VEX controller

[Bobert]

Does anyone know if it is possible to use the VEX controller to control the robot? We would just hook it up directly to the Jaguars. Are the systems compatible? We are trying to simply are control system by getting rid of the Classmate and router in order to just use the VEX R/C controller. I understand that this will bypass the cRIO and all of our code. We just need to drive motors to move.

[MrForbes]

It works with Victor speed controllers, not sure about Jags though...the PWM signal isn't quite the same.

[Joe Ross]

The Jaguar by default uses a longer PWM pulse then the IFI control system or the VEX controller puts out. This means that it will work, but the fastest a motor would go is 2/3 speed.

You can calibrate the PWM input on the Jaguar so that it will operate at full speed with IFI control system. See the Jaguar Getting Started Guide from http://www.luminarymicro.com/jaguar

Be sure to calibrate it again when you go back to the cRIO.

[Jon Jack]

Yes, you can use a Vex controller with jaguars. We do this quite a bit to test prototypes (on and off of a moving robot) and to control robots to play with and against our practice robot.

[R.C.]

I've always wanted to do this and wanted to repair our 2009 robot with this controller.

Questions:

-Do you use male to male cables?

-What do you program it in, EasyC?

-Do you power the controller with the battery or the power pack that comes with it?

-Is there anything else needed to run it?

Thanks,

-RC

[Jon Jack]

Originally Posted by R.C.

I've always wanted to do this and wanted to repair our 2009 robot with this controller.

Questions:

-Do you use male to male cables?

-What do you program it in, EasyC?

-Do you power the controller with the battery or the power pack that comes with it?

-Is there anything else needed to run it?

Thanks,

-RC

Yes you use Male to Male cables. We usually splice some old PWM cables.

We use EasyC and normally just run the standard tank drive code. When we use the vex controller, we're normally just trying to see how easy a mechanism is to control (ex: how easy it is to grab a ball or how well we can hold on to a ball).

We run power for the Vex controller from the battery pack, NOT the 12V battery you would usually use to power your robot.

Other than that, I don't think there is anything else you need.

[NickE]

Originally Posted by R.C.

What do you program it in, EasyC?

I ran our 09 robot on RobotC on a VEX controller with success.

[MrForbes]

We've used a voltage regulator to run the Vex controller from the 12v battery...I think we used a 7808 (8 volt) regulator, worked fine. Mounted on a heat sink.

The controller has a LM2940CS-5.0 (5 volt) regulator inside it, so it might get a bit warm if you run it from the 12v supply.

[artdutra04]

You should also be able to use the Serial<>CAN adapter.

The VEX controller has two serial ports: the Rx/Tx port and the programming port.