Category Archives: elecrow

Electric Longboard devDuino V2 Controller

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I really wanted to get the longboard working so I had a look at buying Wiiceiver from AustinDavid.com.

The source code is available on Github and I had a spare devicter devDuino Sensor Node V2 sitting on my desk. With some modification (changing pins numbers and removing all references to the second LED) I got the wiiceiver code running on my devDuino.

The Electronic Speed Controller(ESC) and the plastic lunch box (containing the batteries and devDuino) are attached to the deck with 3M Command adhesive strips. The first set of command adhesive strips I tried were for hanging pictures and had a Velcro quick release system. This approach was a failure and the ESC & electronics box fell off after 10-15 minutes use. The Velcro backing tape was getting pulled in the wrong direction so was unable to hold the weight of the electronics when vibration levels increased. I tried them because a “quick release” capability would be handy but I have gone back to using conventional 3M Command adhesive strips and these are working well.

devDuino V2 and ESC on longboard

devDuino based controller interfaced with ESC and wireless WiiChuk

Initial rides went well, though I need to recalibrate the acceleration and braking ramp up/down settings to suit my hardware and riding style.

Bill of Materials for this project (Prices as at Feb 2015)

  • Single Motor Mechanical Electric Longboard Kit USD223
  • Turnigy Aerodrive SK3-6364-245kv Brushless Outrunner Motor USD70.68
  • HobbyKing 150A High Performance Brushless Car ESC USD68.99
  • ZIPPY Flightmax 5000mAh battery X 2 USD31.99 each
  • HXT4mm Battery Harness 14AWG for 2 Packs in Series USD2.43
  • HXT 4mm Gold Connector with Protector (10pcs/set)
  • devDuino Sensor Node V2 USD15.99
  • Grove Nunchuck adaptor USD2.90
  • Grove Branch Cable for Servo USD4.90
  • Wireless Nunchuck NZD25.00
  • Moose 9.5×42 Longboard Flush Mount Deck Green Stain NZD57

WARNING – Disconnect the power supply pin on the Grove Branch Cable for Servos as the ESC will supply sufficient current to make the batteries on the devDuino go pop. Wrap some tape around the other servo connector so it can’t cause a short circuit.

Thanks to Austin David for making the code for the Wiiciever open source, if anyone is interested in my code I can tidy it up and share.

/*
 * Pin IDs -- NOT LOCATIONS !!!
 * don't change these ever; see "pinLocation" below for
 * actual locations
 */
#define RED_LED_ID   0
//#define GREEN_LED_ID 1

#define ESC_PPM_ID   2
//#define ESC2_PPM_ID   6
#define ESC_GROUND 00     // hard-wired

//#define WII_POWER_ID 3
//#define WII_GROUND 00     // hard-wired

#define WII_SCL_ID   4
#define WII_SDA_ID   5

I made my devDuino look like a V3 wiiceiver

int pinLocation(int pinID) {
  int pinMap[7][3] = {
  // v1, v2, v3
    {8,   8,  9},  // RED_LED     any digital pin
    {7,   6,  8},  // GREEN_LED   any digital pin
    {10,  9,  3},  // ESC_PPM     PWM required
    {9,  11,  5},  // WII_POWER   any digital pin
    {19, 19, 19}, // WII_SCL     A5, don't change
    {18, 18, 18}, // WII_SDA     A4, don't change
    {0,  10, 0}, // ESC2_PPM    PWM required
  };

The rest of my changes were commenting out all references to the Green LED as the devDuino only has one onboard LED.

Energy Monitor Shield Sensor Box by Tardis

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My initial way of connecting the current sensor for the Energy Monitor Shield was not really suitable for CodeClub. Carefully cutting the insulation with a craft knife and gently pulling out the phase wire could end really badly.

Image

I approached a local company Tardis Communications and they made Code Club these neat enclosures which ensure the students can’t come into contact with any live connections.

Image

Energy Monitor Shield Current Sensor

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The energy monitor shield has three current sensor inputs (A0 thru A2) which have a voltage divider to provide a reference offset voltage for the analog inputs on the Netduino. The reference offset voltage with a 5V supply was 2.5V which meant on a 3.3V device the range of the sensors (1V for 30 Amps) would be compromised.

In a previous post I modified the shield by replacing a resistor but there appears to be an easier modification. While looking at the schematic and the shield I realised that cutting off the 5V pin and connecting the 3.3V pin and 5V pin together would make all the analog inputs use the 3.3V rail.

Energy Shield with modifications for 3.3V operation

Energy Shield with modifications for 3.3V operation

It would be good if the designers of the shield would consider putting a switch or jumpers on the device to allow 3V3 or 5V operation.

public class Program
{
public static void Main()
{
AnalogInput buttons = new AnalogInput(Cpu.AnalogChannel.ANALOG_0);

while (true)
{
Debug.Print(buttons.Read().ToString(“F2”));

Thread.Sleep(250);
}
}
}

Energy Monitor Shield Buttons

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The two buttons on the energy monitor shield are connected to the analog input A3 via a voltage divider. The shield appears to be designed for 5V devices as the input for the voltage divider is connected to VCC which is 5V. Netduinos and some Arduinos are 3.3V devices and this approach won’t work on these devices.

public static void Main()
{
AnalogInput buttons = new AnalogInput(Cpu.AnalogChannel.ANALOG_3);

while (true)
{
Debug.Print(buttons.Read().ToString("F2"));
Thread.Sleep(250);
}
}

The return value of the AnalogOutput with no button pressed was 1.0, SW1 pressed 1.0 and with SW2 pressed 0.93.

To work around this issue I modified the shield so the input voltage to the voltage divider is 3.3V. With my modified shield the return value of the AnalogOutput with no button pressed was 0.87, SW1 pressed 0.83 and with SW2 pressed 0.67. [Edit-see next post with easier modification]

To change the input voltage of the voltage divider I removed R8(circled) and replaced it with a 1K resistor connected to 3.3V.

Energy Shield with Button modifications

Energy Shield with Button modifications

 

 

Energy Monitor Shield nRF24L01+

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The nRF24L01 functionality looked like a good place to start so I had a look at the documentation. The interface for connecting the nRF24L01+ module was specified as

D11 – MOSI
D12 – MISO
D13 – SCK
D8 – RF_CE
D7 – RF_CSN
D2 – RF_IRQ

I have used the Nordic nRF240L1+ .Net Micro Framework Driver on a couple of other projects but initially struggled to get it working with this configuration. After looking at the pin outs of the nRF24L01+ and the Energy Monitor Shield schematic I think the CSN & CE are reversed.(as at March 2014).

This code works and was adapted from the sample application provided with the driver on codeplex

public class nRF240l1Module
{
private const byte channel = 10;
private readonly OutputPort _led = new OutputPort(Pins.ONBOARD_LED, false);
private readonly NRF24L01Plus _module;
private Timer _timer;
private byte _token;

private readonly byte[] _myAddress = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(“NetP1”);
//private readonly byte[] _myAddress = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(“NetP2”);
private readonly byte[] _otherBoard = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(“NetP2”);
//private readonly byte[] _otherBoard = Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(“NetP1”);

public nRF240l1Module()
{
_module = new NRF24L01Plus();
}

public void Run()
{
_module.OnDataReceived += OnReceive;
_module.OnTransmitFailed += OnSendFailure;
_module.OnTransmitSuccess += OnSendSuccess;

_module.Initialize(SPI.SPI_module.SPI1, Pins.GPIO_PIN_D8, Pins.GPIO_PIN_D7, Pins.GPIO_PIN_D2);
_module.Configure(_myAddress, channel, NRFDataRate.DR250kbps);
_module.Enable();

_timer = new Timer(SendMessage, null, new TimeSpan(0, 0, 0, 1), new TimeSpan(0, 0, 0, 1));
}

private void OnSendSuccess()
{
_led.Write(false);
}

private void OnSendFailure()
{
Debug.Print(“Send failed!”);
}

private void OnReceive(byte[] data)
{
Debug.Print(“Token <- ” + data[0]);
}

private void SendMessage(object state)
{
_led.Write(true);
_module.SendTo(_otherBoard, new[] { _token });
Debug.Print(“Token -> ” + _token);
_token++;
}

}

Energy Shield with nRF24L01Plus

Energy Shield with nRF24L01Plus

Energy Monitor Shield arrived

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One of the projects I’m planning for code club is a power consumption monitor. After some research and checking of circuit diagrams the Energy Monitor Shield designed by devicter looked like it would work with a Netduino. The analog voltage inputs for the AC current sensors plus the SPI bus configuration for the Nokia 5110 display and nRF24L01+ appear to be compatible.

Image

Initial impressions are good, only problem is the backlight is a little bit bright (so I removed the jumper).