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BotBitz Brushless ESCs - Firmware Version 2 - Early Stages


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marto
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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)

So some people may remember this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJLFngpuvRE
The programming box.

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.
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Steven Martin
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Post Wed May 29, 2013 12:21 am 
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marto
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So sat down today and tried to summaries the feature list I want on the new firmware.

Important (Must Have)
- Limit Settings
- Deadband Settings
- Centerpoint Settings
- Reverse Direction
- Slew Rate
- Thermal Cutoff
- Exponential Rates

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.
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Steven Martin
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Post Thu May 30, 2013 4:33 pm 
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Jaemus
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Interesting

So these could be sold as a 'deluxe' option say, to the existing TZ85?
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Post Thu May 30, 2013 5:25 pm 
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marto
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Nope. Would become standard. But you would need to buy our programming box to access them.

This being said there may be a bit of a phasing out of old ones. Or potentially a slight increase in prices.

Steve
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Steven Martin
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Post Thu May 30, 2013 5:35 pm 
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marto
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So diving back into the code of previous versions, I think this is going to take a while.

Does anyone have any comments about the intuitiveness of the interface from the video?

Steve
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Steven Martin
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Post Sun Jun 09, 2013 3:10 pm 
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marto
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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.

Steve
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Steven Martin
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Post Tue Jun 18, 2013 3:07 pm 
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marto
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Worked out how to implement all of the features.

And good news. This will also allow the controller to be reconfigured as a switch and one directional unit using just configurable variables.

Steve
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http://www.botbitz.com

Post Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:30 am 
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Knightrous
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Post Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:18 am 
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Jaemus
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^ what he said
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<Patrician|Away> what does your robot do, sam
<bovril> it collects data about the surrounding environment, then discards it and drives into walls

Post Wed Jun 19, 2013 10:53 am 
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marto
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I may have had some bug in my code lastnight which I stayed up till 3am scratching my head wondering WTF I was doing wrong.

Let me just say it is fixed.

And this may also fix my 2in1 Code.

Yay.

Steve
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Post Thu Jun 20, 2013 5:53 pm 
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Ajax
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For the PWM Freq
different motors can work better at different freq

But most we would use would be fine on a standard freq.

it would just mean some motors would not be as efficient and or some not work at all.
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Post Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:35 am 
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marto
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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.

Steve
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Steven Martin
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Post Wed Jun 26, 2013 2:36 pm 
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