Sidewinder available through Xbotz.com

Features


Size: 108mm x 82mm x 28mm (4.25 x 3.23 x 1.1) without optional mounting brackets
Weight: 365 grams (13 oz.) as shown
Voltage: 14V to 48V Supply voltage (50V absolute max, down to 6V with external 12V supply)
Current: 80A continuous each channel (150A peak 5 seconds)
Current Limiting: Adjustable from 10A to 130A (sets the limit for both channels)
Over Temp Limiting: fixed at 200F or 93C each channel independently sensed
Four quadrant operation with regenerative braking
Thermal Control: MOSFETs mounted to 0.5 Aluminum bars bolted to case (see below). No fans required.
Indicator LEDs: Speed and direction of each motor channel and general signal status
Receiver battery eliminator circuit (BEC) standard - may be disabled. Provides up to 100 mA of current at 5V to the RC receiver and other attached electronic circuits
Command Format: R/C pulse standard, TTL serial optional
Calibrate button to match Sidewinder to radio or other R/C signal source
R/C Inputs: Left/Steer, Right/Throttle, Flip (inverts steering response when activated)
Drive Modes selected via jumpers:
Left/Right Mix (default - right input acts as steering and left as throttle)
Mixed Mirror Left (left mixed output command sent to both output channels)
Mixed Mirror Right
Left/Right independent (Tank)
Mirror (both outputs mirror a single input)
Failsafe shuts off motor if R/C signal is lost
Six high-current wires (2 battery, 2 each motor) may be soldered or attached via #8 bolt and ring terminals
Expansion header for planned on-board radio tranceiver and single axis gyro (future). May be used for other special add-ons
FLASH-based microcontroller with upgradeable software via in-circuit programming header. Software may be customized for unique applications. Contact us if you have special needs for your application.

email me for more info or
see http://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.htmlhttp://www.robotpower.com/products/sidewinder_info.html
Available to buy on http://www.xbotz.comwww.xbotz.com
£270 delivered

My heavyweight robot, Wheely big cheese uses this controller, and doesnt even break a sweat.

Does your robot use this controller????
Let me know, Id like to put a pic of your robot on my website as a robots who use

*****update*****

It was recently reported by a number of roboteers that when changing from 40mhz control to the 2.4ghz Spektrum, their robot appeared slower, or less powerful.

If you feel this might apply to your robot, you can try the 3 things below, and it should cure the sluggish tendency completely.

1... re-calibrate your sidewinder to the new controller. This is easily done, you can get the instructions on how to do this here
http://www.robotpower.com/downloads/http://www.robotpower.com/downloads/
This has been found in the past, to cure 99% of all reported problems, and it is surprising how recalibration can keep your robot in peak condition. It is recommended you do this if changing radio controllers for sure, as there can be big differences, but also on the first morning of every event, as it sets your robot up to the specific atmospheric conditions on that day, maximizing the controller setup for maximum performance. It is a small tweek, but in competition, everything gained is a plus.

2.... check you current limter is set correctly. Having it set too low makes your robot seem heavy and slugish. Be careful not to set too high though, or to switch off completely.

3..... check your slew setting. This is your acceleration ramp adjustment, and setting it too low makes your robot seem heavy and sluggish. Adjust to your personal driving preference.

Please keep all your feedback coming, email me with any information, technical observations, or problems, to ensure we keep the sidewinder at the top of the robot speed controller range.

Heavyweight Robots using a sidewinder over here.

Hades.
Tough As Nails.
Perlito.
Obsidian.

And probably more to follow.

RCC2 as well

It might be also helpfull to put the servo travel to 125% on the Spektrum TX according to Kenny and Gary, that may do the trick to.

I still have a sidewinder in stock and available if anyone wants it?

£275 deivered UK (add postage at cost for European)

email me if you want it.

might need a couple if the price is right

Message to all customers waiting on sidewinder repairs (froim UK champs and other)

I spoke to Royal Mail today, about a missing package, containing the sidewinder shipment for repair. Despite their assurance for the last week that it was never signed for in the US so was returned to sender, it now seems it never left the UK. This is both good and bad news....

Good news... Royal Mail have agreed to compensate me for the error, (which is most likely due to the workers strikes, and so their fault), so all repairs are now free postage. (unless additional costs incured above standard shipping to UK) This just leaves the repair costs will be made known to you as soon as I know.

Bad news, time has been wasted. I will contact the repairer to prioritise those controllers given to me first, or borrowed from others, and to request an asap on these, but it has delayed things. My appologies.

If anyone has further questions, please feel free to email me.

As a stock update, Im out of sidewinders right now, so if you need one, it may be up to 28 days from purchase while I order more.

Update.
I have no sidewinders left in stock right now.
I am not planning to order in any sidewinders before Christmas unless a couple of people want one?
If you need a sidewinder for early 2008, get in touch please so I can plan the next batch.
Cheers
James

nearly said something i thought best not to

And once again the plot thickens. Another person has been waiting for his damaged sidewinder to turn up for half a year. Another one lost in the post James ?

Hi Guys,

Due to numerous issues getting sidewinders repaired overseas, particularly with regard to shipping, James has taken the step of asking if I would become the UK repair centre for Sidewinders. I have accepted this task and thus life should now become much easier for roboteers who require repairs.
I have received several sidewinders which have been recovered from the states and formed a batch of faulty product due for repair. I would like to hear from anyone who has a sidewinder with James for repair and I will confirm with those individuals that I have their unit/s and when they will get repaired.

Anyone who has a unit which needs repair which they have not yet returned then please get in touch with me to arrange this. Please note that due to the backlog, and the fact Im very busy!, there will be a delay before I can complete your repair.

Roboteers will be responsible for all shipping costs incurred from this point forward, however James has very kindly covered the cost of the the two failed shipments to the states to make up for the inconvenience of the delay (and is very much out of pocket as a result). This means those of you with units already with James for repair will only need to pay for a UK shipment from me to you once the repair is complete. I will require payment for the cost of the repair and shipping to be received before I will send the units.

Before anyone asks, I do not repair any other controller types. If you have a broken Vantec, Roboteq or anything else dont ask me about it. I stopped repairing these owing to their unreliability and difficulty of repair. It simply isnt worth the effort most of the time!

I look forward to hearing from those of you with faulty sidewinders....

Best regards,
David Gamble.
Team Tornado.

That is great news Dave. I have passed the message on to the DRG forum since we use Sidewinders quite a bit.

Does this also apply to Scorpions as well?

James has very kindly covered the cost of the the two failed shipments to the states

james if it is a failed shipment you can get a refund no problem, i should know as i worked in export for many years, then roboteers wont have to pay shipment going forward if you sort your refund your should be entitiled to?.

recovered from the states or never sent at all ?

hi guys, Im back at home for a while.
If anyone has anything to say to Dave, as he said above, please contact him.
Otherwise, e-mail me.
Pointless posts here are unneccessary.
thanks, and Ill not be responding on this thread again.
James