FRC Robot Controller/Speed Controller

[laultima]

Originally Posted by RoarRoar

Hello

Can I connect a Digital compass to the FRC Robot Controller,how do this work,if this is possible.

Ive never used a compass on a bot before, but from my Costal Nav knowledge i wouldnt recommend it. All compasses are influenced by two things: variation and deviation. Variation is the difference from true north(north pole) to magnetic north(currently located somewhere in northern Canada), which varies over a few mile distance, depending on your angle to magnetic north. Your biggest worry is going to be the deviation. Compasses use magnets (no surprises (except fluxgates but now were getting technical)) to find magnetic north, and are strongly influenced by metal in the area. So if your next to the admin table and all their fancy electronics creating magnetic fields, youre going to get a different bearing then you would on the stands-side of the field. Deviation will even differ depending on what direction your bot is pointing, in fact all Coast Guard facilities (boats) have to have deviation tables onboard to calculate for any heading.

So if you want accuracy, go for gyros. Much better accuracy for a bot, unless you like doing compass-magnetic-true calculations everytime you turn.