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Analog Control and Operation
98 AX500 Motor Controller User’s Manual Version 1.9b. June 1, 2007
Important Notice
Some analog joysticks do not cause the potentiometer to reach either extreme. This
may cause the analog voltage range to be above 0V and below 5V when the stick is
moved to the extreme, and therefore the controller will not be able to deliver full for-
ward or reverse power.
Power-On Safety
When powering on the controller, power will not be applied to the motors until both the
Channel 1 and Channel 2 potentiometers have been centered to their middle position (2.5V
on each input). This is to prevent the robot or vehicle from moving, in case the joystick was
in an active position at the moment the controller was turned on.
Under Voltage Safety
If the controller is powered through the VCon input and the motor battery voltage drops
below 5V, the controller will be disabled until the analog commands are centered to the
midpoint (2.5V on each input).
Data Logging in Analog Mode
While in Analog Mode, the AX500 will continuously send a string of characters on the
RS232 output line. This string will contain two-digits hexadecimal number representing the
following operating parameters.
• Captured Analog Command 1 and 2
• Power Applied to Controller’s output stage
• Raw analog command values
• Amps on channel 1 and 2
• Internal Heat Sink temperatures 1 and 2
• Main Battery voltage
• Internal 12V voltage
The entire string is repeated every 213 milliseconds with the latest internal parameter val-
ues. This information can be logged using the Roborun Utility (see “Viewing and Logging
3 (default) 0% to 7.1% 2.32V to 2.68V 95% 0.13V to 4.88V
4 0% to 9.4% 2.27V to 2.74 93% 0.18V and 4.83V
5 0% to 11.8% 2.21V to 2.80V 95% 0.13V to 4.88V
6 0% to 14.2% 2.15V to 2.86V 94% 0.15V and 4.85V
7 0% to 16.5% 2.09V to 2.91V 96% 0.10V and 4.90V
TABLE 15. Analog deadband parameters and their effects
Parameter Value
Pot. Position resulting in
Motor Power at 0%
Pot. Position resulting in
Motor Power at -/+100%