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Differential steering setup

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GCTech
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Joined: 2020-06-18 10:15
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Differential steering setup

I am building an axle out of two BLDC motors from 20v cordless drill. I purchased a dual Flipsky 4.20 50A FSESC. 

I've been able to successfully control each motor independently but not together. At no time has the Vesc tool recognized two motors. I tried several times with the CAN bus switch with no luck. I've tried connecting a CAN Bus cable to both sides but this did nothing. I have a green and blue light on one side and only blue on the other. Now the USB will not let me connect to the side with only the blue light on. 

I am going to order two more FSESC but going to be 4.12 independent not dual motor. Planning to connect the two with a CAN bus cable. 

Ideally I would like to control the system with a 2 axis joystick without an Adriuno but I am finding it difficult to find a thread that can walk me through it. Simple is best. 

Joystick switch should deactivate the steering until the button is pressed again. 

I've never used an Adriuno, I purchased a sparkfun tinker kit to work with. But ideally I would like to avoid the Adruino. Is a nunchuck a better option? 

If no other option, then I will set the Adruino up to control the two FSESC via 2 x PPM output, with each FSESC getting its own signal. 

So I need all kinds of help. I think my current FSESC is bricked on one side. Not sure how to unbrick or if its possible. Flipsky is not responding. 

Thanks 

-Brent 

 

 

 

 

pf26
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Did you firstly connect each Vesc separately to the VESC tool, and assign each one with a unique CAN ID ?  Only this way you could control both from a unique connection (ie to a "master" VESC, which will froward the packets to the slave using CAN bus)

You can connect your joystick to 2 analog inputs of the "master" VESC, and write a custom app (added to the master VESC firmaware) to control both VESCs from the analog inputs values.

Gfiuso
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Hi everyone,

@Pf26, Can you give us some advice on the best solution to control 2 vesc flipsky via RC transmitter and setup channels to get differential steering, stick1 forward/backward and stick2 for steering?

Any tutorial or guide, need easy solution, please.

Best,

Gabriele

TheFallen
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Gfiuso:
Why not have a sperate topic for a completely unrelated question?
Buy a v-tail mixer, it'll solve your problem the easiest way but maybe not the best.

CalLangford
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@pf26 - I'm having a similar experience to the OP.  Both VESCs have separate CAN IDs (they were given master/64 and slave/94 by default).  I'm also using a 2-axis remote.  One difference is that I can send data across the bus to the VESC 94.  The issue is that it's the same signal that is being given to VESC 64.  Pushing forward and/or right on the stick makes both wheels turn "forward."  And pulling the stick back and/or left makes both wheels turn in reverse.

I'm also inexperienced with Arduino.  However, if that's the easiest way to solve the issue then I don't mind taking a look.  I also don't mind the custom app solution for the master firmware.  I'd just need a nudge in the direction of some sample code.

I do apologize to the OP if this is different enough that it would warrant a new topic.  Thanks!