Note: These controllers have been replaced by the RoboClaw 2x15A with USB (V4) and RoboClaw 2x30A with USB (V4).
Overview
The RoboClaw from Basic Micro is an extremely efficient, versatile, dual channel synchronous regenerative motor controller. It supports dual quadrature encoders and can supply two brushed DC motors with 5 A, 15 A, or 30 A continuous (depending on the model), and twice as much peak, at voltages from 6 to 30 V.
The RoboClaw features dual quadrature decoding capability. A built-in PID routine can be used for closed-loop speed control, maintaining motor speeds even if the load varies, or the encoder counts and speeds can be read directly from the RoboClaw for use with an external control system.
Several interface modes are supported by the RoboClaw. It can be controlled via TTL serial for use with an embedded system or a PC with a serial adapter, RC hobby servo pulses for use as an RC-controlled electronic speed control (ESC), or analog voltages for use with potentiometers or analog joysticks.
Key Features
- Simple bidirectional control of two brushed DC motors
- 6 V to 30 V operating supply range
- 5 A to 30 A maximum continuous current output, depending on controller model
- Three communication or control options:
- Logic-level (TTL) serial interface for direct connection to microcontrollers or other embedded controllers, or connection to a PC with a serial port (external RS-232 level converter required) or USB-to-serial adapter
- Hobby radio control (RC) pulse width interface for direct connection to an RC receiver or RC servo controller
- 0–5 V analog voltage interface for direct connection to potentiometers and analog joysticks
- Dual quadrature encoder inputs up to 8,000,000 encoder pulses per second
(Open-loop control with no feedback also available.) - Screw terminals for quick connect/disconnect
- Configurable via onboard DIP switches
- Regenerative braking
- Tolerates high-speed direction changes
- Jumper-selectable 5 V BEC
- Battery monitoring and under-voltage cutoff protects batteries from over-discharging
RoboClaw Comparison Table
 2x5A |
 2x15A |
2x30A |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor channels: | 2 | ||
| Operating voltage(1): | 6–30 V | ||
| Continuous output current: | 5 A | 15 A | 30 A |
| Peak output current: | 10 A | 30 A | 60 A |
| 5V BEC(2) max current: | 100 mA | 3 A | |
| Width: | 1.9″ (4.8 cm) | 2.6″ (6.6 cm) | |
| Length: | 2.0″ (5.0 cm) | 3.0″ (7.7 cm) | |
| Weight: | 34 g | 76 g | |
1 A separate logic supply is needed if the main power source is over 17 V.
2 Battery Eliminator Circuit
Sample Code
Basic Micro has written an Arduino library for the RoboClaw (21k zip) that makes it easy to interface these motor controllers with an Arduino. The library comes with several example sketches that demonstrate different methods of controlling the RoboClaw. (We have updated the library to work with version 1.0 of the Arduino environment.)
