Arrgggg Stupid Fisher Price Motors

[Matt Attallah]

[puts on flame suit]

But, rember, that the carpet isn't considered a "Solid"

start the flaming!

[Paul Copioli]

Close Enouuuuuuugh!!

(Reference Labatt's Blue T.V. comercial)

[AllenH]

Hi all. Driver from Wildstang Here.

So there's a topic about the "turbo" control on our robots. It's nothing complicated, like a tranny or anything. It's all based on software.

How I operate it: I press the top button the joysticks to activate it. In doing so, on last years robot, it does two things: One, the "Turbo" button increase our power to the motor (Full value on the speed controller and pwm output), from 50% to 100%. Another nice feature it enabled was the DISABLING of the 4wheel quad turn. Instead of turning the front wheels about 45 degrees of the center plane, and rear, -45 degrees, it actually kept the rears straight and only the fronts turned.

We had to do this because the control of our robot was so sensitive to high speed manipulation, the slightest jerk would mess up our shot at a "one hit wonder" to the first goal.

However, once we obtained one or two goals, it was only good to use turbo when crabing and going straight. If I needed to turn slightly, it was better to take advantage of the slow, but more powerful quad turn.

I hope that settle some things!!


Allen
Wildstand driver/electrical student leader
111

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Keith,
I asked our mech engineer to give an answer on design criteria vs motor specs. Our driver gave a good description of operation above.