Re: Power Function control with RCX and BrickOS

Thank you very much for that fine piece of software Bob!

After reading your post I immediately run in my LEGO room to grab an RCX and the
IR tower to test your software. Well, I had to find out that I had not enough
batteries at home and thus had to get some overpriced ones at the next gas
station :-)

Download of the firmware as well as the program worked fine. The program runs
without problems and the Bulldozer reacts immediately. Great!

I have a few issues though where I'd like to ask you for some hints:

- The rotation sensor sets zero at the position it was during start of the
  program. By stepwise moving the axle in one direction, the PF motor runs first
  at max. speed and then gets slower and slower. So PWM works fine. But how can
  I change the program in a way that from zero position the speed increases when
  turning the axle of the rotation sensor? Currently it decreases stepwise from
  max. speed which makes it somewhat difficult to control the Bulldozer (or
  whatever model using the PF motors).

- Furthermore I found out that turning the rotation sensor in one direction, the
  motor runs in for example forward direction. I thought by turning the
  connector plate on the sensor interface of the RCX would change direction of
  revolution of the motor when the sensor is turned in the same direction as
  before. Of course, I tried all four possible orientations of the connector,
  but the motor still turns always in the same direction when turning the axle
  of the rotation sensor forward? Is this the correct behaviour?

- Finally, does it happen to you too, that the rotation sensors loose
  calibration very fast? Just after playing around for a few cycles (forward,
  backwards, forward...) The zero position is not at the same place any more.

If you could give me some hints on how to overcome these issues, this would be
much appreciated. You will have to know that I am everything else than a
Mindstorms professional :-)

Thanks again for your work

Beat

PS. My intention is to build a proper remote control with two mechanical
joysticks, each coupled to two rotation sensors to be able to control all four
functions of the Bulldozer at the same time.