Design ideas for F/W controller wanted

Hi everyone,

We here at Team Kronic are gonna start to build a featherweight Kronic and have been looking at controllers available. What I would like is a controller basically like the Roboteq but for featherweights, but I cannot find anything available in the marketplace (after a quick look, I may be wrong) so I have decided to design one from scratch myself.

I want to make the functionality like the roboteq, serial port software upgradable, fast microprocessor control, various methods of operation, etc, but I am looking for input on any extras which you would like to see (any extra inputs/outputs, etc)

What I would like are a load of ideas, things which the roboteers would like to see in a speed controller which currently are not available. This is your chance to influence a design which may become available to purchase (thats the plan)

I am still at the initial design stage so any ideas will be considered and maybe put into place.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Dave Lang
Team Kronic

2 channel, full H bridge, built in simple linear mixer and failsafe, variable current limit 5-40A, boxed, 2-way weapon channel, 12 to 24V nominal voltage and most of all it never goes wrong and retails for under £100! Do not worry at this stage about nice to have features they can come later, focus on a 2 channel H bridge with current limiting.

You did ask

Paul

Nice one Paul. Anyone else?

Dave

Ive started the development of a speed controller for featherweights myself. Its already taken quite some time, but the design is not finished yet. Its an ambitions project :)
I put my progress on the dutch forum: http://rw.bugs.nl/viewtopic.php?t=385http://rw.bugs.nl/viewtopic.php?t=385 It includes a list of features Ill translate:
- +/- 40A (4-fets total)
- Input voltage 6-24v
- regenerative breaking
- Current limiting, also on regenerative breaking
- 4 RC-inputs, opticaly separated
- 200mA Galvanicaly separated BEC.
- 2 RC-switch (FET) outputs
(In combination with an external relais it can be used as a remote kill)
- RS485 bus for linking speedos (may include compatibility with kees-speedos)
- led-indicator
- expantion bus for extras like:
---- Gyro
---- Tacho-feedback
---- Super servo
---- external indicator leds (power, failsafe, etc.)

The biggest problem Ive encountered is that there is a big demand for a speedocontroller thats better than the IBCs. Only everyone is expecting it to be cheaper aswell :)
I deliberatly dont want to make a 2-channel speedo because I need 3 for a project of mine. You can always put 2 in a box if you have to :)

Sounds like youre quite a way through the project. Im gonna have a try at a 2 channel controller because ive always wanted to do this since we started building robots, and now I have a team of people where I work who can help out with the development by providing me with support and ideas.

Im not sure how much the IBC controller costs.

What microprocessor are you using. Im thinking of using a PIC (PIC18F6520) as it has a good amount of flash and has separate RAM and EEPROM space so you can re-write the software on the fly (for upgrading etc)

Thanks for all the info

Dave

Dave, if you could just produce a controller that fused the IBC with the GT H-6 (ie a 40amp current limitied 2 channel controller) youll be on a winner. Dont worry about all the fancy sh*t at the moment - concentrate on getting a controller that works, thats well tested and idiot proof......

... once youve got that going, then think about the fancy stuff.

Ooh, optoisolation is a must for the RX !

Ed
http://www.teamstorm.comhttp://www.teamstorm.com

Im using a atMega 8 micro and a cpld. I have no faith in software current limiting so I€™m hardwiring that. Same goes for the dead band timing.
Im still working on the board. Once I€™m fully satisfied I€™m going to make a few prototypes in a couple of weeks and the slow process of programming and testing begins. In the end it should be a very versatile product, which can be reprogrammed to do all sorts of different things.
Eds right, opto-isolation is useful.

sorry Paul, what controller was that?!?

Dave for price comparison the IBC cost £179:50 in the UK from featherweights.org.

Definately opto isolated.
Selector for BEC cause some people might still not want to use it.

Ive always thought that it would be a good idea to have receiver speed controllers and maybe even a gyro all on one board. To safe all that messy wiring which adds to reliability and noise problems and reduce the size of the overall package and make it really idiot proof. But I think it would make sense to get a simpler model working first.

Richard
Team Mayhem

As Ed says anything as good as the GT speedcontroller range would be great. Extra weapon relay useful. Neat little package, cased maybe.

Im desperate for a small unidirectional 24v speedcontroller for my feather BlacknBlue. (the vertical disc weapon)A Single channel that can handle peaks of about 75Amps. Team Delta sell the Victor I think, but its only in the US and about £120

Excellent suggestions. I will start work on the design soon. Any more will still be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Dave

hi dave i found this scheamatic as im making a featherweight speed controler as part of my electronics course all you need to do is add an h bridge on the end and it shoud be very good

http://www.barello.net/Papers/RCtoPWM/RC%20Speed%20Control%20brd.gifhttp://www.barello.net/Papers/RCtoPW...trol%20brd.gif

Really like the idea of a remote cut-off if its manegable, But with all these features, I cant see your speedo being the smallest of things? Good luck though:)

Itll be aproximately 6x8x4 cm. Ofcourse youll need 2 and a relay.