The Scout ESC is an open-source, dual brushed-motor speed controller that accepts both standard RC inputs or logic-level serial commands. The onboard processor is an ATmega 328 and can be programmed with the Arduino IDE using a standard FTDI cable or adapter (precompiled firmwares can also be downloaded and flashed to the Scout using the OP Config program). It operates at ultrasonic frequencies (no motor whine), at voltages up to 16 volts, and is rated at 12 amps continuous per motor without heatsinking, but the addition of a fan can increase the current capacity (30 amps max, requires serial commands to increase overcurrent limit beyond 12 amps). The Scout has its own onboard fan controller that can drive any standard 12 volt, 2-pin PC case fan (the 40mm size works well). The board has over-temperature protection, over and under-voltage protection, over-current protection, and is reverse-polarity protected. Current and voltage limits can be adjusted via serial commands.

The Scout was designed with the Open Panzer Tank Control Board (TCB) in mind and requires no special setup in that application other than to plug and play. It is the perfect size for controlling even the heaviest 1/16th scale RC tanks. For more details on connecting the Scout and TCB together see the Serial Motor Controller page of the TCB Wiki.

The Scout can also be used in many other applications including robotics. You can think of it as an open-source variant of the Dimension Engineering Sabertooth 2x12 or the Pololu Qik 2s12v10.

Resources

• For instructions, firmware, Eagle board files, schematics, bill of materials, and a sample Arduino library, see the Scout repository at the Open Panzer GitHub site.

Revision 11 - Updated 9/5/2019 - Uses VNH5019 motor driver ICs

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