Programming instructions

Glossary • 131
APPENDIX B - GLOSSARY
Inventor’s Guide
276-2178-E-0610
Glossary
Transmitter Frequency Crystal –
Control Subsystem
The swappable module in back of the Transmitter
that designates the radio frequency that the
Transmitter will use to communicate with the RF
Receiver Module. The frequency of the Transmitter
Frequency Module must match the frequency of the
crystal installed in the RF Receiver Module on the
robot in order for them to communicate. All VEX
Systems come with the same Transmitter Frequency
Module. Additional modules on different frequencies
are available for purchase separately.
Trickle Charge – Power Subsystem
A very low-power charge that is applied to full
batteries in order to keep them full. A trickle charge
counteracts a battery’s natural loss of charge over
time, so that the battery can be left on the charger,
and still always maintain a full charge.
Trim – Control Subsystem
The calibration setting for the joysticks on the
Transmitter. Also, the name of the menu on the
Transmitter that allows for ne tuning of these
settings.
V
Voltage (Battery) – Power Subsystem
The electrical voltage difference between the
+ and – terminals on a battery. Different batteries
and battery packs have different starting voltages.
Voltage falls (though not all the way to 0) as the
battery’s power is used up, and can be used as a
rough indicator of the amount of capacity remaining
on a battery.
Voltage (Electrical) – Power Subsystem
The difference in electrical potential between two
points in a circuit or electrical eld. An electron
or other charged particle has more energy at one
of the two points, and will tend to move toward the
other point.
Voltage Drop – Power Subsystem
A phenomenon exhibited by rechargeable batteries
where a battery that is frequently “shallow
discharged” (discharged only a little between
recharges) will begin to experience reduced
performance. This can be reversed by discharging
the batteries to a nearly-empty safe level (when the
robot automatically turns off, for example–NOT by
shorting them or draining them to 0V by external
means!) and then recharging them to full capacity.
Repeating the drain-charge cycle a few times should
restore the batteries to full performance.
W
Washer – Structure Subsystem
A round metal or plastic disc placed between a
screw head or nut and the surface to which it is
mounted. The washer gives the screw a secure
surface to brace against, and prevents the screw
head from bending the metal surrounding the hole
and popping all the way through. Steel washers
should be used with screws that are not meant to
move at all. Delrin (white plastic) washers should be
used when the entire screw-nut assembly is meant
to turn together (e.g. the screw at the pivot of a
movable arm attachment).
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