Encoder count via serial

Hello,

I am doing a project where I'll have to control 2 roboteq controllers with an Arduino board, the arduino will have to get the encoder counts from both controllers in order to sync them according to the counts.
My question is if the counts over serial are in real time and reliable enough for the aduino to have a nice sync during operation.

I think that it is important to mention that when I say sync, it is not a real sync, I mean, one roboteq has to increase or decrease rpm to aquire a certain encoder count according to the count of the other controller. In a certain moment controller A has to have a certain speed and position and the B has to have another completely different.
I know that it might be a bit confusing but I can't reveal the exact project "secrets" for now, I just need to know how fast and reliable the encoder signal is over serial to be read by the arduino.

Thank.

Kind regards

Hi Blake,
That's great news!!!!
Tell me one more thing, which is the best way to operate? Write a script inside the controller to send the encoder count over serial or being the arduino to request it all the time?

Cheers

Hi Blake,

I am used to connect arduinos to roboteqs since 2011 but only for simple commands.
I think I will try to put the roboteq to constantly send the counts over serial, can you advise me about the best script on the controller side to use for that?
I guess thats the most reliable way to do it instead of having the arduino to request it all the time X times per second.

Thank you

Regards

Thank you Blake once again,

Look, I have an old SDC2130 (2012) that I use for my tests before I jump to the big HBL's, now I was reading its data sheet and it says on the pinout board that it has a TTL channel on pins 6 and 7, is this true or do I really have to use the RS232 on pins 2 and 3 as usual with the help of a serial to TTL converter?

Thanks

Hi,

I am using an old datasheet because my SDC2130 is also old (SN R0159). It was electronically updated by Mr. Cosma back in 2011 to work with a new firmware, he replaced one component on the board.

Cheers

Blake, I have one more question that I think I can include in this topic..
As I said, I'll have 2 HBL's working togheter in a non sync way and bothe controlled by a microcontroller that we can assume as an arduino.. I wonder if it is possible to implement a security feature to this equation... if for any reason one of the controllers stop or stall by an internal problem or even because a serial comunication interruption, I need the other to stop imediately too because it will be really dangerous and can injure people if it doesn't happen.
How can I achieve this?
I thought about having both controller linked to each other by a CAN line only for this function, is this the right way? How?

Thanks