olegodo
Hi. I am curious if the EZ-Robot hardware and software might be a good solution as a control system for my underwater ROV that I am building.
Although I have tried to create something using arduino myself, the programming is really a steep learning curve for me.
I will be running a wired Ethernet connection from the surface and have a wifi hot spot in the rov to allow connection to the bv4. It must control 9 brushless esc's. 6 for movement (thrusters) and 3 for a robotic arm. Also one servo for moving the camera vertically. The esc's use the same signal as servo's do, so I don't think this will be a problem.
I will also need to control 3 relays.
I have this unit for sensing battery voltage and current draw: https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/attopilot-voltage-and-current-sense-breakout-180a.html This can be connected to the ADC pins correct? This is made for 3.3volts, but can it still be used maybe?
I have this IMU from OpenROV that I want to use:
http://store.openrov.com/collections/frontpage/products/openrov-imu-depth-module
I see there already is support for the MPU-9150 chip. But is it possible to also get the depth and temperature rating from the MS5803-14BA chip?
I want all to be controlled with a gamepad/joystick. This means that multiple motors must react differently to stick movements. For instance, if I want the ROV to turn in place. 2 motors must turn clockwise and two counterclockwise.
Would all this be possible to do?
Br Ole
So just a suggestion but why not use a DC to DC converter to power just the ezb, drop that 16.8v down to a manageable 14.8v I have them avail if you need one at a reasonable cost.
Yes, I could do that. But I was hoping I could use the internal voltage sensor to tell me the voltage of the batteries without having to add more hardware.
The ez-b has a voltage sensor. It can be accessed through ARCs v4 info panel control. Not sure what it is called exactly.
I like the principles of this. Though, one point is anything that gets plugged into the ez-bs digital pins will be getting 16.8v. You must regulate the ez-b or the assesories down to the voltage they need. Regulating the ez-b needs a high amperage regulator running at a voltage the attached modules need. If you regulate each module(in the event they use different voltages) you need to regulate the power from the ez-b before it hits the module. Regulators can be bought in the store, or you can buy regulators from eBay or some other source.
I have tested my brushless esc's with my ez-b now and they work nicely
However I am having some troubles with my relays. It turns on, but not off again, to make it turn off I have to reboot the ez-b. I have measured the signal pin on the ez-b to rule out that there is a problem with the relay itself. I also tried different ports. I have tried using the "set digital" control and buttons on my gamepad. The scripts I have tried using on the gamepad buttons are:
"Set (D0,ON)" "Set (D0,OFF)" "ToggleDigital (D0)"
Am I doing something wrong? confused
Can you ensure that you haven't also used that port since last power on for servo or PWM? Because if you used the port for something else, it will not be happy to be used for two things at once unless that's what you want to do.
Check to ensure nothing else is using port D0
Someone else was having this issue recently. I think they solved it with a pull-up resistor or capacitor. I can't find the thread, but I haven't searched too hard either (answering from my phone).
Alan
@olegodo.
I think Alan was referring to my thread as I had a very similar issue. There are different kinds of relays like latching and toggle ones (which sounds like what you need), and the one I was using had the same problems as what you're having.
Richard R very kindly linked to a relay brick that is fairly cheap, and is simple plug 'n' play with a 5v regulator to a digital port, and this relay works really well using SET(D0, ON and SET(D0, OFF commands.
Hope that helps.
Yup, that is the thread. My memory is shot this week. Didn't remember that I had participated in that thread.
Alan