Merry Christamas Everyone - Here's MAKO2 to celebrate...

Phyrephish · **Joined:** Tue May 10, 2011 1:17 pm **Posts:** 1123

Just in time for XMAS 2012 and of course before the end of the world tomorrow, RCTA presents .....

MAKO2 is the first significant Hardware upgrade to the MAKO system. The onboard microprocessor has been doubled in size providing a whole range of new functions.

MAKO2 is compatible with BOTH the Heng Long RX18 and the Taigen 2.4 gHz MFU and can battle with Tamiya, Heng Long, Taigen and WSN tanks. MAKO offers 'plug & play' installation with no soldering or modification to your MFU required. MAKO operates with your existing radio - NO radio upgrade needed either. Simply, there is no other product that offers such a range of IR battle options.

Here is a summary of the features.

A: 5-Pin Input Port: Connect the 5 pin cable from the RX18 or Taigen MFU to here.
B: Programmer Input. At present this input is not used by the end user. It is used during construction of the MAKO to program the microcontroller (N).
C: Bergepanzer Jumper. If a Bergepanzer mode is selected this jumper should be removed to limit the distance of the repair signal.
D: On-board LED Jumper: Remove this jumper if you have an external indicator LED or are connecting a Hammerhead.
E: On-board LED: Indicates the status of the MAKO.
F: External Indicator LED Output. Connect your external indicator LED or Hammerhead LED lead here. The pin closest to the outside of the board is V+. Output is 5V, hence an appropriate resistor is required.
G: 5-Pin Output Port: Connect the 5 pin cable from the Battle Unit or Hammerhead to here
H: Cannon LED Output: Connect your 3 or 5 mm cannon flash LED here. User must make their own 3 or 5 mm LED and lead. The pin closest to the outside of the board is V+. No resistor required.
I: Motor 1 Terminal Block: For ATRC operation cut the red motor wire and connect the output from the MFU to IN and the wire to the motor to OUT.
J: Motor 2 Terminal Block: For ATRC operation cut the red motor wire and connect the output from the MFU to IN and the wire to the motor to OUT. It does not matter which motor you have as motor 1 or 2. The ATRC function removes the undesirable, gerbox destroying track effects such as track recoil, the hit sudders and death spasm.
K: Recoil Servo Output: This output drives a servo set up to operate the main cannon recoil as per the RCTA Recoil Servo Modification.
L: REMORA Output: This output is for the innovative new Remora wireless DATA link that will transmit your tanks battle status to a central command station. See this youtube video for a look at the very early stages of REMORA development and what REMORA is all about:

M: MAMBA Output: This output is for the connection of the MAMBA board which provides speed limitation in accordance to the amount of battle damage sustained.
N: Micro controller: Like all previous MAKOs the micro controller is fitted into an IC socket allowing simple upgrades of the MAKO system via chip replacement.
O: Voltage Regulator: To improve compatibility with Taigen and other non Heng Long MFUs the MAKO is now able to regulate it's own voltage requirements and supply enough current to operate a micro servo connected the the Recoil Servo Output.

MAKO BATTLE MODES
To ascertain the state and operating mode of your MAKO you must be able to view either the on-board LED or a properly connected external LED. On power up your MAKO will flash the Indicator LED a number of times corresponding to the version of firmware running on the micro controller. Full details of the firmware version are also transmitted by REMORA and can be viewed on the command station. After showing the firmware status the LED will stay lit for a period of 5 seconds. During this period the MAKO can be programmed using a standard SONY TV remote. By pressing the buttons on your remote the following battle modes are activated.

1: Light Battle Tank – 3 lives, 3 second reload period, 40 shell magazine capacity, 10 sec repair time
2: Medium Battle Tank – 5 lives, 5 second reload period, 60 shell magazine capacity, 14 sec repair time
3: Heavy Battle Tank – 9 lives, 9 second reload period, 80 shell magazine capacity, 18 sec repair time
4: Light Bergepanzer – 3 lives, 6 second reload period, 80 repair capacity, 10 sec repair time
5: Medium Bergepanzer – 3 lives, 10 second reload period, 80 repair capacity, 14 sec repair time
6: Heavy Bergepanzer – 3 lives, 10 second reload period, 80 repair capacity, 18 sec repair time
7: Autoberg: Automatic Bergepanzer mode.
8: MAUS Mode: Heavy tank setting firing the Tamiya 2 shot kill code.
9: Reserved
P+: Turn on Coup de gras function (default)
P-: Turn off Coup de gras function

Once programmed setting are written to the MAKO's Eeprom so there is no need to program the MAKO at each startup. Mako setting can be changed at any startup programming period.

NOTES:

Repair:
When a tank is repaired it is returned to the state it was prior to the last hit. The magazine capacity is returned to a 'full' capacity. A tank can only be repaired 5 times. Undamaged tanks are not repaired.

MAMBA:
If it is necessary to simulate battle damage by decreased motor speed then a MAMBA board is required. Speed reduction follows the typical rules of 50% after the first hit followed by a reduction to 25% as the tank reaches it's last available life. The MAMBA board also takes care of the ATRC function so there is no need to connect the motors to the ATRC terminals if using MAMBA.

Ghost hits:
As magical as it is the MAKO cannot alter the program that runs on the Taigen or Heng Long MFU. After receiving 5 hits the Taigen or HL MFU will determine the tank is destroyed and shut down. Thus to achieve the 9 hits required for Heavy Tank operation there are 5 'real' hits and 4 'ghost hits'. A ghost hit is a verified IR hit from another battle tank that is processed by the MAKO but NOT passed through to the MFU. Hence, on a ghost hit the tank will stop and the hit indicating LEDs will flash but there will be no explosion sound from the MFU.

Coup de gras:
A coup de gras is a 'lucky' shot that disables/destroys the tank in one shot. When the coup de gras function is on (default) there is a 1 in 20 chance that any IR hit will be a coup de gras. When the tank has been hit by a coup de gras shot the motors are disabled and it can no longer can fire IR. The indicator LEDS will flash rapidly and a countdown to total destruction begins. If a bergepanzer can reach the disabled tank and initiate repair before the tank is 'totally destroyed' it is possible to recover the tank. Coup de gras function can be turned on or off during the programming period by pressing Channel/Program buttons on the remote control. P+ turns coup de gras on while P- turns the function off.

Indicator and Cannon flash LED:
Because multiple LEDS are usually driven from the Indicator LED out this output provides a 5V supply. If the end user does not wish to connect a Hammerhead then an appropriate resistor is required depending on number and type of LEDs used. As only a single LED is required for the Cannon a current limiting resistor is present on the MAKO 2 board. A 3 or 5mm LED can be connected direct to this output. (V+ is the outer pin).

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

MAMBA

For motor speed regulation according to battle damage. Connects to ATRC output on MAKO and Output 1 on the MAKO2. Connects using a standard 3 way servo cable (Yellow-signal, Red-V+, Brown-V0) For correct connection the signal wire to the inside of the board for BOTH the MAMBA and MAKO. Total plug & play no cutting of motor wires needed.

HAMMERHEAD

Connection platform for the Heng Long IR receiver (mushroom) (not included). Designed to fit into the cupolas of the Heng Long/Taigen range of 1/16th tanks. Provides easy recognition of the hit indicating LEDs as well as providing an optional connection for the IR emitter.

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Merry Christamas Everyone - Here's MAKO2 to celebrate...

Merry Christamas Everyone - Here's MAKO2 to celebrate...

Merry Christamas Everyone - Here's MAKO2 to celebrate...

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