Sumovore Manual

The Solarbotics Sumovore
Building the Mainboard Electronics - 2
Step 6: Installing the ICs into the Carriers
This part isn’t hard, because if you mess it up, it’s easily corrected.
Simply note which side of each chip has the notch, and install each
into the proper carriers. Confirm all legs go into the slots!
Note: You may have to gently bend the chip’s legs inwards a bit to
make them fit into the carrier!
The L293D is the chip that routes the actual power to the motors, so
if you severely abuse your minisumo, you may need to replace it. This
is very unlikely, especially since it has a feature called “thermal
shutdown” which turns off the chip if it gets too hot.
The 74AC14 is used to condition the sensor signals so they make
sense to the rest of the electronics in your minisumo, and is also part
of the 5 second startup delay timer.
Note Notch Position
Step 6: Installing L293 and 74AC14 into carriers
Step 6: Install ICs
74AC14
L293D
Step 7, 8, & 9: Capacitors C1-C3, C6, C7
Start with the can-like 1000µF 6.3V. Bend the leads over as shown, and
insert into the ‘C1’ position.
Note: The striped side of the capacitor is negative, so make sure the lead
nearest the stripe (also the shorter lead of the two) is going to the square
pad.
Finish by inserting the 6.8µF tantalum capacitors in spots ‘C2’ and ‘C3’,
again, noting polarity. The longer lead is the ‘+’ side. You MUST get the
polarity right with these capacitors! You risk blowing them up if they’re
installed backwards!
The 0.1µF (labled ‘104’) capacitors don’t mind how they’re installed in
the small boxes labled ‘C6’ or ‘C7’ ABOVE the left/right motor mounts.
Solder them in, and clip the leads off the bottom!
Step 8:
6.8µF (x 2)
Step 7: 1000µF
Steps 7 - 9: Installing 1000µF and 6.8µF capacitors
Steps 10 & 11: SWT1 and SWT2 switch installation
Step 10 & 11: SWT1 and SWT2
No magic here - insert the switches so they’re flush to the surface, and
solder them in.
SWT1 is the all-important main power switch. Won’t do anything without
it!
SWT2 is the ‘Motor Enable’ switch, which will turn off the motors so you
can easily tune your Sumovore without it running away on you. It’ll look
like one or the other shown, and both work equally well.
Step 10: SWT1
Main Power Switch
Step 9: 0.1µF (x 2)
Step 11: SWT2
Enable Switch