Well I have made some progress with my efforts to get the IBU3 electronics configured and running in my test tank.
I acquired the IBU3 as my way of learning my way around custom hardware and software that already existed for the past few years in the RC tanking hobby. Since the production OP TCB isn’t yet available through Hobby King it seemed like a logical path to follow in aiding my effort to learn and comprehend not only fundamental RC concepts, but also gain valuable experience in the custom electronics arena. While I could build a TCB from the information provided on this website I am going to go with "I am too lazy and lack the patience to do that" and wait for Hobby King to release it...
So, as a precursor to the Open Panzer TCB, I feel that this path would also give me some advantage when it comes to comparing the existing features and capabilities of the Taigen OEM motherboard and IBU3 with the upcoming release of the OP TCB. As I learn about what is already out there I think I can better understand and appreciate what the Open Panzer project truly brings to the table. The whole process has given me several ideas and I am looking forward to using the TCB once it comes out. (
One thing I want to definitely look at in the TCB code is when it is controlling the servos how it keep tracks of the pulse count(s). I believe that the idea is already been touched upon from what I've read about maintaining barrel elevation and having the turret traverse back or stay at a known location but I need to dig into it to see how exactly it works).
==== Self Reminder: Meet the Power Requirements
Anyway, I found myself with a few issues working with the IBU3 initially. First and foremost, I realized last night that I had set the current limit on my benchtop power supply too low. With the V2 Taigen smoke unit connected and everything running at maximum settings I needed more than the 2 amp limit I had initially set. Ultimately, I just set my power supply to provide maximum amperes (~3A) on that channel and so many of the little mysteries vanished and it seems to max out at around 2.8A.
Leave it to a software guy to overlook the power requirements....
On the flip side, knowing that my Tiger can gobble up upwards of 3A running all out also means I can more accurately calculate how long my batteries would hold up under such conditions. It also has me thinking about the possibility of wiring up my batteries in parallel to get more run time (alas, this is would be another mini project for a future time).
With regard to wiring, I also need to remember to solder that single ground wire coming out of the IR module in the turret to the switch ground. I was going to just use a common ground on the IBU module but was told that could have negative repercussions on the electronics should a malfunction occur. No problem. Just a little more soldering on my part.
And I want some better cooling fans. I am not yet running into any thermal issues but I like the idea of keeping electronics as cool as possible and the little PC fans I currently have just aren't moving that much air. I'll go out to my usual online store haunts and see what is out there....
==== Self Reminder: 2.4GHz can potentially be a noisy environment
An issue I was dealing with in conjunction with my self inflicted power mix up is that I am losing radio contact with the receiver and sometimes get unusual responses from the tank. The low current may have factored into some of this early on but now that the power issue has been alleviated I am still seeing some problems maintaining radio contact with the X8R receiver. The fact that I am only a foot away would tend to eliminate distance as a factor.
I first replaced the already installed PCB trace antenna with the “whip” antenna that were also included thinking that might be a factor for some reason. This change seemed to help somewhat even though I would not think directional aspects would apply. Maybe someone out there can tell me if the PCB antenna work better in tanks than the whips. I guess I need to add antennas to my list of reading materials...
As I continued to pursue this issue a thought occurred to me while I was working with the hardware last night...
My work area is particularly compact and I tend to lay my radio down in front of me in such a way as to where its antenna extends out over my computer keyboard. The computer workstation is also nearby and I am pretty sure it is just radiating EMI and causing potential radio interference.
I suspect that my computer and/or keyboard are to blame as the interference “appears” to go away when I pick up the radio and move it away from these potential sources (I need to figure out a way of getting my hands on a spectrum analyzer one of these days).
Once I clear up the radio interference to my satisfaction I am just about done with this part of my experimentation. I will likely play around with some of the IBU features such as acceleration mapping as well as using it to test and compare the various speakers I have for audio quality purposes. In retrospect, I am not really certain I can distinguish and present speaker quality from recordings I've made. The nuances between speakers that I can hear don't really get picked up by the recording hardware I have and I am sure the recording software I use is likely filtering as well. More conundrums...
==== Self Reminder: Learning what my radio can do
My next big target of exploration is going to be the Taranis Q X7 and
OpenTX to get a better handle on the programmable features and capabilities it provides. I have already been told that some folks have been able to program their Turnigy radios and move the IBU3 gun firing from the joystick to discrete switches on their transmitters. Surely there is a way I can figure out how to do this on the Taranis I have. Just a little more reading....
The documents section of the OpenTX website presents an enormous amount of reading material. So, in addition to the task of reading and understanding the information provided in the Open Panzer
wiki , I can also add all this OpenTX and Taranis material to my plate of reading material. I know that all of this really isn’t a requirement (or necessary) to have fun and use the TCB in my tanks but I would like to know more about my radio and what kind of performance I can squeeze out of it.
In summary, I have to give a nod of credit to forum members and cottage industry owners across the RC and modeling communities as everyone I has been helpful and willing to answer questions (Of which I still have plenty). And, for me, the Open Panzer project was exactly what I needed to get into this.