drawbacks of brushless motors.

Linked here.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by EricH

Ya know... There's a lot of folks who think brushless is a great way to go.

Brushless motors use completely different controllers (at least three wires to the motor, for one thing). So unless the list of legal motor controllers was partial, brushless motors would not be useful.