Electronics Basics

Overview

Electronics are an important consideration of all Combat bots. Robots without strong electronics can suffer from shorts and over-voltage, which can ruin components and disable the robot. Creating a strong electrical system is crucial to increasing the durability and maximizing the damage output of the robot. Additionally, compact electronics allow the designer to decrease the size and footprint of the robot,

3lb Circuit

Standard 3lb Circuit

The standard 3lb electrical layout consists of a 1000 mAh 11.1 V battery connected to a mechanical switch, which powers 2 drive ESCs and a Weapon ESC. The ESCs are each connected to a receiver and send power to the motors in 3 phases.

Parts List

• 1000mAh 11.1V Battery
• Drive ESCs
• Drive Motors
• Switch
• Receiver

Motors

Choosing a Motor

Types

Inrunner vs Outrunner

Brushed vs Brushless

ESCs

An ESC (Electronic Speed Control) receives a control signal from the reciever that dictates how much power to output to the motor. It then generates a 3 phase AC signal of the proper power from the battery and sends it to the motor. The ESCs adjust the phase of the output based on the motor rotation, which it measures using the back emf response from the motor. This allows the user to spin the motor at different speeds to control the speed and direction of the robot

Choosing an ESC

ESCs are chosen based on the max current they will experience. Generally the ESC’s rated current should be higher than the motor’s rated current.

Batteries

Battlebots uses Lithium Polymer batteries to power our electronics. Lithium polymer batteries are compact rechargeable batteries made using a polymer electrolyte to reduce weight. LiPo batteries have high energy density and low weight, making them perfect for applications with weight restrictions. The 3lb robots use a 1000mAh 3-cell battery which has enough charge to power the robots for their three minute matches.

Reciever

Depending on the reciever, The trim may need to be adjusted to successfully bind.