Wifi enabled arduino clone "BlackWidow 1.0", combined with a polulu MC33887-based 2.5A speed controller. I was going to build my own, but we need to finish the project. The hens wait for no one. Well, right now, they wait for us. Well, Pam, mainly. :-)
Overview:

View of speed-controller, motor, and trigger-button wiring (why not use the trigger and fwd/lock/reverse switches as inputs?):

Close-up of pull-up and pull-down resistors to drive analog inputs with three possible states, 0v, 2.5v, and 5v, giving appropriate values around 0, 512, and 1023.

I love re-using PC cables, and this one will work perfectly as a header cable for the Black Widow board. I have a Seeeduino in place to show how completely lucky I got... The board fits where the batteries were!
I'll then just use the DC charge jack as the main power input from the solar-charged gel-cell:

A close-up of the Black Widow with wifi board:

What's next?
Hardware: temporary install plugging fanout wires into BlackWidow headers. Will be permanently soldered after beta code version.
Hardware: USB socket for field reprogramming. Unfortunately, I don't think the BlackWidow can program itself via wireless (yet). USB Will be it.
Coding: onboard webpage for manual controls, atomic-time retrieval, and time-based scheduling.
Coding: drill trigger/direction UI for manual operation
BTW, I came up with this idea on my own and then Pam discovered like minds. I like their design for its simplicity, but it won't have soft-start PWM speed control!
3 comments:
Slinky=
I am so impresesed by your designs. I am very interested in these types of projects, but need to start at a more beginner level to understand the circuitry you're using. I have a good grasp of electrical engineering, but have very little experience on circuit boards. I want to know this stuff. Is there a good book or site you'd recommend to begin this journey?
Wow that is incredible. I want to make a similar system for my A level project at school. Is it worth making it able to be controlled via the internet as well as timed in your opinion. I wouldnt have the fogiest idea how to start it and which circuit board to use to make it especially with the computer side to it too.
Now that you have a working design would you consider making it for "customers?"
Post a Comment