tswift
01-16-2008, 07:53 PM
:) I finally got my Vexplorer (blue) via UPS and put it together in a little more than an hour. I did encounter some difficulties with tight spaces attaching the fenders and arm, but got around them using a pair of thin long nose pliers. I was able to get it running after connecting the motors, wireless video camera and battery and it was fantastic!
Using an old TV set as a monitor, I eagerly sat in front of it with the RC controller and had the Vexplorer running around the basement easily avoiding obstacles. The motors ran smoothly and the arm and claw worked flawlessly. The RC controls are very easy to learn although I wish I could also use the 2WD-arcade mode that the standard (red) Vex Controller supports using only one joystick, instead of the tank style currently supported that requires two joysticks. I would like to be able to use the second joystick for the arm and claw rather than having to use the push buttons.
I ran out of batteries, so I found a 6-Volt wall transformer with a positive (+) center terminal for the wireless video receiver connected to the TV. I did not bother attaching the battery pack provided since it runs down too many 1.5-Volt batteries. Instead I attached a rechargeable Vex 6 volt battery pack using a Vex battery holder strap, which worked fine except that it would run out very quickly causing the motors to go much slower until I charged it again.
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
Now that I got it working the way it should, I started my own “Shelby” modifications to the Vexplorer by daring to connect a Vex 9 Volt rechargeable battery to the motor controller. I had good luck doing the same with the standard Vex Controller (red) on my Gilbert III Explorer Robot and Hero 2007 Robot and the gamble paid off with the Vexplorer. With the new 9 volt rechargeable battery, the Vexplorer moved about very quickly, equaling or exceeding the speed and agility of my Vex (red) robots. Of course the arm and claw responded much faster, so care must be taken not to overdrive the mechanisms. It is good to know that
even with its new found capabilities, it shook my hand without crushing my fingers.
AUTONOMOUS MODES
The next step is to make the Vexplorer run semi-autonomously and fully autonomously by adding sensors such as Vex bumper switches, PING Sensors, flexible resistors and Sharp IR Rangers. These sensors will help me while I am navigating the Vexplorer using the RC remote and the wireless video so that it warns me if I am getting too close to a wall or chair or any other obstacles.
The final upgrade, which I am currently working on, will include a fully autonomous mode using the sensors to avoid obstacles and will also include the ability to program the Vexplorer in Microchip C30 C.
Using an old TV set as a monitor, I eagerly sat in front of it with the RC controller and had the Vexplorer running around the basement easily avoiding obstacles. The motors ran smoothly and the arm and claw worked flawlessly. The RC controls are very easy to learn although I wish I could also use the 2WD-arcade mode that the standard (red) Vex Controller supports using only one joystick, instead of the tank style currently supported that requires two joysticks. I would like to be able to use the second joystick for the arm and claw rather than having to use the push buttons.
I ran out of batteries, so I found a 6-Volt wall transformer with a positive (+) center terminal for the wireless video receiver connected to the TV. I did not bother attaching the battery pack provided since it runs down too many 1.5-Volt batteries. Instead I attached a rechargeable Vex 6 volt battery pack using a Vex battery holder strap, which worked fine except that it would run out very quickly causing the motors to go much slower until I charged it again.
PUSHING THE ENVELOPE
Now that I got it working the way it should, I started my own “Shelby” modifications to the Vexplorer by daring to connect a Vex 9 Volt rechargeable battery to the motor controller. I had good luck doing the same with the standard Vex Controller (red) on my Gilbert III Explorer Robot and Hero 2007 Robot and the gamble paid off with the Vexplorer. With the new 9 volt rechargeable battery, the Vexplorer moved about very quickly, equaling or exceeding the speed and agility of my Vex (red) robots. Of course the arm and claw responded much faster, so care must be taken not to overdrive the mechanisms. It is good to know that
even with its new found capabilities, it shook my hand without crushing my fingers.
AUTONOMOUS MODES
The next step is to make the Vexplorer run semi-autonomously and fully autonomously by adding sensors such as Vex bumper switches, PING Sensors, flexible resistors and Sharp IR Rangers. These sensors will help me while I am navigating the Vexplorer using the RC remote and the wireless video so that it warns me if I am getting too close to a wall or chair or any other obstacles.
The final upgrade, which I am currently working on, will include a fully autonomous mode using the sensors to avoid obstacles and will also include the ability to program the Vexplorer in Microchip C30 C.