RCB-4 on my KHR-3HV exploded! Where to buy a replacement?

[Thex1138]

Hey there Crisvo... just a question, when you work on them in the lab what kind of projects do you work on the kits with?

I work in the area of robotic motion planning (like too many other people). Humanoids are generally more interesting to me than wheeled robots because there are many more actuators to plan for, and you also have to prevent the robot from falling. My colleagues work on other problems related to the humanoid robot such as simultaneous localization and planning, and evolutionary algorithms.

Partly for fun, and partly to motivate research, we also are participating in RoboCup 2010 soccer competition in the autonomous humanoid league. Here's our small web site about that:
http://cs.gmu.edu/~robotics/pmwiki.php/ ... boPatriots

I watched your vids, they're great.
Once I get my KHR-3 Up and walking my GF will stop nagging me about it laying on the chair motionless lol
I'll do some vids as well. Bi-peds are much more fun to develop.
I also am looking to design / fabricate my own biped over time..
Lastly trying to find a few local builders to maybe put a Sydney comp together...
A fair way to go though.

[Thex1138]

Hey there Crisvo... just a question, when you work on them in the lab what kind of projects do you work on the kits with?

I work in the area of robotic motion planning (like too many other people). Humanoids are generally more interesting to me than wheeled robots because there are many more actuators to plan for, and you also have to prevent the robot from falling. My colleagues work on other problems related to the humanoid robot such as simultaneous localization and planning, and evolutionary algorithms.

Partly for fun, and partly to motivate research, we also are participating in RoboCup 2010 soccer competition in the autonomous humanoid league. Here's our small web site about that:
http://cs.gmu.edu/~robotics/pmwiki.php/ ... boPatriots

I had a look at your lab videos and it's pretty interesting.
I wonder are you using a gyro and accelerometer for balance?

[chrisvo]

I wonder are you using a gyro and accelerometer for balance?

We are using just a Kondo KRG-3 gyro right now plugged in as specified by the manuals and using the built-in mixing that is part of the RCB-4 and Heart2Heart4. Right now we apply only weak mixing. It helps a little bit, not that much. We currently do not use the accelerometer for balance. The Kondo RAS-2 is too noisy for that. You're supposed to use the Kondo accelerometer just to detect if you've fallen.

There are much better ways of course, but the RCB-4 only offers mixing.

For example, this guy uses a gyro (with an programmed integrator) to get an absolute measurement of position. He controls the servos with his custom controller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cJA5QR4fkA

[Thex1138]

I wonder are you using a gyro and accelerometer for balance?

We are using just a Kondo KRG-3 gyro right now plugged in as specified by the manuals and using the built-in mixing that is part of the RCB-4 and Heart2Heart4. Right now we apply only weak mixing. It helps a little bit, not that much. We currently do not use the accelerometer for balance. The Kondo RAS-2 is too noisy for that. You're supposed to use the Kondo accelerometer just to detect if you've fallen.

There are much better ways of course, but the RCB-4 only offers mixing.

For example, this guy uses a gyro (with an programmed integrator) to get an absolute measurement of position. He controls the servos with his custom controller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cJA5QR4fkA

Hey there Chris,

When you're recharging your nimh battery... does your charger normally get really hot?
Since being in Australia, I have a transformer to down the 240v to 110v, then plug in my Kondo transformer...
My new battery does not get warm, but charger/transformer gets hot...
Do you or anyone else experience this?
I am looking to get a 'lab' power supply though... like you noted earlier...
I am getting a bit sick of this battery issue... is putting me off the kit in a way...
I can't switch to LiPo until after warranty period.... Then I'll use Lipo with power regulator.

Geez, 12 hour battery recharge... LiPo takes an hour for more Amps!
It feels a bit dangerous running a hot transformer and charger for 12 hours...
I recharge my LiPo radio car batteries in about 1 hour for about 6 hours usage depending on the mAh usage...

[taylor]

Hi Thex1138

I think you used a wrong transformer. The working voltage of the MX-201 charger should be 100V. Japan is a 100V country not 110V. I already got my burn. Please take caution.

By the way, I will send my parts to kondo for repair soon and hopefully I can get them back by the end of Feb. so that I can start the robot again.

[chrisvo]

I have not had battery heat issues. I'm in the United States, plugging the charger directly into 110v. I've also used the Kondo charger in Europe, with a transformer to convert 240v to 110v, with no issues.

[Thex1138]

I have not had battery heat issues. I'm in the United States, plugging the charger directly into 110v. I've also used the Kondo charger in Europe, with a transformer to convert 240v to 110v, with no issues.

I used a step down transformer to 115 which seemed OK for manufacturer
But I wake this morning and kondo power supply running on transformer dead...