Robot communication stops when switching drive direction

[adanmoran]

We are running a drive train with 2 CIMs and 1 miniCIM per side (6 total). All our talons are calibrated, and the motors drive with no issues in both the forwards and reverse directions.
Our issue is that when we switch directions from forwards to reverse (or vice-versa), the robot communication cuts out entirely. The robot doesn't shut off. We can drive at full speed, stop, then switch and there is also no problem.
Our router is connected to the power distribution board with a 5V transformer.
We've checked the battery, and we don't get any readings below 10V on a full battery.

We've been trying to debug this issue for the past 2 days. The only thing we know for sure is that this problem happens only when motors are driving at 70% of their speed or more. Anything under that and we can switch directions perfectly fine.

Does anyone have some advice? We're kind of stumped.

[RufflesRidge]

Originally Posted by adanmoran

Our router is connected to the power distribution board with a 5V transformer.

The 12V-5V converter is connected to the dedicated 12V supply at the end of the PDB or to one of the terminal pairs on the side?

[Chris_Ely]

My guess is that the sudden voltage drop when you switch directions is causing the radio to reset.
Is the radio wired as shown in this diagram?

[adanmoran]

Originally Posted by RufflesRidge

The 12V-5V converter is connected to the dedicated 12V supply at the end of the PDB or to one of the terminal pairs on the side?

We have it connected to one of the terminal pairs.

[adanmoran]

Originally Posted by luckof13

My guess is that the sudden voltage drop when you switch directions is causing the radio to reset.
Is the radio wired as shown in this diagram?

It wasn't set up that way. We're switching it now.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by adanmoran

It wasn't set up that way. We're switching it now.

Make sure you're wiring to the dedicated 12v port on the end of the PDB (then stepped down to 5v), and not into the 5v port.

[Ether]

Originally Posted by adanmoran

It wasn't set up that way. We're switching it now.

Whatever process your team had in place that resulted in that wiring error may have created other wiring errors, just waiting to cause problems at the worst possible time.

So while you are at it, you might want to consider comparing your entire wiring setup to the wiring instructions provided on the usfirst.org and screenstepslive.com websites.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Everyone,
This is the first thing for us to check when a team is having this problem. It should be checked during the inspection process but it does sometimes get over looked or more often changed by the team after inspection.

[MrRoboSteve]

Another reason to complete the Inspection Checklist yourself before bagging the robot.

I have 3081's printed in my bag right now.