What is Electronics?

Power and control system of the robot Includes the battery, computer, circuit

breakers, various power controllers, and wires

Computer sends signals to power controllers, which allow or restrict power to their assigned robot component

Electronic System Components

Computer Circuit Breaker(s) Victors Spikes Batteries Main Power Switch Grounding Stud Power Distribution block Sensors

Computer

Brain of the robot Relays information from programming or

sensors with either PWM or relay cables Has backup power source-little blue battery

Circuit Breakers

Prevent power surges by limiting amount of power flow

Amount of flow allowed based on fuses Come in 20, 30, and 40 amp 40 amp always used for drive motors Otherwise depends on specific power needs of

system

Victors

Used for motors mostly 1 victor per motor

Variable settings Require 40 amp fuse in circuit breaker

Spikes

Used for compressor, pistons, and some motors 1 per compressor 1 or 2 per piston

Act through solenoids in pneumatics system Motors must have at most 30 amp load and no

intermediate positions-not often used Breaker fuse is 20 or 30 amp depending on

power needed for each system

Batteries

Contain all power for the robot Are removable for charging

Connected to rest of power system with a power coupling

1 big battery for main power 1 small battery for computer

Main Power Switch

Controls all power from battery to robot Top button-off Side button-on Connected only to (+) wires

Grounding Stud

Final destination of all (-) wires Makes sure no power goes into the metal

robot

Power Distribution Block

Only way to make big wires smaller besides breakers

Splits power from one big wire into many smaller wires

Not always used on robot

Sensors

Gets information from surroundings and delivers messages to computers

Connects only to the computer and is there dealt with by the programming

Examples: camera, touch sensors, IR sensors, line sensors

We have not used them often

A Typical Electronics Diagram

Wiring parts

Wires have different sizes (gauges)

Connectors Different colors show different sizes

Blue<Red <Yellow (others are relatively obvious by sight)

We generally work with 3 different shapes Many types depending on way of attachment

Crimp and solder are two main kinds

Wiring Process

Attach all electronic components to a board-for us plastic

Know where wires go Measure length of wires-checking on the electronics

board multiple times-then cut Attach appropriate connectors-those that fit with the

components and wire size Attach wires to components If have time, organize wires and zip tie together to

look less jumbled

Rules for Wiring

(+) is usually a red wire (sometimes white) (-) is usually black wire (sometimes blue) Never directly connect a bigger wire to a smaller

wire Can always go through something like a power distribution

block or circuit breaker

Always surround connections with electrical tape When in doubt, look at the diagram or ask someone-

DO NOT TAKE CHANCES Chances can lead to electrical fires