Electronics

[steve_c]

I figure this is where to start, as its the innermost part (ie. what makes it run). So: what else goes on the circuit apart from receiver, batteries, motors, speedo, LED and the link?

[stu]

Electronics

Depends on your robots weapon, but for a simple push bot like Tornado, and the first storm, thats all is needed.

Mr Stu

[steve_c]

Electronics

But isnt there all kinds of little things like resistors etc. in there too?

(therell be no active weapon btw)

[Kenny]

Electronics

theres nothing else needed excpet from wire :P

see making robots isnt that difficuit

[typhoon_driver]

Electronics

all the resistors, relays, diodes and whatever else is covered inside the speedos.

If you want to see some resistors etc then open up the box that your speedos come in.

Other than that it really is jst a case of connect this wire to this end of the battery and that one to the other, the others to the motor and you are away.

[babeth]

Electronics

Uhm... dont the rules mention funny little things called failsaves ?

[team_ireland]

Electronics

No Babeth they dont they mention Failsafes (waits for Babeth to correct his spelling from now on)

[babeth]

Electronics

Thank you for the correction sweetling.

[steve_c]

Electronics

Okay, so what are the failsafes and where do they go?

[ewan]

Electronics

Depends what speed controller you use. Some of the better ones have built in failsafes. Failsafes are required by the rules to prevent your robot from going too haywire if it looses a signal (it can still happen though as PLF found out at Ipswitch, I dont think it was even switched on )

[robotic_ants]

Electronics

Failsafes monitor the quality of radio signal going to your speed controller from the receiver so if it receives an in-valid signal, interference or no signal at all it will prevent that from reaching the speed controller and making you lose full control of the robot.

When it does sence no signal or receives an invalid signal the failsafe detects this and sends its own signal to set the controller to neutral so your robot should stop dead.

There are mainly two types of failsafes...

Built In Failsafes : These are built into the electronics of the speed controller so its all there ready for you to use.

Plug In Failsafes : Are extra little units that plug in between your receiver and speed controller, and they do the exact same job as the built in ones.

If you tell us what make of speed controller you are using we would be able to tell you if it has a built in failsafe or not, or you can probably find out by reading the documentation that came with the speed controller.

Chris - http://www.featherweights.org/forumBreak

[jim]

Electronics

Your LED will also need a resistor. You may have an LED with a built in resistor - if your LED is rated to 12V or 24V then it probably has a built in resistor. If youre using a plain LED from Maplin or wherever then youll need an extra resistor in series with it. The value of it will depend on the voltage youre running at and the forward voltage drop of the LED.

[julian]

Electronics

My failsafes are part of the receiver not the speedos. When signal is lost, they shut everything down.

Ive got a 12v Maplin LED.

[pyromatt]

Electronics

Maplin do various types, if you have one from this page http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=330&MenuName=5mm%2B12V%2BStanda rd%2BLEDs&worldid=3&FromMenu=y&doy=9m7http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?...andard+LEDs&wo rldid=3&FromMenu=y&doy=9m7 then your fine, the others require resistors. Its easier just to get one of these in my opinion, save yourself the hassle.

[team_ireland]

Electronics

Ok Sorry to Hijack this thrend but rather than start a new one.

I want to build Ian Watts Failsafe system as can be found here:
http://www.teambigbro.co.uk/failsafe.htmlhttp://www.teambigbro.co.uk/failsafe.html

What i need to know is, is it possible to make this whole board run on 5v by changing the relay from a 12v coil to a 5v coil. I have looked at the data sheets for the Flip-Flop, The 555 Timer, the FET and the Transistor and all appear to work down to 5 volts.

So can anyone verify this?

Thanks
Regards
Ian.