MY ROBONOVA-1 ON FIRE!

[Lomruz]

Or was it just me?

Watch out for the delicate wirings! My Servo no.4 wiring was badly damaged without my knowledge until I saw a golly smoke! The cut and bruised insulation (during one of the routines) must have touched and short circuited the wirings thus causing the meltdown of the insulation on the right arm.

Immediate neighbor Servo no. 12 wiring was lucky enough to survive the meltdown (if this is any consolation).

It happened after several longer walk with push ups at the end. The push up routine must have caused the bruised insulation. After that, I laid down RN on its back and use the tumbling stunt to get RN on its feet (the primitive way if you don't have a sensor yet). It moved but can't get up. I laid RN face down this time and again the tumbling stunt command to put it on its feet. RN moved but this time it really won't get up.

To my astonishment, I saw a smoke coming off the right shoulder! Holy Bot! I immediately grab RN and turn off the red button power on its back.

Fortunately, my controller was'nt affected a bit, I hope and cross my fingers (another consolation).

I checked out all the wirings since day 1 of my RN and knew that it is really susceptible to damage with all the movements going on. Extra protection is badly needed this time around. Check out the hip as well, where the wiring can easily be cut when the RN is on sitting position and the body moves forward. I noticed the metallic edge is somewhat sharp on that portion.

I'll visit Bucheon Technopark next weekend to order the parts.

Hymnn...Am I missing something here, I can't find this time...where is the link (manage file upload) so that I could post the pictures and video here?

[tempusmaster]

Or was it just me?

Watch out for the delicate wirings! My Servo no.4 wiring was badly damaged without my knowledge until I saw a golly smoke! The cut and bruised insulation (during one of the routines) must have touched and short circuited the wirings thus causing the meltdown of the insulation on the right arm.

Ouch!
I'm surprised that it doesn't happen more often with this style of robot. It's easy to pinch wires, and fingers, when you're working with exposed servos.

Hymnn...Am I missing something here, I can't find this time...where is the link (manage file upload) so that I could post the pictures and video here?

If you're logged in, and it appears that you were when you posted, then you should see a "Manage File Uploads" link in the User info box.

[bauermech]

I'm sorry about the mishap. That's horrible.

Or was it just me?

No, I too noticed the insulation on the leads is a bit "soft". It's a fact, whenever you have two surfaces moving against the each other (smooth or not), you have friction to accompany it. We all know this, but sometimes it takes a bad turn of events to remind us how much of an enemy friction can be. After reading your post, I took a look at the condition of my servo wires to ensure they've been holding up well. To my astonishment, I found a couple of new problem areas that need addressed.
Soon after building my RN-1 I quickly noticed, as Lomruz points out, the hip area. Although most of the brackets are relatively smooth, there are some very sharp ones on 'em too. And, there's the threat of pinching - that I now look out for the most. To help protect my hip leads, I used a thin-wall split lume shielding and a couple of extra wire ties.
The below pic shows the split lume, and points out a couple of areas I just noticed - thanks to Lomruz's post. My personal beef is not so much in the arms, but in the legs.



I have a couple of options to take into consideration here. The split lume is nice, but isn't very efficient in short lengths as it creases with an acute bend. I have heat-shrink tubing in various diameters, but once it cools, looses its placidity. I think I will use this stuff...

I'm not sure if this is its official name, but we call it "snake-skin shielding". It's flexible when kept loose, can handle a multitude of diameters, and can easily slide over the servo connector.

Hymnn...Am I missing something here, I can't find this time...where is the link (manage file upload) so that I could post the pictures and video here?

Look to the left, under the "User Info", where it lists who's on the site... there's the "Welcome (name)"...just under that is the "Manage File Uploads". I'd really like to see the pics.

[Lomruz]

Matt, I see that you have made the necessary protection, that's good for your bot. I should have not delayed finding those protective covers.

Got it (about a couple of hours ago I can't find the Manage File Upload eventhough I was logged in).

Here's the photos of wire on the right arm that got burnt. I was spared another 200$ or more for the controller and servo # 12 that are still working as shown on the videos.

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/01%20RN-1_Burnt_Out_Wire_of_Servo_No.4.jpg

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/02%20RN-1_Burnt_Out_Wire_of_Servo_No.4.jpg

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/03%20RN-1_Burnt_Out_Wire_of_Servo_No.4.jpg

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/04%20RN-1_Burnt_Out_Wire_of_Servo_No.4.jpg

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/05%20RN-1_Broken_Wing_divx.avi

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/06%20RN-1_Broken_Wing_divx.avi

[bauermech]

Crispy!
I may have some some "snake skin" left over if you're needing some.

[Lomruz]

Thanks - I appreciate that. You might as well send them together with the gripper if you still have any. But I'll try to find also what is locally available here.

[Pev]

Lomruz,

Sorry to hear about you're problem, what a pain!!!

Had the same issue of trapped wiring on my Robonova after the first week. The lead to the left thigh had got trapped in the bracket and cut through the insulation. Luckily I spotted it and have reinforced the leads with much electrical tap where they are likely to get trapped by the brackets.

I do like the idea Bauermech has come up with - looks like a more perminent soltuion than the one I am using.

Hope the rebuild goes okay and you can get everything sorted.

Pev

[gsferrari]

Use a strong glue and glue the leads to the servo housing. The problem is when there is slack in the wrong areas - we need slack in *some* areas...

I'll try to post pictures of what I have done to manage this issue.

[Lomruz]

Oii...

Just a quick update, my RN-1 is back ! Thanks to Mr. Han (of MiniRobot) who was very accommodating and also to Mr. Kim who tested and fixed servo no. 4 wiring using heat shrink tube material. It turns out that servo no. 4 is still in good condition. I did'nt spend another dollar to buy new servo after all.

I did manage instead to upgrade with tilt and bluetooth sensors. Hooray!



Here's another quick vids

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Lomruz/RN1_divx.avi

Now the next upgrade will be the gripper of Matt Bauer

[Morbeious]

eh, Lomruz

is that a PS2 controller?

Next question is How? looks neet.

[Lomruz]

Not exactly, but it looks like the ordinary PS2 controller, sort of modified somewhat for remote control of the RN-1.

The bluetooth interface card is attached by a screw at the bottom of the controller and is powered by two size AAA batteries with led indication for power and signal verification.

On the RN-1 side, the bluetooth card is mounted inside the body of the RN-1 (that is, under MR-C3000 controller).

I can't post a picture now since the manage file upload seems to be disabled. I'll probably just do it later.

[H3dude]

Lomruz that is really nice dude. Could you please post what kind of bluetooth cards you are using and who makes them. And while I'm asking, where do you get the special controller?

I love the one-arm pushups.

[Morbeious]

kwel, but how are you getting the program into the controller, or does the controller mimic RoboCon Remote commands from its buttons and joysticks by default. How does the joystick know how to commuicate over the bluetooth module connected to it? I'm thinking it was previously a serial joystick, which would make interfacing to the bluetooth module easy?

[Lomruz]

H3dude,

That special controller which is available at MiniRobot shop at Bucheon here in Korea (where I purchased my RN-1) sports Promi-ESD bluetooth module. I am new to bluetooth and beginning to get the hang of it but for those of you who have advance knowhow of bluetooth, you can find the manual of Promi-ESD at the following link:

http://home.comet.bg/new/Initium_en.htm

Morbeious,

Your assumptions are all correct! The special controller mimics the RoboCon Remote commands from its buttons by default (but with total 40 combinations) after modifying the program template. The joystick communicates over the bluetooth module thru a serial interface card that comes together and is built with that special controller.

Meanwhile, it was my first time today watching a live robot festival here in Korea and it was really cool to simply watch them. I was also surprised to learn that most participants are using that special controller.

I will post some vids if I have a spare time to do it.

[Lomruz]

The festival continues till Saturday 1700hrs Korea time.