Punk Rock Crawling Dig Steer Computer

[PunkRC]

Hey everybody,
I just made the first few Dig Steer units. This is basically the same as the Punk Rock Crawling Steering Computer in looks, seen on www.clodmodracing.com, except it has one more wire and a small speaker hooked to the bottom.
THIS WILL WORK ON ANY RADIO SYSTEM!!! A spare toggle channel helps.
Here is what it does (from the website):
It is designed for dual motor electric trucks. You will need two speed controllers, one for front and back motors. (much like how guys do it with two sticks) This unit will turn the rear ESC to a user defined, near neutral or slow/braking, position when dig steer is activated. Turning on and off dig steer is done two ways: (1) By a combination of near neutral throttle and hard steering for a user defined delay, or (2) by a third (or similar) channel toggle switch. The PRC Dig Computer hooks into your receivers (1)ESC and Steering channel, or (2)ESC and Toggle Channel. It then provided the signals for the front and rear ESC's and a connector for the Steering/Toggle Channel. It features adjustable switch delay and adjustable rear ESC off position (some guys may want a little throttle or brake instead of off). It also features a audible tone for turn on and off notification as well as startup and configure tones
Any Questions of Thoughts????
If your are going to nationals in Utah this weekend and would like to run ths, send me an email
I will be doing a giveaway perhaps soon. If you already bought one, I will refund you in full. You can buy them on www.clodmodracing.com or email me directly. $52.00 USD for pre-orders, $60 after that. Website still being updated.

[Tzi]

Sounds very interesting, although i dont quite follow how it works.
How many chanels do you need on your radio to run it??
I currently have 3 channels - front steer, rear steer and throttle.

Perhaps a wiring diagram would help.

[PunkRC]

This is kindof hard to explain. Two ways to wire it:
(#1 Way) It will hook into your RX where your ESC goes and the spare (like ch3) channel. Then both your front and rear ESC's hook into two seperate outputs on the unit. Then, when your toggle is up and down it turns your rear ESC on and off (off is where you trim it to on the unit) THis way, to activate dig, you flip a switch. PROS and CONS Pro: Fast Dig Turning on and off. Con: You need a spare channel.
(#2 Way) It will hook into your RX where your ESC goes and where your front steering goes. Then both your front and rear ESC's hook into two seperate outputs on the unit. The steering channel is also outputted on the unit (hard wired, the unit just has to read the signal) and it goes to your steering servo normally. Then when you mostly neutral the Throttle and steer hard, left or right, and wait a user adjusted amount of time (1-8 secs) it will toggle the dig steer on and off. PROS and CONS Pro: Will work on any radio setup, only needs the two channels, but you can have more. Con: Takes 1-8 seconds to turn it on and off.
I will workup a wireing diagram. There is a switch on the unit where you must tell it if you are using way#1 or way#2.
Clear as Mud? I will make a youtube video soon.

[Just Zach]

Looks like its getting there. I wish I had the spare channel though.

[Tzi]

yeah that sounds better...
question about #2...
If I am driving my truck normally, and stop while holding the steering far left or right (to keep the truck balanced).. will it engage the dig? .. assuming i continue to hold that same position.. does it disengage, or do i have to return to center?

btw.. I'm presuming your using a pic chip or similar for these things?.. e.g.. with the right knowledge, anything can be programmed in ???.. this i am VERY interested in.

[PunkRC]

Second question first: Will it engage if I am balancing. Yes, but there is an adjustable delay. If you hear it beep and engage you just hold it there and it will dis-engage. The delay can be set from 1-8 seconds. If its a concern, you can set the delay higher. Or you can use a spare channel and use Way #1

First question: I don't have a spare channel (not a ?) You done need a spare channel. If you use Way #2, it only reads your throttle and steering channel. Nothing is used. It actually "makes" a new channel for running both ESC's.

If you have a spare channel, use way #1, if not, use way #2.

This will work on any truck and radio combo provided there are two ESC's and two independantly driven axles, like the clod.

Make sence....?

Yes there is a microcontroller, like a PIC, onboard that does all the signal processing and such. These can also get upgrades in firmware or be programmed to do other stuff. These are almost identical to the Punk RC Steering Computer.

[Big Mike]

Punk, you have been coming up with some very innovative electronics lately. This is another device that does something folks want to do with a crawler that is pretty much plug-and-play. Great idea.

(I'm running a TLT, so this would not help me at all - but - I'm still very interested from a technical standpoint. My job is R&D/product development and tech. support for a swimming pool/spa Safety Vacuum Release System manufacturer. Myself and a good friend from the pool industry have developed a solid-state microprocessor controlled SVRS over the last 2 years)

Where did you acquire the knowledge/experience to fabricate stuff like this? Job? School?

Something tells me you'd be an interesting guy to rap with for a while...

[PunkRC]

"Punk, you have been coming up with some very innovative electronics lately. This is another device that does something folks want to do with a crawler that is pretty much plug-and-play. Great idea."

Thanks. I hope the idea catches on. Everyone is really doing stuff the hard and expensive way b/c it has been the only way. I just like to see awesome stuff possible with a $35 radio system. Hacks are way to hard for most of us.
I was hacking and selling TQ3's (the UTQ3) to do pretty much what the dual steer computer thing does. It was hard, even when you had it down to a process. Problem #1 is that most guys have already put money into a radio system. These "Plug and Crawl" type units was my solution to that.

Where did you acquire the knowledge/experience to fabricate stuff like this? Job? School?

The thing I like more than R/C stuff, is robots. I am a Electrical Engineering student (one year left) and they really don't teach you stuff like this. The things I have done is more just figuring things on my own.
I like these little units b/c they are easily changed what they do. I did work for a company that did UAV's and I actually programmed one of these Punk Computers to run a SLR camera on-board one plane.

I have another unit in the works. It is a crazy awesome idea that is unheard of so far. It will do things that will make you go "wow" all automatically. I cant say more than that.

You will have to explain your microcontroller system a little more to me.

[Big Mike]

Ok, the UTQ3 is your work as well. Makes sense. I've had some ideas myself concerning transmitters (like installing/wiring a second wheel to a TQ3) I just lack the skills to totally pull them off. I'm a good fabricator, actually mounting a second wheel on a case would be child's play for me but I get lost on a circuit board pretty easily.

I've been fascinated with robotics for years. They are going to be so prevalent in our world in another 20 years. It's already that way in a lot of high-volume manufacturing processes. I've just never been able to land a job in that field w/ only a high school diploma. 25+ years of working on pool/spa filtration systems landed me the spot I'm in now, that and knowing the guy who invented the first SVRS. Those were total mechanical, all transformers and relays, manufactured for us first by Vynkier/Telemechanique and after by Square D. Together we developed the solid-state version.

What we've got going is a microprocessor controlled pool/spa pump controller. In addition to the normal functions a controller must have (time cycles, heater delay circuit, etc.) it also monitors the vacuum created by the pump and allows it to operate in a pre-set "window". The sensor on the board of my device is hooked into the pump trap via a hose like you'd see in a soda fountain system. The main design intent here is to prevent suction entrapment, where a person is sucked to the drain port of a pool/spa by the vacuum of the pump. The force is strong enough even in a small residential pool to hold even an adult stuck to the bottom where they, of course, will drown. When someone covers the drain with their body or gets a limb stuck in a port, whatever, the device senses the spike in vacuum created by such an event and shuts off power to the pump in 6/10ths of a second. It will also detect loss of prime conditions and shut down to prevent pump damage. The microprocessor is an NEC unit, a guy with NEC worked with me doing the programming. He'd do a revision, then I'd test it and download data into a laptop via an RS-232 adapter we made and send it to him. After 4 revisions we've got it pretty tight. Our device is the first microprocessor controlled device introduced to the pool industry. I also developed a series of dry-contact interfaces to make it compatible with the automated systems folks use on their pools nowadays. With an LCD panel in their house and valve actuators to remotely control functions of the system.
If you're interested our website is http://www.stinglproducts.com there's not much in the way of tech. data though.

[Scattman]

[PunkRC]

That is some pretty cool stuff you've done. The pool entrapment prevention is a really good idea.
There is another forum thread about the dig steer unit, but I was wondering it this device makes sense to people. It is clear what it does etc? I will post a video and any instructions as they come out.

[Tzi]

PunkRC, i'm rather keen to try one of these out.. Your website says pre-release... When's your release date?
You have PM

[PunkRC]

I have very limited quantities right now. I think I have five on hand. I am going to try to be mailing them regularly by next week. I am doing pre-orders to promo thew unit for a cheaper price and in-case stock falls behind a little it gives me some room.
They are available off the webpage if someone orders now.
www.clodmodracing.com
-Punk

[Tzi]

ok cool... lemme know about the stuff i PM'd u about and i'll decide if i gonna get one of these or go the 4ch controller. Cheers

[PunkRC]

Today I was doing a little driving with the dig steer. I set my rear ESC to slightly reverse when dig is on. It is enough to make the motors humm but not enough torque to move at all. When I did that the rear wheels basically locked when I drove forward. I liked running that way more than just setting the dial to neutral rear esc.

[Tzi]

That sounds like a great idea for locking the rear on a clod... something thats very hard to do short of 'shorting' the wires across the motor with a dig switch.

You have PM

[Ratkrawler]

Punkrc I ordered one of your digs today. If they are that easy to set up and only on a 3 channel with dual ESC's. I do beleve you will sell a stack of these little babies

[PunkRC]

I did some much needed Webpage Updates. You can go there to see pictures the DIG STEER and DUAL STEER computers. www.clodmodracing.com

[Ratkrawler]

I have just done a dummy set up of the dig steer with 2 new mambas and crawlmaster motors. It only works on left hand steering no right hand and the delay is about half a second, way too short of a delay for me. How can I change the delay and get it too work on left and right steering. Very simple to set up once you figure out what wire does what, with no markings on the plugs.

[Tzi]

theres 2 dials on the end.... one of em is the delay, the other is the tuning for the 2nd esc when its in dig mode... look at the pic on the website ;)