Transcript Robot Kits Steve Maier Heartland BEST Kit Committee Chair 5 Things to pick up before you leave today: Returnables –yellow toolbox Returnables –black carry case Consumables –black.

Robot Kits
Steve Maier
Heartland BEST
Kit Committee Chair
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5 Things to pick up before
you leave today:
Returnables –yellow toolbox
Returnables –black carry case
Consumables –black SUV chest
Consumables –PVC pipe
Consumables –plywood
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Kit Types
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“Consumables”
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May be modified however you see fit
May be replenished, but NOT
supplemented!
“Returnables” & “Drive Components”
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May NOT be altered:
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No cutting
No painting
No gluing
•No Velcro Attached
•Do not cut or solder servo
wires or servo extensions
•Do not solder anything to
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the BRAIN
The BRAIN
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BEST
Robotics
Advanced
Instruction
Node
BRAIN Power
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
The battery just plugs into the Battery Input
lead.
Turning your BRAIN on
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
The power switch and fuse is physically
smaller, but serves the normal function.
Smart Motors
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
Motor wire leads should be tinned and inserted into the Phoenix connectors
Do not completely remove the screws from the Phoenix connectors!
Servos Galore . . .
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
Servo connectors just plug into the servo output housing.
These are keyed, so reversing polarity should not be an issue.
BRAIN Waves
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
Each team will be provided a “Receiver Box” instead of
just a receiver as in the past. It plugs in here; nice
and snug.
Downloading to your BRAIN
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
This is where the USB cable needs to be attached
when downloading new programming to your BRAIN
BRAIN Signals
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
These connections serve as switches signaling motors and servos to turn
on/off or change their functions. Entirely optional—selecting “switches” in
the Wizard and/or additional programming is required to use this feature.
Fastening your BRAIN to the
Robot
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
Use only the mounting holes of the plastic base to fasten the
BRAIN to your robot
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Do NOT use Velcro to attach the BRAIN to your robot and do not over
tighten the mounting screws
BRAIN Tether
Motor
Output
1
6
4
Servo
Output
1
Battery
Input
USB
Programming
Port
Power
Switch
Fuse
1
Digital Input
& Passthrough Power
Direct Tether Input
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8
G
B
Receiver Input
Only teams advancing to Frontier Trails BEST 6
weeks from now need to worry about this.
The Good News:
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All of the electronics are now in a single unit, making
things easier
Your BRAIN will work out of the box
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Don’t shy away from experimental programming!
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With all four motors speed controlled!
You can always reload the default programming
The Wizard is easy to use!
Optionally, code (in “C”) can be cut and pasted into the
compiler!
A LOT of support documentation is online, and we’re
here to help as best we can
A Quick Run-Through for
Uploading to your BRAIN
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Decide on what motors and servos to use and what
their functions are
Use the Wizard unto create a “wizardgen.h” file that
matches your robot’s needs
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Do not rename this file—instead, place it in a folder with a
descriptive name
Open IAR Workbench program
Open a workspace using “wizard.eww” file
Open the “wizardgen.h” file within workspace
Choose “Rebuild All” under Project menu item
Choose “Boot Load via USB” under Tools menu item
Open a Workspace First . . .
Then open wizard.eww file
The BRAIN
Wizard works
within IAR,
independently
from IAR and
even online!
A Quick Run-Through for
Uploading to your BRAIN
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...
Open the “wizardgen.h” file within workspace
Choose “Rebuild All” under Project menu item
Choose “Boot Load via USB” under Tools
menu item
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Turn the BRAIN OFF and unplug the battery
Make sure the BRAIN is connected
Downloading takes about 20 seconds
Thanks for the Memory!
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BRAIN washed
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BRAIN freeze
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Units are reprogrammed by overwriting the flash
memory (so only one program file can be loaded
to the BRAIN at a time)
If your BRAIN freezes up, try loading the program
again and make sure you give it time to download
completely
BRAIN storm!
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As easy as it is to program, experiment with
variations to push the limit for your machine!
More comments on BRAIN
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Secure the box to your robot using only the
mounting ears on the box
Do not over tighten mounting screws
Protect it from impacts
Do Not Open!
Do Not Paint!
Be creative!
Returnable Kit
Please respect
the equipment
by taking care
of it. It keeps
our costs down
(and is just plain
good practice,
too!).
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Drive Kit and Misc. Parts
You may only
modify the
parts that are
circled:
The 3 ft. long drive belt
Servo horns
Servo mounting hardware
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Bad Battery
-Don’t leave unattended on the charger
-Don’t use or charge if hot (warm is ok)
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How to clamp a motor
Note: Please take care in soldering to the terminal posts of
the motors; DO NOT bend or twist them, they break easily.
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About Returnable Spare
Parts
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There is no guarantee on spare parts
Spare parts for kits are by exchange
only (arrange a time and date to
meet with me)
Document the problem (typed in an
email)
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Advice (teamwork):
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Work in groups tackling separate issues
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Have a rules specialist in each group
Be sure these groups are in constant
communication
Step back every once and a while and
try to see the “big picture”
KEEP IT FUN!
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Advice (robot design):
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Engineer your robot to be durable
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Engineer your robot to be versatile
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Strong
Easy to maintain/repair
Good electrical connections
Accomplish more than one task well
Flexibility in strategy (change at a moment’s
notice—modular design???)
Step back every once and a while and try to
see the “big picture”
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Advice (construction):
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Solder electrical connections to switches and
motors!
“Tin” wires that will plug into the BRAIN
Measure twice, cut once
Step back every once and a while and try to
see the “big picture”
Create a stand for your robot
Plan to stay well within the 24”x24”x24” and
24 lb constraint—you may need the ‘extra’
room later
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Summary of Differences
(from other hubs):
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Use of neck strap is mandatory
Heartland BEST is NOT using the tether
system, so in your kits there will be no tether
cable in your kit
Teams advancing to Frontier Trails
BEST will be given a tether cable at
the close of Game Day
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Returning the “Returnables”
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At the close of the competition of GAME
DAY, “returnables” are to be turned in
to Heartland BEST
Teams wishing to keep their robots
intact for temporary display/show will
be required to fill out a form for
approval
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Final Notes:
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The 4” PVC is green. . . It’s one foot longer
for ease in distribution (do not use the
coupler end and use no more than a total of
4 feet of 4” PVC).
Some segments of other PVC have a coupler
end. DO NOT USE the coupled end.
Ask questions! (coaches, other team
members, BEST Inc. Q&A, other teams, or
email me [email protected] )
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