AX1500 Motor Controller Overview
24 AX1500 Motor Controller User’s Manual Version 1.9b. June 1, 2007
The motors are driven using high-efficiency Power MOSFET transistors controlled using
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) at 16kHz. The AX1500 power stages can operate from 12
to 40VDC and can sustain up to 30A of controlled current, delivering up to 1200W (approx-
imately 1.5 HP) of useful power to each motor.
The many programmable options of the AX1500 are easily configured using the supplied
PC utility. Once programmed, the configuration data are stored in the controller's non-vola-
tile memory, eliminating the need for cumbersome and unreliable jumpers.
Optical Encoders allow precise motor speed and position measurement and enable
advance robotic applications.
Technical features
Fully Digital, Microcontroller-based Design
• Multiple operating modes
• Fully programmable through connection to a PC
• Non-volatile storage of user configurable settings
• Simple operation
• Software upgradable with new features
Multiple Command Modes
• Radio-Control Pulse-Width input
• Serial port (RS-232) input
• 0-5V Analog Command input
Multiple Advanced Motor Control Modes
• Independent operation on each channel
• Mixed control (sum and difference) for tank-like steering
• Open Loop or Closed Loop Speed mode
• Position control mode for building high power position servos
• Modes selectable independently for each channel
Automatic Joystick Command Corrections
• Joystick min, max and center calibration
• Selectable deadband width
• Selectable exponentiation factors for each joystick
• 3rd R/C channel input for accessory output activation (disabled when encoder mod-
ule present)
Special Function Inputs/Outputs
• 2 Analog inputs. Used as:
• Tachometer inputs for closed loop speed control
• Potentiometer input for position (servo mode)
• Motor temperature sensor inputs
• External voltage sensors