Power/failsafe LED

[blazerbotics]

i thought there would be a unit out there. The dual one would be great for invertables.

[leorcc]

according to the rules, what exactly would this system need to do?

i know they are advisory, but while im busy making splinter FRA compliant, i want to do this at the same time.

[jim]

My interpretation is, the power light is on whenever power is availble to a component or system with a physical actuator, such as a drive motor or a pnuematic valve. For example, Cayenne has the removeable links between all the power systems and battery negative, so I would connect the power light between battery positive and the side of the link not connected to battery negative.

The failsafe light is on when no valid signal is received from a transmitter.

Is this correct?

[babeth]

I guess the most prudent thing would be to put it where you can always see it (or almost always). Example: Tough As Nails has one that you can always see glowing no matter if the robot is upside down or not.

[roger_plant]

I have a new decoder that may solve the POWER/FAILSAFE lights problem.
It is part of my 459 Mhz radio control ststem.
It has two LEDs, one red and one green.

Flashing Red LED means the power is on but no valid radio control signal is being received, steady red means a good signal is being received.

Flashing green means failsafes are not set, steady green means they are set.

This PIC decoder can be programmed (by me) for Futaba PCM signals or standard PPM signals, up to 12 channels.
The PPM version has built in failsafes for all channels.
The PCM version works with the Futaba 6 and 9 channel PCM transmitters.
We are working on a JR PCM compatible version.
It is part of my latest 459 Mhz radio control receiver.
email rp@bigc.moycom.co.uk

[teamchip]

What will be the price though Roger?

Agreed your UHF systems are excellent but financially only available to teams with lots of dosh.

I have just bought a Muliplex 259mhz Tx and Rx off a model flying friend for £50...hope to have it up and running once I get a minute spare.

Good luck with all your UHF stuff

Tom

[jim]

With no disrespect to Roger - I think the problem here is with definitions, rather than technology.

The term failsafes are set means nothing to a system such as mine. Fail safe is something I build into a system, not a component. I can understand this in terms of the actual unit called a failsafe but not all robots use these.

What these lights mean needs to be set by the arena operators, not by robot builders, as these are the people who will rely on these lights when its most important. I feel we need more explicit rules for these lights.

[leorcc]

I agree with Jim, something for the FRA agenda?