Robot MarketPlace - TReX Dual Motor Controller DMC01

TReX Dual Motor Controller DMC01
The TReX blends RC, analog, and serial inputs for a powerful motor control solution capable of delivering a continuous 13A per motor.

$99.99

The TReX blends RC, analog, and serial inputs for a powerful motor control solution capable of delivering a continuous 13A per motor. The TReX will work right out of the box as an electronic speed control (ESC), but its ability to seamlessly transition between RC/analog and serial control makes it capable of so much more!

The TReX Dual-Motor Controller is a versatile, high-power DC motor controller designed to seamlessly blend autonomous and human control of small- and medium-sized robots. The TReX can control two bidirectional and one unidirectional motor via three independent control interfaces: radio control (RC) servo pulses, analog voltage, and asynchronous serial (RS-232 or TTL). It maintains compactness through a two-board design that features the VNH2SP30-based Dual High-Current Motor Driver Carrier as its bottom layer. (For a lower-power version of the TReX, please consider the TReX Jr).

The TReX uses five input channels to receive the RC or analog control signals. When operating in RC or analog mode, the five channels function as follows:

* Channel 1: motor 1 speed and direction or, if in mix mode, turn left/right
* Channel 2: motor 2 speed and direction or, if in mix mode, go forward/reverse
* Channel 3: auxiliary (unidirectional) motor speed
* Channel 4: can be used to enable "flipped mode", which allows invertable robots to be controlled as normal when they are inverted
* Channel 5: determines whether the motors are controlled by the channel inputs or the serial interface; this channel allows you to switch between autonomous and human control at will

The serial interface can switch instantly with one of the other two interfaces, allowing mixed autonomous and remote control. For example, a robot could be configured to run autonomously most of the time, but a human operator could override the autonomous function if the robot gets stuck or into a dangerous situation. If the serial mode is selected as the primary interface, high-resolution measurements of all five channel input signals (be they RC pulses or analog voltages) are made available to the autonomous robot controller, allowing for complex and unlimited mixing of operator control and sensor input. For example, the TReX would be a great motor controller for a remotely controlled balancing robot.

RC/Analog control features
Battery Elimination Circuit (BEC) jumper lets the TReX optionally power your RC receiver or analog controller
Mix-mode jumper allows for single-stick motor control of differential-drive robots
Automatic calibration for your particular RC or analog controller (the TReX can learn the channel ranges)

Options accessable through the serial interface
All five high-resolution channel input values are available
Remapped channel input values show what the TReX would do if it were in control
Optional 7-bit cyclic redundancy checking to ensure command/data validity
Calibration values can be explicitly read and set
Each channel can be reversed and parabolically scaled
Current limit, acceleration, and maximum motor speed settings
The bidirectional motors can (individually) be set to coast or variable brake when in the deadband
Upgradable firmware

Safety features
"Safe-start" requirements prevent accidental motor activation at power-up
Optional automatic motor shutdown on serial error, timeout, or input channel noise

Note: The TReX does not require use of the serial interface to function; it will work right out of the box as an electronic speed control (ESC). You will not have access to the full suite of features the TReX provides if you do not make use of the serial interface, though.

Specs
Motor Driver	VNH2SP30
Continuous Output Current per Channel	13A
Continuous Paralleled Output Current	25A
Supply Voltage	6V-16V
Auxiliary Output	1 unidirectional, 15A continuous
Speel Control	128 steps in each direction
Control Interfaces	RC servo pulses, analog voltages, or serial commands; master interface set by mode-select jumper
Input Channels	5 (RC servo pulses or analog voltages)
RC Pulse Measurements	12-bit resolution, 1 us accuracy
Analog Measurements	10-bit resolution
Serial Interface	Both RS-232 and TTL (total logic), bidirectional
Baud Rates	Supports 11 common baud rates ranging from 1200 to 115,200 bps
Expanded Protocol	Allows multiple servo and motor controllers on one serial line
Compact Protocol	Allows both motors 1 and 2 to be simultaneously set with just three bytes
Dimensions	1.9 x 1.9 x 0.8 in.

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3/28/2012

Combat16

Great Performance!

This ESC works great and love how you can just hook it up and it's ready to go for your RC. No complaints about it.

3/25/2011

Roger

Perfect

Great motor controller. Easy to set up and calibrate. I use for RC but super for microprocessor projects. Great customer service (if needed) from Pololu.

12/28/2010

Chaos2

TRex dual motor controller

I wished I seen this little gem before I bought the Sabertooth controllers, which one of 4 motors is on. I needed a controller like the TRex so I can operate a unidirectional motor as well as the 2 directional motors. I like the small size as well and the fact that I can use my own extensions and not have to worry about a wire coming off accidently. I also like the choice to BEC or not to BEC. This controller is full of features.

But, the downsides of this, which I've had to do on other electronic devices, is soldering a diode on the unidirectional motor lead and caps on the leads of all of the motors. It was also a little difficult to learn and had to very carefully read the manual before doing anything with it.

I had trouble finding short enough servo extensions with a male connector at each end-one end for the controller and the other for my receiver.

Other than working a little harder to get the TRex set up, this is a great little controller that programs itself once the joysticks are moved and I highly recommend it.