Discount Motor Controllers for Grand Challenge Teams

If you’re in the market for motor controllers for your Grand Challenge vehicle, Roboteq is offering a 20% discount to verified 2005 entrants. In return, you’ll have to hand over some logo space on your vehicle. Sounds like a fair deal …

I haven’t played with any of their products, but their AX2550 motor controllers look like just the ticket for powering steering, brake and accelerator actuators. The 2550 can accept input via analog joystic, R/C radio, or serial interface; it’s easy to imagine these different modes being useful during development, pre-race staging and autonomous operation. For a little more money, the AX2850 adds the capability to take input from an optical encoder, for more precise position control.

According to the Roboteq web page, four of the 2004 GC finalist teams used their hardware. Any comments from people who’ve tried these products in the field?