Team Jeopardy: Endeavour

[RogueTwoRobots]

Nothing wrong with a wall of text. Build diaries bring that out in people, mine's testament to that!

The ESC problem described sounds exactly as David said. If you're using Botbitz 85A ESCs with a Spektrum transmitter (or other make), the ESCs will cut out when you hit the diagonals. Something to do with the throws/stick travel when mixing etc.

But anyway, the amended code that has been developed appears to resolve the issue, and can be found here: http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...-spektrum-dx6i (link at the bottom of the first post).

If you're unsure with soldering to the ESCs or programming, there are a few folk in the community that can do it who can help you out, although it's reasonably easy to do it yourself. One thing worth mentioning is that if you got the ESCs direct from Botbitz, the motor wires will be at the top and bottom of the side of the ESC, but if you install the amended code I've linked to, it use the middle and top (or middle and bottom, can't remember which) connection points, so you'll need to solder a wire onto the board in the middle spot.

And glad to hear that you've had fun in your first year. Endeavour is a tough and well-built little cookie, look forward to seeing it again next year

[plargen]

2 easy ways round the cut out is go lipo or add a separate battery for the rx as the motors are pulling more that a nimh battery can provide

had the same thing with night fury

[SamO]

Re-programming complete!

After finally getting my butt into gear and ordering the Pololu programmer, which arrived very promptly, we were finally in a position to start programing. It was actually surprisingly easy to do, even the soldering was straight forward and I have to say, I take my hat of to all involved in writing the program, it works perfectly! The only difficulty we had was changing over the wire port to the motor, we managed it in the end nut it was a bit of a pain. So now, hopefully...again, Endeavour will be running at full wack A few pics of the programing process for those interested:




In other news, a few very very minor upgrades will be made to Endeavour. This will just be things like moving the link further back into the robot to prevent being knocked out etc, all very exciting. We've also got something a bit more interesting coming along, but that wont be ready until end of this year/start of next. Will probably take longer knowing us

Ps: @Dave Weston, its a breeze

[SamO]

Not done an update recently, so about time I did one...

Finally got Endeavour running properly (at full pelt) after six months or so of tinkering and face palming. If any of you didn't see at Portsmouth check out some of the videos on youtube, nips around the arena quite nicely now

We also repainted the scoop, and whilst it didn't last long, it did look quite funky before it got in the arena. We painted it a florescent yellow that glowed in the dark:





Yer
We have also finished the work on moving the link back which should stop the dam thing from falling out. Got a bit of another upgrade coming for Endeavour in the form of Hardox Corners (as opposed to the old Aluminium) which should be ready for the champs.

Mini E has had a very minor upgrade, now has a 250mah battery as opposed to the old 120mah one. Took to AWS 43 a few weeks ago and it performed pretty well, got to the 5th round which isn't to shabby!

Lastly, the "something a bit interesting" is making slow steady(ish) progress. Don't want to reveal to much about that yet, but I can say that it will be a Feather Weight Next stop, the Champs....

[mrsam]

I love how neat and tidy the insides are, should do well at the champs it's looking very strong

[Mega Masher]

Cool

[daveimi]

Which motors do you run in Jeapordy? It goes really well.

[mrsam]

Do you mean Endeavour? i believe it runs Makitas

[daveimi]

"Do you mean Endeavour?"

That's the one! lol Epic Fail

[daveimi]

Are the Makitas a lot more powerful that Dewalts etc?

[mrsam]

I don't think there's really much difference, Makitas are by far the less expensive option but in terms of actual power i think they're pretty much even, i think i read somewhere once that they both use the same motors but i might be wrong Dewalts are maybe just better build quality

[SamO]

Kinda right Sam....

The original plan for Endeavour was in fact to use Dewalts, so we spent near enough £100 on a set of drills that we thought were going to be the Bee's Knees... they weren't! The problem is, on the newer/latest style of Dewalt drills, the motor and gearbox etc, aren't actually conjoined, they're just held together by the case. So when we took them apart we were just left with a pile of bits in our hands. If you look at Michael's Annihilation, you'll see that the motors are still in their cases. This may be the reason why, but don't quote me on that

In terms of power comparison, not much in it. Although, the Makitas I have run on 14.4v where as most Dewalts that are used run 18v, so for voltage to power ratio, they're probably a bit better. I like them myself... tough, rugged and plenty of power/speed!

[daveimi]

Yeah, been looking at a big drive train for months but can't be bothered with making gearboxes as it won't go well. I mean this with regard to the obvious choice to big power being speed 900 and the like. I saw the DeWalt stuff but that looked a bit technical as well. Which wheels do you use and how have you attached them to the Makita's?

[SamO]

Like most other drill motors/gearboxes, its a bolt on and a reverse screw combination. These motors in particular are a bit a of a pain though because they have a rather wacky thread size

[plargen]

i think im using the same drills for one of the many robots im building, the shaft thread size is a 1/2" unf and there is a hydraulic pipe clamp that im using to hold them and insulation tape to keep the motor lock in to the gearbox

http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/pa...de07e.jpg.html