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.
Other robots from Synthiam community
Ezang's Robot Hand / Fingers 1/5/2020
Cochranrobotics's Inmoov - D.Cochran Style
Yeah... Antonn is real mad at me.. I can tell because he won't even talk to me.
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.
Congrats! Glad I was able to help!
By the way, Can I borrow Liam if he gets out this way?
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 system
I will be interesting how the additional weight effects the performance. I wish Liam good luck too.
I just realized, if you point him in an easterly direction he would get here sooner or later.
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.