New Robot Electrical Parts

[Cory]

120 amp battery connectors would be nice, since we're up to a 120 amp breaker now.

Cory

[Sscamatt]

The anderson powerpole connectors for 10 gauge and smaller wire would be really nice. I saw them on a few bots and they don't have male or female ends. All fit together nicely. http://www.andersonpower.com/products/pp/pp.html FIRST already deals with them so maybe it would be possible.

[sanddrag]

I really liked the power ditribution block and ground stud. The new Maxi fuse block was good too. The included electrical conectors were good quality but there wasn't enough quantity and variety. I would like to see battery connectors switch over to the single PowerPole 75 Amp units like these

I don't like the 6 gauge wire, it needs more (finer) strands so it is more flexible. The 10 gauge wire could be higher quality as well. I don't particulary like the ground area on the regular fuse panel but it has been working fine so there's no reason it shouldn't continue to do so. I really liked the change in the battery's terminals to plain blocks instead of U shaped terminals. As stated before, the Anderson PowerPoles (I think they are the 45 Amp ones) for 10 gauge wire would be beautiful. Plugs, wire, and pins should be provided for making your own PWM style cables to plug into the headers on the RC. The red tether (or was it programming) serial cable should not be female to female. I thought I read a good reson for it once but I can't remember and I don't like that thing anyway (although the red is cool).

I think at least two shaft encoders/ rotation sensors and once gyro/tilt sensor/accelerometer should be provided.

That's about all I can think of right now.

[suneel112]

This is impossible, but an AC Power supply!! Yes, the same rules will apply for tethering. Plug the orange cord into your end zone and robots away!!

Just Kidding

Maybe a much lighter battery. Fuel Cell?

[MikeDubreuil]

I like the grounding stud. I wish we were given more O-ring connectors for it. If you miss a crimp on the connector you either have to buy some more at the ridiculous price or drill out a smaller connector (not a good idea).

EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize this was a discussion on new parts.

[MikeDubreuil]

I liked the new current sensor. I didn't like how FIRST handled the PCB issue. FIRST should have provided a way to obtain the PCB a little easier. Perhaps, by purshasing a lot of them and selling them through their new online store.

If the current sensor comes back or we get another "sensor project", it would be nice for FIRST to give instructions on how to obtain all non-standard (I.E. custom PCB) parts.

EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize this was a discussion on new parts.

[MikeDubreuil]

I'd like to see a distance sensor included. Infra-red or sonar. Something with the capability of long range distance sensing, approximately 15 ft.

SensComp 6500 Ranging Module, range 6" to 35'. Used along with an appropriate transducer.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

also, there is a thread about the type of wire that the thunder chickens used. This wire seems like it would be a nice upgrade from the standard wire that comes in the kit.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=27995

[Mike Hendricks]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

The red tether (or was it programming) serial cable should not be female to female. I thought I read a good reson for it once but I can't remember and I don't like that thing anyway (although the red is cool).

It was the tether that was red, and it was done that way so you couldnt accidently plug it into the program port, and damage the RC and/or O/I. It was a little short when we were using it, but we just plugged a 25ft serial cable on one end and taped the connectors together.