Bang Bang Control, motors, and transmissions

[Jared Russell]

Given the duty cycle and lifespan of an FRC robot, bang-bang controllers are totally appropriate in many applications. In an industrial setting, I might worry about shortening mechanical lifespans, but in FRC that may not apply depending on the application.

And in a drive train, the inertia of your robot will effectively smooth out your controls for you whether you like it or not.

[David Lame]

Originally Posted by Jared Russell

Given the duty cycle and lifespan of an FRC robot, bang-bang controllers are totally appropriate in many applications. In an industrial setting, I might worry about shortening mechanical lifespans, but in FRC that may not apply depending on the application.

And in a drive train, the inertia of your robot will effectively smooth out your controls for you whether you like it or not.

Thanks. I wrote my last reply while you were writing yours.

As to the last point, I suspected as much, and that is why I felt fairly safe I wasn't about to turn my transmissions into dust, but I didn't have much confidence in my own assessment.