pic: 1726 NURC robot prototype

[TheOtherGuy]

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[Schnabel]

Holy crap that is so cool! What does it take to be in a competition like this? I would love to see robots like that working under water! Where is it that the competition is at? Maybe I can come watch.

[MrForbes]

The competition is in the Phoenix area

http://www.h2orobots.org/fallindex.htm

and this year's event is full (24 teams entered)

[davidmedeiros]

Oh wow that design looks really interesting!
I'm glad you guys finally got signed up. I can't wait till competition day to see how your design works

[falconmaster]

Fantastic guys! Keep it up. We are building our new one this year. Here is the team website with some picts so far
http://falconrobotics.design.officel.../pictures.aspx
We have two full sets of prop to build!!
We have a lot of work to do.
We also want you guys to be involved in the design of the next APASE competition. We will talk more later!

[Eric24]

Thats pretty cool, I want to make one now. BTW, what is that vex part that appears in picture 13 of the photo gallery?

[s_forbes]

Originally Posted by Eric24

Thats pretty cool, I want to make one now. BTW, what is that vex part that appears in picture 13 of the photo gallery?

That would be the Vex signal splitter. It's the non programable version of the vex controller, and it only has 6 pwm outputs and no inputs. Tiny, too!

[Eric24]

Thank you, thats very interesting, I might have to get me one of those so I don't have to worry about the micro controller all the time. And the size is another advantage for applications like these.

[MrForbes]

The vex signal splitter is a neat thing, we're using it with 3 Banebots speed controllers to drive the T500 bilge pump motors. The batteries are two Vex 7.2v 2000mAH wired in series to provide nominal 14.4v. The splitter takes power from the speed controller's Battery Eliminator Circuit.

We looked at the signal on the tether output port on the transmitter using an oscilloscope, and it's a nice 6 channel PWM signal, on the red and green wires in the 4 conductor connecting cable.

I wonder if we can do some more compacting work to be able to fit more stuff in the robot...it's getting crowded in there! Wires take up a lot of room.

[ewrado]

looking good team 1726

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

That would be the Vex signal splitter. It's the non programable version of the vex controller, and it only has 6 pwm outputs and no inputs. Tiny, too!

This is fascinating! If the little signal splitter is non programmable then what controls in the operator side controls the pwms. I can see the joy sticks with making 4 where are the other two. The buttons? They won't be speed controllable hough, right?

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by squirrel

The vex signal splitter is a neat thing, we're using it with 3 Banebots speed controllers to drive the T500 bilge pump motors. The batteries are two Vex 7.2v 2000mAH wired in series to provide nominal 14.4v. The splitter takes power from the speed controller's Battery Eliminator Circuit.

We looked at the signal on the tether output port on the transmitter using an oscilloscope, and it's a nice 6 channel PWM signal, on the red and green wires in the 4 conductor connecting cable.

I wonder if we can do some more compacting work to be able to fit more stuff in the robot...it's getting crowded in there! Wires take up a lot of room.

What current are you drawing with 12v and max. thrust? per bilge pump?

[MrForbes]

That's an experiment that still needs to be done! I think Gary sees the need to do the experimenting, so maybe it will get done soon...

As for the signal splitter channels, it uses the 4 joystick axes to control the first 4 outputs, and the buttons for the last two. IFI suggests not using the last two channels with servos, as they seem to have some jitter at the neutral position.

[falconmaster]

Originally Posted by TheOtherGuy

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Excellent job on the photo gallery!

[kE7JLM]

How stable is it underwater? What keeps it in it up-right position?

Have you named it yet?