BotBitz Brushless ESCs - Firmware Version 2 - Early Stages
I have been thinking a fair bit recently about the issues we currently have with certain versions of our firmware. Mostly those with mixing and failsafing.
(I may have also bet Aaron that I could finish it before he has a working featherweight, but thats a different story)
The idea with version 2 is to make this compatible with all ESCs and to have several new features which can be switched on and off.
This won't be made opensource. It will be based loosely upon the work I have done previously but will probably have to redo most things from scratch. So will likely end up as a BotBitz exclusive product.
This thread is intended to serve mostly as a documentation of my progress, get feedback from builders as it progresses and potentially serve as support for those who eventually end up using it.
Feature List
------------------
To Be Determined. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Desirable (Be nice)
- Low Voltage Cutout
- Switch On Off startup beep
- PWM frequency options
- Readout of current stick input position. (So you know what magic numbers you need)
- Coast/Braking on centered
- SignMagnitude or Sync Regen operation modes
Additional (Just me showing off)
- 2in1 on board as option.
- Serial Control
- Playing music
Prolly more I can't think of.... A lot of the lower ones are bordering on the infeasible, untested or impossible. I think the top section could be done relatively easily. _________________ Steven Martin
Twisted Constructions
http://www.botbitz.com
Thu May 30, 2013 4:33 pm
Jaemus Experienced Roboteer
Joined: 01 Apr 2009
Posts: 2674
Location: NSW
Interesting
So these could be sold as a 'deluxe' option say, to the existing TZ85? _________________ <Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls
Further thoughts have taken me to this list of features for release
Full Control Range Settings
- Limit Settings
- Deadband Settings
- Centerpoint Settings
Improved Control Options
- Reverse Direction
- Slew Rate
- Exponential Rates
Safety Options
- Thermal Cutoff
- Low Voltage Cutout
Extras
- Switch On Off startup beep
- Readout of current stick input position.
- Coast/Braking on centred
- Serial Control
What have I ditched
- PWM Freq
- Synchronous Regen Mode
- 2in1
So the PWM Frequency setting and the Synchronous Regen I have decide will not be a part of this release. Mainly because I do not think it really adds anything and I know the current settings I have work.
I have also removed 2in1 mode. Simply because I have no idea how you could control this without hardware mods.
I am also thinking about making the serial protocol for programming open. And potentially reimplementing the control box in software so that it could be downloaded to any Arduino compatible device and then used for uploading your configuration. This would also allow this protocol to be used to send motion commands to the motor or multiple motors on a robot.
^ what he said _________________ <Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls
I should have mentioned I had a bit of time to work on this over the weekend. And I upped resolution about 10x on pulsein I also scaled it so you can programming the controller in ms.
As no one really knows what the RX is outputting I also added a mode on the control box which reads in the pulse length. I know this won't be 100% due to clocks being slightly different and shitty internal oscillators. But it should be within 5% and give everyone a really good starting point.
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