these great features, even
expanding on some of them
as the 5V battery eliminator
is now incorporated into
every speed controller at the
same price of the first
version, sans BEC. What’s
probably the most
prominent new feature on
this revision is the addition
of a calibration function,
setting the trim dead on,
and eliminating the need for
any adjustment on the
transmitter end. The method
is simple — it uses the two
header pins and a small jumper
(both seen on the back of the ESC in
Photo 1) to move into calibration
mode. The calibration function is
also accompanied by a new set of
status LEDs indicating the calibration
process, as well as a directional
signal. The only downside with any
PHOTO 2. Though the robot is a
bit bigger than where TinyESCs
are usually used, I needed the
weight, and the new TinyESCs
delivered; they didn’t show a
hiccup even when running the
hot wound B-series motors in
a three pound robot!
of these new features is the . 5
grams increase in weight and . 4”
increase in length due to the
addition of the calibration header
pins. Nonetheless, for the space and
weight paranoid (as I myself am
with smaller bots), this menial
increase can be dealt with easily by
trimming the pins after
the calibration is set up.
MANUFACTURING:
Calculating B lt Torques
● by Matthew Spurk with Katherine Kelly
Sparks fly as the two robots mash into each other again.
Sweat drips down your forehead as
you prepare for another charge
across the arena. It’s been a good
battle, but you definitely have had
the upper hand landing several
solid blows, but your opponent is
tough. He takes the blows and
keeps coming back for more. The
announcer calls out “one minute
remaining in the bout.” A few
seconds later, you notice that
your robot is beginning to pull to
one side when you try going
forward. Oh No! You’ve lost your
right side drive. There’s still 40
seconds in the match and now your
opponent has a distinct advantage.
You struggle to keep the weapon
pointed at him, but with 20
seconds left in the match the wheel
slips off the end of the motor shaft.
Your opponent proceeds to make
full box slams across the arena,
and you’re helpless to stop them.
Time expires and it goes to a judge’s
decision. You enter the arena and
disable your bot, then do the walk
of shame across the arena to
gather that missing wheel. The
judges turn in a split decision and
it’s not in your favor. You manage a
valiant shrug, shake your
opponent’s hand with a smile, and
head out of the arena. As you pull
your bot back to the pits you hear
the calls of “unlucky” and “tough
break” from your fellow
competitors, but you know, deep
down, that they’re wrong.
SERVO 12.2010 29
