One Joystick Drive

[mattsavela]

I attached my userroutines.c file

[Mark McLeod]

A couple of simple issues.

• The code for joystick control is in the Default_Routine() a few lines below the Process_Data_From_Master_uP routine(). The 1-Joystick code starts there on line 226 (in the version I attached). (In MPLAB look under Edit -> Properties and check "line numbers" if you don't already see them.)
• There was a ". . ." in my example above that isn't code and needs to be removed (sorry about that).
• Set both the MOTOR_CORRECTION's to zero to begin with. You'll only need to adjust those values if the operator cannot manually correct for the robot pulling to one side or the other. I don't know how hard it will be for your operator to see the robot underwater.
• Make sure your drive motor pwms are connected to pwm 13 (right motor) and pwm 15 (left motor).

I've attached a modified version, so you can see what I meant.
the new code is at lines 204-205 and 239-255.
What you wrote originally will actually work, but would be confusing to anyone reading the code, because it does all the joystick work in Default_Routine() then overrides it all in Process_Data_From_Master_uP().

Anyone else have comments to add?

[mattsavela]

We have cameras attached to our robot, so we can't actually see our robot, but we can see from certain perspectives.

Thank you guys so much for helping me with this.

[Mark McLeod]

We'd like to see photos and hear about your progress, so don't forget about us here on the ChiefDelphi forums.

Good Luck!

[mattsavela]

We have an online album of pictures. I'll check with our coach to make sure that I can give the link out.

[mattsavela]

http://photobucket.com/albums/v660/lhsrobotics/
http://photobucket.com/albums/y205/lhsrobotics1/


Those are the two links to our photo albums.

[N7UJJ]

I assume you are going to the MATE championship in Houston.
If so be sure to look for us. We also use the FRIST controller equipment on our ROV except we put the robot controller and the battery on the ROV. It allows us to use a small diameter tether which really helps the maneuverability.

Looking forward to meeting y'all

Allan

[mattsavela]

Yeah. We are going to the MATE competition in Houston. Our team saw some pictures of your team's robot (not sure what year), but it was in one of your past tech reports. It looked excellent.

[mattsavela]

We finally got a chance to test our robot in the pool. The robot worked fine going forwards, and turning. However, when we pull our joystick backwards, the robot goes forward, and when we push the joystick forward, our robot goes backwards. Is there a way you guys can help me fix that? Also, our robot does not goes very fast when it is moving backwards, but moves at a good speed when it goes forwards. Is there a way to make it so that when we go backwards, it goes the same speed as it goes when going forwards?

Thanks

[N7UJJ]

Originally Posted by mattsavela

We finally got a chance to test our robot in the pool. The robot worked fine going forwards, and turning. However, when we pull our joystick backwards, the robot goes forward, and when we push the joystick forward, our robot goes backwards. Is there a way you guys can help me fix that? Also, our robot does not goes very fast when it is moving backwards, but moves at a good speed when it goes forwards. Is there a way to make it so that when we go backwards, it goes the same speed as it goes when going forwards?

Thanks

There are two solutions to the forward/backward problem:

1. transpose the wires from the motor speed controller that go to the motor by switching the M+ and M- wires. (I think this is the best solution)
OR
2. in the code, add pwm01 = 255 - pwm01;
pwm02 = 255 - pwm02; // put after any other assignments to pwm01. (I used PWM01 Ind 02, but of course, use the pwm## that the motors use

As for the different speeds, there can be three solutions:
1. calibrate the motor speed controllers
2. in the code,use a lookup table or a function so that the p1_y goes from 0 - 255
3, It may be the motors, They just may go faster in one direction or its the water flowing more efficiently in one direction that the other. Not much you could do about that.

Fix the direction problem first and test in the water. Maybe the speed problem will go away or not be so noticeable.

Let me know what happens

Allan

[mattsavela]

Thanks a lot. We gonna test our robot again in the pool tomorrow. I'll try changing the cords. Also, do you think that someone could add the part Allan suggested into our user routines.c file (I uploaded it). I would really appreciate it because I am new to programming. I'm going to add everyone who helped to our acknowledgements section of our teams tech report.

Thanks a lot