Hi (first time posting, so sorry if I missed any conventions):
I am mentoring my son's FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics team. We've been competing for three years and know our way around the hardware and software. This year we've suffered from random processor (Lego NXT) crashes and lockups. It also has been unusually cold and dry in maryland.
I suspect that we are having ESD problems. The kids are constantly getting shocked when touching the robot. They've also witnessed the NXT controller resetting when they've gotten shocked.
The motors, and motor controllers run off a 12V NiMH battery, the NXT controller and sensors run off a 6 AA batteries for 9V total. I suspect (don't have a schematic) that the two grounds are connected within the motor controller. The chassis is floating.
My thought is to take the battery ground from the 12 V and connect it to chassis in the hopes that this would keep the chassis from charging up. Thoughts? I can also connect the 9V batter to chassis ground (but it is harder to get to. Thoughts?
I am mentoring my son's FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics team. We've been competing for three years and know our way around the hardware and software. This year we've suffered from random processor (Lego NXT) crashes and lockups. It also has been unusually cold and dry in maryland.
I suspect that we are having ESD problems. The kids are constantly getting shocked when touching the robot. They've also witnessed the NXT controller resetting when they've gotten shocked.
The motors, and motor controllers run off a 12V NiMH battery, the NXT controller and sensors run off a 6 AA batteries for 9V total. I suspect (don't have a schematic) that the two grounds are connected within the motor controller. The chassis is floating.
My thought is to take the battery ground from the 12 V and connect it to chassis in the hopes that this would keep the chassis from charging up. Thoughts? I can also connect the 9V batter to chassis ground (but it is harder to get to. Thoughts?