Using the OWI-007 Robotic Arm Trainer

The OWI-007 Robotic Arm Trainer has five motors normally controlled by a Hand Controller. When a switch is pushed up, one of the motors activates. When pushed down, the motor rotates in the opposite direction. Several switches may be activated at the same time.

The OWI-007 may be purchased in Australia from: Baycom Technologies

A Computer Interface connected to the Arm.

 In the photograph on the right the Hand Controller has been replaced by a computer interface based on the Simplified I/O Interface and Relay Sub-board.

The reversing action of the motors relies on a Dual Power Supply. The five green wires attached at the right in the photograph below connect to the centre position of the four batteries. Red and black wires are attached at the left to the top and bottom of the battery stack. This arrangement allows the switching to provide alternating polarity. Since the direction of motor rotation is determined by voltage polarity, this arrangement allows for change in rotational direction (resulting in: up/down, left/right, open/closed, etc).

The Battery Compartment at the base of the Arm.

A Dual Power Supply using Batteries and a Relay.

The action of the Power Supply and the Hand Controller may be replaced by seven relays as indicated below. Using this arrangement the arm may be controlled with a computer.

The two relays on the left are used to reverse Polarity (see below). The other five relays switch the motors on and off.

Using Two Relays to Reverse Polarity.

Both output lines are the same polarity. Nothing will happen. The motors won't rotate. The same condition applies to the "+", "+" state.
NOTE: This state will NOT damage the power supply, or the motors.

With this arrangement you must provide 3 volts for the motors and 12 volts for the relay board.

When writing programs to control the Arm using the arrangement above you must switch the two Polarity Relays to the required state and then switch on the motor using one of the other five relays.

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