Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IFI Hardware
6
5 9 4 5 9
2 8 1 7
Power Distribution
IFI Hardware
Robot Controller
Wireless RS-422 40-Channel Receiver RS40BackBack-up 7.2 VDC Battery CM2 Camera
Operator Interface
Wireless RS-422 40-Channel Transmitter RS40Power Supply Tether
Cabling
Serial Computer Interface
1. Operator Interface
Inputs
12 VDC Power (4) Joystick Competition Port Team Number Radio Modem
Outputs
Radio Modem Dashboard (PC) Tether
Special Instructions
No external power needed when Robot is tethered Diagnostic Indictors for Robot and Operator Interface
Operator Interface
Competition Tether To PC Serial Port Joystick Radio
Joystick
Joystick
Joystick
Robot Reset
Disable Channel
2. Robot Controller
Inputs
Digital Signal Analog Signal Radio Modem Tether Serial Programming
Outputs
Relay PWM Radio Modem
Special Instructions
Use Breaker Wire ON when Robot is powered Use Backup battery also
Robot Controller
Team 7.2 VDC PWM Outputs Color Backup Battery 16 Analog Inputs Black = Ground Red = +5 VDC Wh/Yel = In/Out 18 Digital In/Out Relay Serial Pgm Outputs Input Reset
This information is available at http://www.ifirobotics.com/docs/rc-ref-guide-01-31-2005.pdf
Radio
3. Breaker Panel
Inputs
12 VDC from Battery
Outputs
Power Distribution Ground Plane Serial to Robot Controller
Special Instructions
Wire through Main Breaker Terminals Numbered
G is Ground 40 is for 40A
Wire straight into 40A (Drive Motors) Use Spade lugs for 30A & 20A
Breaker Panel
(6) 40A Breakers 40A wires attach under screw plate Power & Ground
Red/Green/ Red/Green/Orange
Status Indicator
Circuit Breakers
20A, 30A, 40A Push/Pull Installation Overcurrent (thermal) cutoff Resets as soon as condition is resolved
30A
20A
Fuses
20A for Spike Relay OneOne-time use Look for broken loop Same as for Automobile
Fuse Element
Outputs
902902-928 MHz Band - 40 Channels
Special Instructions
100100-300 ft Range 35 Competition Channels Default (Practice) Channel 40 2 robots on Default will interfere 01, 04, 13, 22, 31 User Settable Channels
Outputs
Variable Current
Special Instructions
Use 40A Breaker Use for CIM Drive Motor Wire fan ON when robot is powered
7. Spike Relay
Inputs
Digital PWM +12 VDC, Ground
Fuse
Outputs
Full Fwd Full Reverse Brake
Special Instructions
Use 20A Breaker Use for Motor Drive
PWM Cable Red/Green/ Red/Green/Orange Fwd/Rev/Active Indicator
8. CMUcam2 Camera
Inputs
PWM Power from RC
Outputs
RSRS-232 DB9 to Computer RSRS-232 3-pin Serial to RC 3Servo Control
Special Instructions
Use PWM 7.2 VDC Supply Use for Motor Drive Connect Only 1 RSRS-232 at a time
CMUcam2 Camera
Servo Outputs RSRS-232 to PC for GUI PWM Cable Connector RSRS-232 to Robot for Auto
9. Cables
PWM Cable
Digital Signal
DB9
Joysticks Serial Communications
RSRS-232 RSRS-422
Tether
Digital Signal & Power
Wires
Wire Gage
Main Power 6 AWG or larger (4 AWG) 40A 10 AWG 30A 12 AWG 20A 14 AWG
Color Code
Red/ Red/Blue - 12 VDC Power Black/ Black/Yellow Signal Return Green - Chassis Ground
Safety
Insulate all connections
Documentation
FIRST Robotics Website
2006 Manual The Robot
IFIRobotics
Robot Controller Operator Interface Breaker Panel RSRS-422 Modems Victor 884 Motor Controller Spike Relay Camera
Robot Controller
FRC 2004 Control System Overview(pdf) Overview(pdf) Installation Info (pdf) Size and mounting info FRC 2004 System Quick Start 2004 Reference Guide (pdf) 2005 Reference Guide (pdf) 1-31-05 31Analog and Digital Input (pdf) 2-17-05 schematic 17Program Port Pin-out (pdf) 4-7-05 schematic Pin-
Operator Interface
Specifications Description 11-212005 Reference Guide (pdf) 11-21-05 Installation Info (pdf) 2004 FRC System Quick Start (pdf) 2004 FRC Control System Overview (pdf) Competition Port Pinout Guide (pdf) RevA 1-12-05 1-12Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Legacy Docs
This information is available at http://www.ifirobotics.com/oi.shtml
Backup Charts
Connectors
Motors
Compressor
Inputs
Digital Signal
Outputs
Air Pressure
Special Instructions
Use Breaker Wire ON when Robot is powered Need Pressure Relief
Sensors
123
Switches
1
1
2
456
Chargers
7.2 VDC
1
Main Battery
456
Websites
7.2 VDC
1
Main Battery
456
Overview
Electrical kit and IFI Hardware Layout and Planning Resistance and Ohms Law Electrical Tools MythMyth-Busting Questions
Documentation Example
Team 1111 Robot Controller Outputs
Outputs PWM1 PWM2 PWM3 PWM4 PWM5 Description Drive Left Drive Left Drive Right Drive Right Lift B/ Color CB C Red 40-2 C 40Blue Gree n 40-4 C 4040-6 C 40-
Label and/or Color Code Everything Secure wire so a hit from another robot doesn't stretch the wiring to a breaking point or pull a terminal out of a breaker, victor or spike When in doubt, insulate Secure the battery so it doesn't fall out Leave some slack in wire to allow for swapping of parts Be careful when running wiring through frame members so that mech heads don't drill into it at some point down the road
Ohms Law
+
12 V Battery
12 V = I * 24 ; I = 0.5 A
+ _
12 V Battery
Vout Measured
Assuming the Victor 884 Speed Controller is given an input signal of 254 from the Robot Controller, how much voltage is output to the device? Ideal Value Actual Value 12 V 0V to ~11.63 V
+ _
12 V Battery
Vout Measured
Circuit consists of 8 of #6, 4 of #10, and 2 of #10. 14 Connections in the circuit Ideal Value Actual Value 12 V 0V to ~11.63 V
Standard Wire Foot - A 10 gauge wire will drop about 0.1 volt per foot at the stall current of any of the drive motors. There is resistance in every wire
.001 ohm/ft #10 wire .0004 ohm/ft #6 wire
Reducing Resistance
Check every crimp to make sure the wires do not move or turn when pulled Use the correct tool for the job Solder all critical joints Shorten the length of your wires (also helps in keeping things neat and traceable)
Crimp Connections
Soldering
Good Practice to solder all connections where high currents exist Use Appropriate Size iron for the job Use a Rosin Core Solder for all electronics Wire Size 6 10 16 24 Min Power (W) 60 40 30 20 Max Power (W) 100+ 80 60 30
Multimeter (DMM)
Voltage Resistance Continuity
Wire Strippers
MythMyth-Busting
The RC, OI, Victors and Spikes need external components to run (i.e. capacitors, voltage regulators, etc.)
IFI has done a good job of designing the power and internal circuitry of all the kit electronic components. There is no additional circuitry required for reliable operation. The fan that is mounted on the speed controller is required though and most teams will wire this fan to the controller power input. The fan then becomes an indication of good input power to the controller.
The controllers and motors are not matched, the switching is all wrong.
This may seem to be the case, but the components work very well together. All teams use the same motors and drive components so there is no disadvantage to any team using the supplied parts.
The OI says my battery voltage is 10.5 but my voltmeter reads 12 at the battery. It must be broken.
Your RC voltage monitor accurately reads the voltage that is present at its input. If your RC reads 10.5 volts, there is considerable loss in the wiring and connections. Check that you have connected the RC to the #1 or #2 positions on the breaker panel and check that your connectors are well crimped and are tight and fully engaged on the push on connections.
TYPE ES18-12 CAPACITY 5HR 3.06A 15.3 AH 1HR 10.80A 10.8 AH 1C 18.0A 9.0 AH INTERNAL RESISTANCE APPROX. 15m MAX. DISCHARGE CURRENT 230 A
(5 SEC.)
MAX. CHARGE CURRENT 5.34
I can only get 11 volts at my motor running. The breaker panel is defective.
This actually is an effect of the some of the principles discussed earlier. High currents in the wires we use result in some voltage drop. Measuring at the motor, is in effect, compensating for this loss. Remember the wire foot, every foot of #10 at stall drops 0.1 volts. A one volt drop is an indication you have 10 wire feet of loss on the robot between the battery and the motor. This could be two 10 gauge wires, five feet long, or four feet and a speed controller or three feet, a speed controller and a breaker and some connectors.
My Chalupa is only running a light load but it keeps tripping the breaker, the breaker must be defective.
A current monitor would verify what the motor current actually is. Many manufacturers make clamp on probes that will monitor current for use with you multimeter. If the motor current is high check that there isnt a problem in the drive system by running the robot with the wheels off the ground. If motor current is normal, suspect bearing side loads, misaligned wheels, etc. If it is high, remove the motor from the transmission and try again, if it is high suspect a defective motor, if low, suspect a problem in the transmission.
The antenna on the robot can be anywhere in any orientation, same with the OI.
Antenna coupling is greatest when the antennas are mounted in the same orientation. Coupling is minimum when the antennas are mounted 90 degrees apart. The radios still appear to work but the margin of good signal is vastly reduced.
This is misleading. The wire does not go under the screw. It goes between the collar and the tab. Fine strands would be pulled up along the sides of the screw and very few would be held in place. The connector supplied last year was terminated as shown but could not terminate fine strand wire.
5. My four wheel drive robot eats batteries, there is something wrong with control system.
Four wheel or tank drive systems use incredible amounts of current when turning using high friction drive surfaces like belting or knobby tires. When a robot turns it must drag the wheels or treads sideways across the carpet. In a tight or fast turn, this high friction translates into near stall conditions for all the drive motors. The result is temporary current draw above 200 amps in a four motor drive. That may be enough to draw the voltage in the battery below RC minimum.
4. The backup battery is not used when the main power is shut off.
According to the RC manual, Team LEDs (and the backup circuit in the RC) will shut down after four seconds if the RC has not established contact with an OI connected to the arena controller. If an arena controller is connected and a link has been established, the backup battery will still be connected to everything on the robot for up to four minutes after main power has been removed. With servos and LEDs, a lot of power is watsted. Press reset after every power off.
Plan, create drawings just like mechanical systems Create a test bed early Use test bed to test all systems before integrating Communicate effectively with the mechanical subsub-teams early and often Document everything