Untitled Hoverboard Project

fxrtst

USA
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As promised I've started a separate thread on this. I had mentioned over at my Alan thread that I was thinking about using hoverboard motors for a rolling base for the full bodies of Alan and Alena. These motors are super cheap at about $25 a piece on ebay. They are 3 phase just like the 3 phase hobby motors for cars and planes. So there should be driver support for them.....well yes and kinda no.

I have been watching a motor controller called the ODrive. Its all open source (hardware and software) and its a dual motor driver. I posted a video of these motors on a grocery cart driving around using hoverboard motors. So I bought an Odrive. I ended up buying a whole hoverboard so I could use the charger, battery and some of the connectors. This one came from Frys and cost $100. Its good upto 265 pounds.

Well now the bad. The ODrive is still a work in progress and not too intuitive. But they have a good write up on how to set them up with the hall effects encoders. All went well until I tried to save out to the board. Over and over again i could not get it to work right. I posted on the forums and got no reply back as to what the issue could be. So after days I began looking for another solution. 

I found a great source in china that is making opensource stuff for skate boards. The got 2 single motor drivers. Each one has a standard servo connector and i can use two of them for mixed mode (tank mode). Each board costs $85. So its a bit more than the ODrive ($150 with shipping for the 48 volt ver.)

The name of the board is the FSESC 4.12 50A Based on VESC 4.12 from Flipsky ESC.  And can be found here: Flipsky ESC

This controller can be completely programmed with their really great software..automatically figures out all the poles for the phases. Set up the frequency for the pwm and even have shut offs for voltage mins etc. They have a good youtube channel with vids on how to set up everything.

I have the video of the break down of the hoverboard done. As soon as I get these control boards I will be doing tests with the ezb to control them. Then I'll put together a final video and post here.

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PRO
USA
#124   — Edited
Yeah I ran it off the vesc for my go cart project, but if you want to power the Tiny with full voltage like 7.4volts for other accessories like hobby servos etc you could use another battery or find a BEC that could drop the voltage from 36 v to 7.4v like the Castle BEC Pro. It’s pricey at $40 but I swear by them. Great products. You could then just use the signal and ground from the VESC’s.
#125  
I had originally planned to use a 17 ah 12 volt battery to run the whole robot power and a second battery of the same capacity for the drive motors. Since I have the 36 volt battery for the drive I am all set with the drive needs. Maybe I will buy 1 battery and 2 of the BEC, 1 for 7.4 volt and 1 for 5 volt for everything else. Do you remember the current ratings ?
PRO
USA
#126  
You could get the Bec Pro ( rated 50v 20 amps I believe) and they sell smaller ones much cheaper you could use to drop down the voltage even further ( below 7.4v). They have a programmer  you connect to your computer via usb and you can program the BEC voltage drop to anything you like.
#127  
Thanks, I'll check it out.

Work has become busy, so no setup or tests yet.
I hope I get to play before I have to leave for Arizona.
PRO
USA
#128  
Ahh good ole real life getting in the way of robotics...
#129  
Yeah... Antonn is real mad at me.. I can tell because he won't even talk to me.
#130  
Hooray. .... All is running and running well. Just as Will said, a piece of cake.. I lowered my Duty Cycle to 5% so I can mess in my basement office without "denting stuff". LOL   I can't play anymore 'cause work is calling but fun will be had when I get back from my trip.

Thanks Will.
PRO
USA
#131  
Congrats! Glad I was able to help!
#132  
By the way, Can I borrow Liam if he gets out this way?
PRO
USA
#133   — Edited
He sure should be an expert by then...I have the car seat bolted to the hoverboard now. So as soon as it stops raining (next 8 days :/ ) we plan to take it out on its first maiden voyage, helmet on..and some kinda duct tape seat belt systemxD
#134   — Edited
I will be interesting how the additional weight effects the performance. I wish Liam good luck too.
#135  
I just realized, if you point him in an easterly direction he would get here sooner or later.
PRO
USA
#136  
hehehe true!

Yeah I'm fully expecting to have to change the % to something in the 25% to 30% range with the added weight of rider and chair.
#137   — Edited
Making a hoverboard is a very difficult task. You have done a great project.
#138  
Fxrtst is the ACE of robotics. He continues to amaze.
#139  
@fxrtst also deserves a lot of thanks, for always sharing his projects and adventures with all of us.
#140  
@fxrtst,

do you know If the hover board will work with a sabertooth 2x25To control each wheel/motor?I know the max voltage is 33.6 V for the saber tooth, there’s other motors out there that would work but they only hold 60 pounds and I would like to have a lot higher Weight limit for the robot.Also I believe the hover board has an encoder built-in which would help with controlling the movements of the robot in the distance Interns traveled.

Thanks in advance,merne
PRO
USA
#141  
I don’t know much about the saber tooth. But I can tell you that hoverboard motors are run on 3 phase. So you need 3 phase controllers. The controllers I have in videos on YouTube use a 3phase controller that are used in skateboards. 

there are many advantages to using the software to program them like continual consistent speed up and down hills, and to increase speed to get the mass to move at consistent speeds and even break regeneration for the battery.
PRO
Canada
#143  
Looks like we might have some spam here, as video thumbnail maker doesn't really relate to hacking hoverboards