We need more power Scotty
MarkCrCo
Posts: 89
"I'm givin it all she's got Captain"
My robot is doing a great job of sweeping the floors now but.. He doesn't have enough power to finish the job. With brand new batteries (4 AAA) he runs great. He only has a 3 inch brush to clean with so it takes multiple passes around to get the whole room. As the batteries fade he starts doing resets when he has to turn around. Turning around requires him to back up away from the obstacle (usually a wall) and turn until he can find a clear path. I'm sure it is the servos having to restart in a new direction with older batteries that is causing the issue. I tried the suggestion of running a "large" capacitor across the servo power wires but I'm using the BOE with the servos in the separate connections and not on the bread board. My bread board is full so moving them over there isn't an option. I crammed the leads of the capacitors into the wiring harness. I'm not sure if they are making a good connection that way. My guess at what would be a large capacitor was 1.0 uf. Anyone have any suggestions on batteries that would last longer or how I can make the ones I'm using not fade as quickly?
http://youtu.be/YkEaQaBjjkQ
My robot is doing a great job of sweeping the floors now but.. He doesn't have enough power to finish the job. With brand new batteries (4 AAA) he runs great. He only has a 3 inch brush to clean with so it takes multiple passes around to get the whole room. As the batteries fade he starts doing resets when he has to turn around. Turning around requires him to back up away from the obstacle (usually a wall) and turn until he can find a clear path. I'm sure it is the servos having to restart in a new direction with older batteries that is causing the issue. I tried the suggestion of running a "large" capacitor across the servo power wires but I'm using the BOE with the servos in the separate connections and not on the bread board. My bread board is full so moving them over there isn't an option. I crammed the leads of the capacitors into the wiring harness. I'm not sure if they are making a good connection that way. My guess at what would be a large capacitor was 1.0 uf. Anyone have any suggestions on batteries that would last longer or how I can make the ones I'm using not fade as quickly?
http://youtu.be/YkEaQaBjjkQ
Comments
If you're going to build robots, you want rechargeable batteries.
I have one of Parallax's Li-Ion packs with is great but I tend you use LiPo packs made for RC vehicles in most of my robots. LiPo packs aren't too expensive if you get them online from HobbyKing.