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Fluba
Geek!
United Kingdom
437 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Oct 2005 : 09:03:23
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if you do design the PMM, can you give it support for multiple batteries? i'm going to be running of 3*7AH batteries, not sure if i can just charge them in serial, for a single 21AH
PMU & Synaptics => Motor controllers
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Emergency microswitches
seems like it'd work for the basic drive system
Bob(2)
www.thinkl33t.com |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2005 : 21:37:02
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Yeah can do,
How are you thinking of using the batteries, one / two for motors then the other fort he ITX / mobo? If it’s just to get more current the use a bigger battery, it’s the best way. It ensures it charges ok
The other thing is, how many people want to run motors from 12 and how many from 24 Volts?
Al
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk |
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JamesC
Geek!
United Kingdom
394 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2005 : 23:21:22
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My vote is for 12 volt power to the motors, although I do have a cople of wheelcair motors that run on 24V but they are real amp guzzlers.
It would seem to make sense to define common communication protocols for each function we require. If we want to build a board that combines several functions they can each be addressed individually. If we want to build a separate board for each function it will use the same language. This way we can mix and match, we can all design modules that will interface with others.
Regards
James |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2005 : 10:16:49
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Hi James,
It’s a good point, we have the basic packet outlines done, we just need to produce a dedicated document for each module now.
I updated the communications document a while ago (only just uploaded it), which now defines the unit identity of speed controllers, sensor boards, PMM and a servo controller.
So just need to create documents for the modules now, which as yet I have not done for the PMM and speed controllers which I’m working on. But at least this should give enough information for people to start designing their own bits.
The new documents at http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk/robux-plans.html
Regards.
Al..
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk |
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Fluba
Geek!
United Kingdom
437 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2005 : 12:50:43
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The link for the data comms board doesnt seem to work :(
any chance of a PDF version of that?
With the batteries, my original plan was to have them switchable. have one powering the ITX & electronics, and one powering the mtors... whichever runs low first gets switched out for the full one, but now i'm thinking i'll assign one to each motor, and one to the electronics. I get paid monday, so i'll be able to get the ITX board & CF card to boot it off then :)
Bob(2)
www.thinkl33t.com |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
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Fluba
Geek!
United Kingdom
437 Posts |
Posted - 31 Oct 2005 : 16:38:55
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OK, bought my epia and cf card, the cf-ide adapter has arrived, i would have bought the PSU too, but the payment gateway wasnt working on the site i was getting it off :(
Bob(2)
www.thinkl33t.com |
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Agog
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
763 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2005 : 10:20:17
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nybody else seen these
DIPEx a database of people's experience of illness
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Agog
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
763 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2005 : 11:08:17
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I've just bought one, so I'll post a review when I get it. It get's better though, this is a case tha's coming out for it http://www.acmesystems.it/?id=21 how cool is that, a linux penguin driver for the robot 
DIPEx a database of people's experience of illness
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suzo
Serious Geek!
Australia
1360 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2005 : 14:11:04
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Wow, that is tiny! I will look forward to your review.
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BB
Junior Member
United Kingdom
70 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2006 : 23:46:30
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Hi all,
Apologies first if this is the wrong thread for this but it seemed close.
I've recently been given a pair of Nova 600 5.25" embedded PC control boards {http://tinyurl.com/rfvz5}, both fitted with an AMD K6-300MHz cpu, 64Mb RAM and a 750Mb 2.5" HDD each, I know they're not in the same league as a mini ITX, but I can't complain for a pair of freebies.
I first thought I'd use one to learn/play with Linux and maybe have another go at C programming. So I've put one in an old AT case, installed Puppy Linux {http://www.goosee.com/puppy/}, loaded on their GCC developer package and managed to get Fabrice Bellard's Tiny C Compiler {http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/tcc/} up and running {but I'm not quite sure how I did it}.
Now I'm thinking that maybe I could use the other board for the brains of a robot, like Robux, with webcam vision maybe, using the first board for code development and as a remote link to the robot.
The first step for me is to power this second board from a SLA battery. Using a DVM in the +5v and the +12v supply lines {it only uses these two supplies via a 4 pin Molex adaptor}, it peaks at just under 5A and 0.25A respectively whilst booting up, quickly settling down to 2A and 0.2A when running. I'm thinking of getting one of these DC-DC PSUs from LinITX.com :-
http://linitx.com/product_info.php?cPath=24_55&products_id=770
Do you think this will do the job, or am I asking for trouble?
What's the rest of you using?
Any suggestions for anything better/cheaper?
Brian. |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2006 : 19:40:09
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Hi Brian,
The Linitx PSU should be fine for that, it should have power protection anyhow.
Nice looking boards.
Reminds me I must get around to doing some more work on this, just too many other projects keep getting in the way, like the baja and the company etc.
Sorry for the late reply,
Regards.
Al.
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk
http://www.qtronics.net - Electronics and Firmware Design Consultants |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 21 Sep 2006 : 13:06:27
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Hi all,
Just thought I’d pop in for a quick message. Been a long time I know.
Has anyone been doing any work on the Robux project recently?
I’ve got a bit of spare time on my hands now so hope to make a bit of a push on with this. Does anyone need any specific modules designed?
Oh and btw if anyone needs any design work in general, check out my new company, Qtronics Design Ltd, www.qtronics.net
Cheers.
Al.
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk
http://www.qtronics.net - Electronics and Firmware Design Consultants |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 23 Dec 2006 : 21:45:52
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Hi all,
Been doing some work on both on my Robux chassis and on the website,
Chassis coming together nicely now (although I’ve got go and collect from France, moved back to England now). Got to get some pneumatic fittings for it and a mini compressor, ebay here I come!
Web, got the CMS up and running for http://www.robux.co.uk now, so everyone can document there builds and contributions to the project, I’m also encouraging related projects to join and add information about there project etc, come to that anything related to robotics is good.
Al.
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk - Robotics Site
http://www.qtronics.net - Electronics and Firmware Design Consultants
http://www.bajabeetle.co.uk - The Place for Aircooled addicts |
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AlsRobotics
Geek!
United Kingdom
347 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 13:40:59
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Oh yes how time fly’s, lol
Been thinking about this project recently and I’m starting to make progress on it again.
I’m changing the chassis design, taking it down to a 2wd instead of 4wd, and designing a torso for it, so it can have a head and arms etc. I’ll post up some cad designs later maybe.
Been thinking about the main brain, the itx, and I might just use a standard mini 240 psu and an inverter, would be cheaper that way and it might be handy to have 240 onboard for something at some stage, and the other thing is that we then have a nice high current 5 volt rail
More to come.
Al.
http://www.alsrobotics.co.uk - Robotics Site
http://www.qtronics.net - Electronics and Firmware Design Consultants
http://www.bajabeetle.co.uk - The Place for Aircooled addicts
http://www.robux.co.uk - Open Source Robotics |
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Topic |
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Robux Project, the PC robot 
