controlling multiple motors + "WTF DOES IT DO?" challenge

[shadow_elenter]

Hello, brickers !

 

the struggle:

on my current build and most likely most that will follow this is the case, a lot of PF motors that need controlling.

 

I love the PF-motor's and I currently own 14 of them (1x servo, 4x M-motor, 5x L-motor, 4x XL-motor) The form factor, price and the fact that I already had a lot that came with set's I bought makes it the motor of choice for me.
The downside of these is the limited options to control them.

 

After a lot of research I came down to 2 realistic options:

Buy a mindstorms EV3 set and 2x the Hitechnic IR-link to control 8 lego IR-receivers (4 of them + 1 IR-link in a closed box and 4 of them + 1 IR-link out in the open) 
This way I can control 4 EV3 motors + 16 PF-motors and still use 2 sensor ports for whatever (with potentially 4 touch sensors per port using  Hitechnic touch sensor multipliers)

PROS:

-can make complex sequences 

-4 hi-precision motors

-good sensor options

CONS:

-can not control PF-motors speed, just on/off and spin direction

-always have to program

-Needs bulky smart brick+ 8 IR-receivers 4 of them in a bulky box

-poor remote control options

-price

 

OR:

Buy 5x S-brickplus

Allowing the control of 20 PF-motors in 15 speed steps (or less motors and more sensors) 

PROS:

-price

-speed control

-small form factor and no need for a bulky brick and IR-receiver box

-programming is simple and minimal

-good remote control options

CONS:

-very limited programming options

-having to wait for the EV3 sensor adapter(expected in march)

 

I just can not decide... I mostly build stationary-factory-devices like GBC's and almost never vehicles 

I like building but am not a big fan of programming...

 

What would you guys do? and am I going to run in to problems with any of the above setups or are there more options I should consider????? HELP!

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Now... for the challenge: who can tell what it does?  HINT: it's not very useful, more of a technical challenge ;)

To be fair: It's not done yet(I still have 2 motors left and that's a mortal sin ofcourse) but the components that you see are all done and preform there function perfectly.

Edited December 20, 2016 by shadow_elenter

[9v system]

Hi there

 

i say you should go with the seconded option as it is cheaper and smaller 

as for what it is, I'm Going to guess a gbc?

[Tommy Styrvoky]

An Sbrick would be a better option, but what about some sort of mechanical setup for toggling the motors, or you could do something like Desert752 did in his Feller Buncher 

This allows for multiple motors on different receivers.

[Captainowie]

Shadow, you're the only one that can possibly make that decision. You've done all the hard work to list the pros and cons of each approach - the right decision for you will come down to how highly you value each of the pros vs each of the cons, and none of us can know that. All you need to do now is decide how much importance you attach to each of those things, and the decision will virtually make itself!

As to what it is, I would guess that it's a device that circulates that red cube around inside itself.

 

Owen.

[wissamms]

Hello,

Although I own one, 

Another CON you can add to the EV3 brick: takes 30-40 seconds to start (really annoying), and the buttons are quite hard to press, it's really not convenient when you want to use it a lot...

[dr_spock]

How about the old 8094 Technic Control Center?  Would that work for your situation?  It seems like you don't like to program, so maybe a dozen or so LEGO 9V train speed controllers? 

As to the guess, it is a machine that makes a lot of motor noises, like the machine that goes ping in Monty Python. 

 

[shadow_elenter]

Hi there,

 

I decided (meaning my guinea pig picked the left carrot first) on the sbrick solution. there are 4 inbound and 2 more will be purchased when the + version becomes easily available.

as for what the machine does... Captainowie got it right! well... close enough... The idea was that a machine would transport a camera thru the factory.

The gopro session 5 that has remarkably similar dimensions to a 5x5x5 cube so I made a "testing brick" and well... yes, I guess it does do that too

  

 

when the sbrick's arrive I can finish up the last bits I'll make a video and pix for you guys  

 

Gr Onno