Sumovore Manual

The Solarbotics Sumovore
Building the Discrete Brain Electronics - 11
Step 39a - Diodes: There are eight diodes (yup, not 7, not 9; 8) in your
Sumovore’s discrete brain. Diodes are polarity sensitive, and they have a
black band to show which way is the cathode (negative end). Install the
diodes with the black band in the same position as the band printed on
the circuit board in positions ‘D1’, ‘D2’, ‘D3’, ‘D4’, ‘D5’, ‘D6’, ‘D7’,
and ‘D8’ (whew!).
Step 39b - Optional Reset Diode: After some experimenting, we’ve
found that installing another diode into position ‘R26’ makes the reset
switch deactivate the Sumovore much better than just a resistor. Not
absolutely necessary, but we recommend it. Note that the black band is
installed towards the bottom.
Step 40 - 0.47µF Capacitors: The four 0.47µF (labled ‘474’)
capacitors get installed in positions ‘C11’, ‘C12’, ‘C13’, and ‘C14’. The
capacitors aren’t polarity sensitive, so don’t worry about the way they get
installed.
Step 39a: Install diodes at
positions ‘D1’ to ‘D8’
(note orientation!)
Step 40: Install 0.47µF
capacitors at ‘C11’ to ‘C14’
Steps 39 & 40: Diodes and
Capacitors
Step 41 & 42: 10k Trimpots & LEDs: The 10k single-turn trimpots
are how you’ll be setting the sensitivity of the edge detectors. Turning
them to the right (clockwise) makes them more sensitive; the other way
(counter-clockwise) makes time go backwards (just a counter-clockwise
joke there...).
Install the 10k (labeled ‘103’ on the side) trimpots in positions ‘TP2’ and
‘TP3’.
The LEDs show when the edge sensors have detected the edge. Everybody
likes blinky lights - it’s what makes robots (and Star Trek command
consoles) cool. Remember, LEDs need to go in the right way, so make sure
the flat spot on the LED’s shoulder matches the flat spot on printed on
the circuit board at positions ‘LED6’ and ‘LED7’.
Step 41:
Install 10k single-turn trimpot
at ‘TP2’ and ‘TP3’
Step 42:
Install LED at position ‘LED6’
and ‘LED7’ (watch polarity!)
Step 43: Two 6.8µF tantalum capacitors
at positions ‘C15’ and ‘C16’
Steps 41 & 42: 10k Trimpots and LEDs
Step 44:
Reset Switch
into ‘SWT1’
Step 43 & 44: 6.8µF Capacitors and Reset Switch: The
two 6.8µF capacitors are installed to ‘C15’ and ‘C16’, and
are part of the startup circuitry. These capacitors are polarity
sensitive, so be sure the shorter leg goes into the square pad
(square pads usually indicate ‘-’, which is what the cap’s
short leg is). The cap also shows a little “+” sign near one
leg (the longer leg), just so you have two ways to identify the
legs.
The switch is a bit tight to install at position ‘SWT3’ (sorry,
we should have done that earlier in the assembly process),
and resets the startup timer when released. It’s also a bit
hard to reach, but that was planned that way so it doesn’t
accidently get hit by the opponent in the heat of combat.
Step 39b (optional):
Install diode in this
orientation into R26