New SES Rover

Lynxmotion Rovers, Sumo, and Tracked
41

I’ve decided to convert this SES Rover to use motors, instead of using the continuous rotation servos, for locomotion. I am pretty sure the rover weighs more than these servos will want to carry, especially since most of the weight is over the front wheels. This means I am going to have to add a third battery, for motor power, now. That’s not a problem, and I need a bit more weight in the rear end anyway. I’ll put the motor battery next to the servo battery, and move the 5V power pack towards the middle where there is space. I have a good place to mount the RoboClaw 2x5 motor controller already.

All I have to do to swap motor modules is untighten one set screw on each side, add the new motor modules, and tighten the set screws. I use tubing extensions to mount the motor modules, hich is what makes them so easy to swap. I’ll use improved construction methods for future robots.

This is a very modular robot! However, there are still a few things I would change on the chassis if I build another similar robot. It’s still not quite as modular, and easy to work on, as I would like it to be.

sesrover_two_complete_motor_modules.jpg
sesrover_two_complete_motor_modules.jpg3264×2448 2.13 MB

I’ll build another, smaller robot, that will use the Nubotics WheelCommander and WheelWatcher hardware I have, with the continuous rotation servo motors. I have a DFRobot Arduino Leonardo board that has an XBee socket, and a DFRobot Bluno (Arduino Uno with Bluetooth 4.0 LE) that would work well on a small robot. :slight_smile:

8-Dale

42

Will sure be more sturdy and reliable… :wink:

43

I was putting the SES Rover back together after reinforcing the electronics package at the rear of the chassis, and the magic smoke escaped from the SSC-32. :frowning: Those damn undersized terminal blocks make it nearly impossible not to short the power terminals. I have been telling Lynxmotion for years that these need to be bigger, beefier power terminals. Anyway, that SSC-32 is toast, and the only other one I have left that works is on W.A.L.T.E.R. now. I’d really like to be able to take at least one more of my robots to OSCON with A.R.T.I.E. later this month.

I’m going to move the SSC-32 on W.A.L.T.E.R. over to the SES Rover, and hope everything stays working. I already have the new motor modules installed, and the new RoboClaw 2x5 controller is wired up to the motors, and mounted on the electronics package. I just have to test the motors to make sure everything still works - everything was fine when it was off the robot. I still need to wire up the encoders too, but not until I know the motors still work as is.

8-Dale

44

Any thoughts as to what happened? Two power wires touched?

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I know exactly what happened. The screw terminals on the SSC-32 are too small for the wires used in the Lynxmotion WH-01 power switch harnesses (RB-Onl-12). You can not expect to stuff wires that large into a screw terminal that small and not have them short out at some point. This is not the first time this has happened to me, and I have several blown SSC-32 boards because of this. I’m starting to look for reasonable alternatives to the SSC-32, even though it is the best servo controller around.

8-Dale

46

We should have another option shortly - the SSC-32U. We’ll keep you posted.

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That would be wonderful!

8-Dale