Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Looking forward to results Ryan, thanks in advance! I added the extra two ESC channels just as a ready-to-go 3-thruster example for the forum or in case Multicopter people could use it. With code for just one ESC (without the lines relating to esccommand2 and esccommand3) I could type into the serial monitor just one speed value at a time, then hit "enter". This allowed me to set the end limits on the other ESC - one of my new Car-30As. I think I bought 5 of those, so assuming they all work OK, combined with the old Trackstar 18As I'll have a total of 8 in the inventory
Ross
Ross
- KR2_Diving
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- Joined: Aug 30th, 2012, 11:43 am
- Location: Currently: NW Suburbs of Chicago. Originally: NE Wisconsin
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
yikes! 8 ESC... on the plus side... that is the beginning of a really cool control system for a highly nimble little ROV!
Just out of curiosity, do you know what settings you had on your ESC? (Brake forces, reverse speeds, etc...)
Thanks,
Ryan
"KR2_Diving"
Just out of curiosity, do you know what settings you had on your ESC? (Brake forces, reverse speeds, etc...)
Thanks,
Ryan
"KR2_Diving"
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1069&start=30#p6051
Full power in reverse selected.
Trying to fine-tune these settings really didn't have much effect on the start-up issues.
I used the programming card to "reset" the ESC on one occasion, and maybe there was one setting that was only accessible using the card, though it was a while back now. Forward and reverse limits are done with the joystick first up. All other settings can be done with the beep-beeps and RC joystick or your own controller.
Hope that helps
Full power in reverse selected.
Trying to fine-tune these settings really didn't have much effect on the start-up issues.
I used the programming card to "reset" the ESC on one occasion, and maybe there was one setting that was only accessible using the card, though it was a while back now. Forward and reverse limits are done with the joystick first up. All other settings can be done with the beep-beeps and RC joystick or your own controller.
Hope that helps
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
I know this is an old thread,
But i had by chance selected almost the same setup, IE arduino over serial, with these ESC's, and encountered these same issues.
This fix works for arduino Mega, i can't vouch for other boards
in C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Servo\src............... there is a file called "servo"
open this with the notepad and change the lines below
to
i had a tenfold improvement in startup response and low speed using the servo.h library edited to this
*hint, if you can't edit directly in the folder, try moving the file to the desktop, edit, save, then copy back to the src folder
But i had by chance selected almost the same setup, IE arduino over serial, with these ESC's, and encountered these same issues.
This fix works for arduino Mega, i can't vouch for other boards
in C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries\Servo\src............... there is a file called "servo"
open this with the notepad and change the lines below
Code: Select all
#define REFRESH_INTERVAL 200000 // minumim time to refresh servos in microseconds (200000 = 50Hz)
#define SERVOS_PER_TIMER 12 // the maximum number of servos controlled by one timer
Code: Select all
#define REFRESH_INTERVAL 2500 // minumim time to refresh servos in microseconds (2500 = 400Hz)
#define SERVOS_PER_TIMER 4 // the maximum number of servos controlled by one timer
i had a tenfold improvement in startup response and low speed using the servo.h library edited to this
*hint, if you can't edit directly in the folder, try moving the file to the desktop, edit, save, then copy back to the src folder
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Thanks for posting. I for one will definitely remember this (my "new" ROV is to have Arduino controlling the ESCs). I have a feeling that the TrackStars could improve over their 50Hz performance with less of a jump in frequency. Have you tried say 100Hz? Thinking here that lower refresh rate will allow more servos.
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Hi rossrov.
Yeah I tried 100Hz, there was an improvement but at 400hz the motor start up is almost instant.
Of course at this stage I'm testing in air only, I think with the drag of water it'll improve things even more.
The arduino mega has 4 x timers, so im this should still allow for 12 servos to be controlled. I'm planning to have 8 - 10 max so as long as it doesn't upset the comms I should be ok (I'm no expert, and this still needs testing, just what I've managed to deduce with my Google-fu)
On comms I'm using serial3 for rov comms, I dunno if this helps also as I believe arduino uses these 4 timers for each of the comm channels
Yeah I tried 100Hz, there was an improvement but at 400hz the motor start up is almost instant.
Of course at this stage I'm testing in air only, I think with the drag of water it'll improve things even more.
The arduino mega has 4 x timers, so im this should still allow for 12 servos to be controlled. I'm planning to have 8 - 10 max so as long as it doesn't upset the comms I should be ok (I'm no expert, and this still needs testing, just what I've managed to deduce with my Google-fu)
On comms I'm using serial3 for rov comms, I dunno if this helps also as I believe arduino uses these 4 timers for each of the comm channels
- KR2_Diving
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Aug 30th, 2012, 11:43 am
- Location: Currently: NW Suburbs of Chicago. Originally: NE Wisconsin
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Hey Bindo!
Thanks for revisiting this! Very interested in giving this a try while I wait for my fancy new BlueRobotics Thrusters!
It has been a while since i visited that chunk of my code... am i correct in thinking that making this change limits you to 4 servos? As i read it, you are planning on running 8/10? How does the code know to assign additional servos to additional timers?
What am I missing here...
Thanks for revisiting this! Very interested in giving this a try while I wait for my fancy new BlueRobotics Thrusters!
It has been a while since i visited that chunk of my code... am i correct in thinking that making this change limits you to 4 servos? As i read it, you are planning on running 8/10? How does the code know to assign additional servos to additional timers?
What am I missing here...
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Thanks Bindo. Re the comms, there are 4 RS232-like serial ports on the Mega. These are hardware UARTS so do not affect or use the timers. A timer is however used by the SoftSerial library. Recently I was doing a project with a Uno and found that SoftSerial upset other functions. No need for SoftSerial with all those ports on the Mega.
KR2, the Uno has 3 timers. It is the 16-bit timer (timer1) that does the servo function. The Mega has an additional 3 timers, all-16 bit.
KR2, the Uno has 3 timers. It is the 16-bit timer (timer1) that does the servo function. The Mega has an additional 3 timers, all-16 bit.
- KR2_Diving
- Posts: 391
- Joined: Aug 30th, 2012, 11:43 am
- Location: Currently: NW Suburbs of Chicago. Originally: NE Wisconsin
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Ok... so I have been playing with my TrackStar ESC's again tonight... and I tried changing the lines in the SERVO.h library on an UNO (R3) and I did not see any change in the results...
Not sure if it is UNO based... or ME based... was only running ONE Servo. (well... it was 4 ESC all sharing one PWM output. I was testing different ESC Settings...)
As a side note, still not happy with what I am seeing...
I was using a very basic code with a POT acting as my throttle.
I have been playing with various combinations of settings, focusing on the DRAG Brake, Brake Strength, and Punch Control Settings.
Would motor timing have much affect on start stop reverse settings? I have it set in the middle at the moment?
Not sure if it is UNO based... or ME based... was only running ONE Servo. (well... it was 4 ESC all sharing one PWM output. I was testing different ESC Settings...)
As a side note, still not happy with what I am seeing...
I was using a very basic code with a POT acting as my throttle.
Code: Select all
#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo; // create servo object to control a servo
// a maximum of eight servo objects can be created
int pos = 0; // variable to store the servo position
int pot = 0; // analog pin connected to POT
int potval = 0; // value of pot 0 to 1023
int val = 0; // value sent to control speed/rotation of servo/motor
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
myservo.attach(9); // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
myservo.write(90); //send value of 90 (on scale of 0-180) to servo
delay (2000); //2 second delay to intiate ESC. required?
}
void loop()
{
potval = analogRead(0);
val = map(potval, 0, 1023, 0, 180);
Serial.print(potval);
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.println(val);
myservo.write(val);
delay (50);
}
Would motor timing have much affect on start stop reverse settings? I have it set in the middle at the moment?
Re: Turnigy TrackStar 18A ESC
Hi Ryan,
Yeah generally you want the punch set to max.... if you were running this ESC on a car, you'd use punch to adjust the throttle according to track grip. think of it as "ramp up time"
menu 1, should be 3 for best response.
reverse speed max,
drag brake max,
and timing, from memory, i have set to the middle setting.
Yeah generally you want the punch set to max.... if you were running this ESC on a car, you'd use punch to adjust the throttle according to track grip. think of it as "ramp up time"
menu 1, should be 3 for best response.
reverse speed max,
drag brake max,
and timing, from memory, i have set to the middle setting.