TK50X Series RC tank gamming controller

TK50X 系列遙控坦克競賽控制器

THIS IS NOT 100% PLUG AND PLAY BOARD, SIMPLE CHANGE IS NEEDED FOR FULL OPTIONS

(specifications and design are subject to change without notice)

Overview

• The TK50 series controller builds upon the success of its predecessor, the TK40 controller. It utilizes either a 4-channel conventional PWM or a 10-channel S.BUS RC system to manage various functions of RC tanks. These functions include forward/backward movement, sharp turning, pivoting, turret rotation, and gun barrel elevation, all at variable speeds.

• Ultrasonic ESC*3  for two track motors and turret rotation.

• Ultra Low turn-on resistance FET for track motor ESC

• Support Gun Barrel Stabilizer ( G2 Variant )

• 22KHz, 8-bit high quality sound with digital sound mixer

• Up to 5 channels of sound tracks can be generated simultaneously, including main gun, machine gun, turret rotation, gun barrel elevation, and engine sound.

• 7W sound output power, 8/4-Ohm Speaker is recommended.

• 0.8A BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit).

• EPM*2 for gun elevation(EPM1) and turret rotation/gun traverses(EPM2) 

• Wide operating voltage range from 7.2V to 12V, compatible with 3S Li-Po batteries.

• Support air-soft gun with sound synchronization

• Support TAMIYA and HL IR battle unit and format

• Support RealRecoil servo port

• Support Recoil Solenoid for 2nd Machine Gun( MG2 )

• G variant Support gun barrel stabilizer

• Safety shutoff feature prevents unwanted movement in case of signal loss.

• Miniature design (60mm x 50mm x 20mm) suitable for 1/25 to 1/16 scale RC tanks.

• V2 Engine Sound Simulation

• V2 Smoker driver

• Adjustable Low Battery threshold

• Adjustable ESC start voltage

• Extend sound effect ( for E variant )

• Support various type of tank

• Support Tank Personalization

• Support Multiple smoke channel ( for K variant )

Terminology

Ultrasonic ESC: The Ultrasonic ESC is a high-speed electronic speed controller (ESC) that switches the FET (Field-Effect Transistor) at ultrasonic frequencies. This feature ensures extremely smooth and quiet motor rotation. The start voltage of the ESC can be adjusted to accommodate different types of motors.

Adjustable ESC start voltage: This feature allows an offset to be added to the ESC input versus output curve to match the characteristics of the motor.

EPM ( ESC/PWM module): The EPM is a peripheral that can be switched to ESC or PWM mode. It enables the user to drive brushed motors or servo motors. In ESC mode, the ESC port is enabled for driving brushed motors, while in PWM mode, the PWM port is enabled for driving servo motors. Sound effects are stopped when the servo motor reaches the endpoint. The TK50x has a EPM for gun elevation (EPM1) and turret rotation/gun traverses (EPM2).

RealRecoil: RealRecoil enables the recreation of realistic gun barrel recoil movement using a single, cost-effective servo motor.

Recoil Solenoid: The Recoil Solenoid enables the recreation of barrel recoil movement for machine guns/auto cannons using a solenoid.

V2 Smoker driver: The V2 Smoker Driver adjusts the smoker fan/compressor speed proportionally to engine RPM and load.

V2  Mixer: Turning is achieved by reducing track speed and increasing the opposite track speed to achieve smoother turning.

Adjustable Low Battery threshold: his feature cuts off ESC output when the battery voltage falls below a certain threshold. The threshold can be adjusted according to the battery type and cell count.
 

Extend sound effect ( for E variant ): Allows the playback of up to 8 audio/music/voice tracks.
 

Momentum Effect: Simulates the inertia of tank hull movement.

BEC (Battery Elimination Circuit): The BEC powers the receiver through the channel cable, eliminating the need for a secondary battery source.

Type of tank determines Battle Date when doing IR battle( See Variants section )

※ HENG-LONG TANK doesn't have Damaged State and Badly Damaged State. speed reduction can be turned off by Speed reduction in damage state and Speed reduction in badly damaged state function.

※ Suggested Value, can be changed by Reload Time and Invulnerability time setting function

Product Identification System

Variants

※ 20A if to connect motor from on-board connector, 60A if hardwire motor to PCB pads, 105A for A1 board

Hardware Variants

Software Revisions

Boot loader Revisions

Boot Loader is a application, executed in TK board, to handles software update, sound pack programming and setting data update

Accessories

10-CH  S.BUS mode control scheme

Transmitter: FS-i6S, self-centering VrA and VrB type Radio

RX:FS-iA10B

Receiver to TK50 board connection

V2.1 and above / V3.x

10-CH  S.BUS with extended sound effect mode control scheme

Pin Assignment Marking

The Pin 1 of each connector is designated by square pad mark

Connector and pin assignments

TK50XS/XSP/XESP

※1 Head Light LED is also GBS LED during GBS calibration

TK50XS/XSP/XESP Upper Hull Functions (CN9) Mode Table

Upper hull functions (CN9) mode	CN9.3	CN9.4	CN3.4	CN3.5
Airsoft	MG1 LED+ and Head Light LED+ and AIRSOFT Motor+	AIRSOFT Motor-	AirSoft/Recoil Switch	AirSoft/Recoil Switch
Tamiya Recoil	MG1 LED+ and Head Light LED+ and TAMIYA Recoil unit     green Wire	TAMIYA Recoil unit white Wire	TAMIYA Recoil Unit Switch	TAMIYA Recoil Unit Switch
MG1 Smoke /Recoil ※1	MG1 LED+ and Head Light LED+ and MG Recoil Solenoid+ /Air Pump +	MG1 Recoil Solenoid- /Air Pump -	Not connected	Not connected
Cannon Smoke※1	MG1 LED+ and Head Light LED+ and Air Pump +	Air Pump -	Not connected	Not connected
MG2 Mode※2	MG1 LED+ and Head Light LED+ and MG2 LED+ / Recoil Solenoid- /Air Pump -	MG2 LED-※3 / Recoil Solenoid- /Air Pump -	Not connected	Not connected

※1 V2.2 software release and above

※2 TK50/TK50P V2.3 software release and above

※3  Need 200 ohm resistor and connected as the following

Slip ring connection guide

Shared power wire 

Dedicated wire

Installation Guide

Set Upper Hull Functions (CN9) Mode to match your tank hardware configuration (HL AirSoft, TAMIYA Recoil or MG recoil),

Disconnect RX-18 and plug cables to the same connector on TK board,

Set Sound Volume to middle

Install a switch cable (for example, HL Smoke Unit Switch Cable) to SW connector( Switch Cable Port)  as power switch.

Because HL tank already have power switch on battery cable path, so additional switch is not required, just to use a jumper to short pins in SW Cable port or connect a switch cable and keep it switched on.

When high current track motors are used, such as 400/480 motor, power switch on battery cable path will not be able to handle, connect a switch cable (for example, HL Smoke Unit Switch Cable) to this port as power switch.

Connect a recoil servo to J2(Optional),

Rewire Air-soft unit if you want to elevate and depress gun directly, see "HL Gun Elevation and AirSoft Correction" section

(Optional). wire a 2.2 ohm 1/2W (color code: red read gold gold) in-serial resistor to turret rotate, elevation and airsoft motor to limit the current to protect FETs in case motor stall  occured.

Connect channel cables to receiver according to RC mode( See picture "TK series connector and pin assignments" ) . if you are not sure what mode you RC system is, just swap CH2 and CH3 and try again.

TK50 board has BEC( Battery eliminate circuit), can power receiver through channel cables, no additional battery is needed for receiver

Set CH1, 2 and 3 trimmer on transmitter to center position, Set CH4 trimmer on transmitter to most left or right  position,

Connect power adaptor( See FAQ )

Switch on TK board and transmitter, you should hear turret traverse sound. if not, please contact us.

gently move CH4(Multi function control signal 2) trimmer to center till turret traverse is gone.

gently move CH2(Throttle ) trimmer up and down if you hear motor hum sound.

Cannon firing sound should be generated and recoil servo should moves when move CH3 stick to most top position, if not, gently move CH3(Multi function control signal 2 ) trimmer up and down till it work correctly.

You are all set

Disconnect power adaptor and connect battery( make sure that battery is fully charged).

Installation Video Guide on Internet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eIRTIMyl2g

S.BUS setup

Transmitter:

1.Turn on Transmitter i6s and enter setting function, go to system->output mode, than set Serial to S.BUS

2. Enter aux channel setup, set channel 5 to SwA, channel 6 to SwD, channel 7 to SwB, channel 8 to SwC, channel 9 to VrA and channel 10 to VrB

3. Go to system->stick mode, then set to M1 mode

4. Go to end points page, set end point to 100% for every channel.

Receiver and control board:

1. Plug connector with S.BUS label on it into S.BUS port on receiver.

TAMIYA recoil unit installation( set Upper Hull Functions (CN9) Mode: to TAMIYA RECOIL MODE )

STEP1. disconnect white and blue wire from recoil unit switch( see arrow in yellow), add cable connector to recoil switch( see arrow in red ), left green-white-blue cable not touched ( see arrow in green)

STEP2. green wire and white wire in green-white-blue cable goes to 3rd pin on CN9 and 4th pin on CN9(see arrow in green), black and red wire in red-black cable goes to 4th and 5th pin on CN3(see arrow in red).

HL recoil unit installation:

STEP1. Set Upper Hull Functions (CN9) Mode: to HL Recoil MODE,

STEP2. Connect detection SW( Pressed-to-Short type ) to 4th and 5th pin on CN3 or via the plug (Yellow and brown wire) from  HL HIGH-TENSION FLASHER. Latest released HL recoil unit already has detection switch on it.

STEP3. connect motor - to 4th pin on CN9.connect motor + to 3rd pin on CN9.

Asiatam recoil unit installation:

STEP1. Set Upper Hull Functions (CN9) Mode: to Asiatam Recoil Mode

STEP2. Connect  Recoil motor + to 3rd pin on CN9.connect motor - to 4th  pin on CN9.

STEP2. Connect detection SW to 4th and 5th pin on CN3 or via  the plug (Yellow and brown wire) from  HL HIGH-TENSION FLASHER

- 2-axis gun stabilization in turret rotation and gun elevation.

- Fully programmable gun elevation real angle calculator allows GBS to work with different elevation setup,

- Fully programmable turret motor controller allows GBS to work with different motor/gear box setup,

- Engine deck detection, gun raise automatically when gun travels above engine deck,

- Auto reload position, Gun barrel goes to to reload position after fire, and return to last position when reload when reload time expired,

- Adjustable Engine deck level,

- Adjustable auto reload position,

- Gun barrel momentum effect,

- GBS unit dimensions: 20 x 16 x 3mm.

Servo for GBS -

-Control System: +Pulse Width Control 1520usec Neutral
-Required Pulse: 3-5 Volt Peak to Peak Square Wave
-Operating Voltage: 4.8-6.0 Volts

-Operating Angle: 45 Deg. one side

Power on GBS calibration - When power on TK60G2, GBS starts a reset process and must be kept stationary.

Adjusting gun elevation angle - The gun elevation V gain setting is used to adjust the amount of gun elevation servo angle to meet different mechanical setup. adjusting procedures are

-First to put TK60G board in IR programming mode.

-Turn GBS on and moves the gun barrel to horizontal position.

-Tilt the tank for 15-20 degree.

-Use IR configure remote to adjust servo gain value until the gun is horizontal again.

-Power off TK60G board, remove jumper and turn power again to leave IR programming mode.

Adjusting gun elevation angle calculator gains - The angle calculator's fast gain and slow gain settings are used to adjust the angle calculation, adjusting procedures are

-First to put TK60G2 board in IR programming mode.

-Turn GBS  on and moves the gun barrel to horizontal position.

-Tilt the tank for 10-20 degree.

-Rotate turret in various speed ( from low to full speed), if elevation speed is too slow, increase slow gain a bit, otherwise, reduce slow gain,

-rotate turret to 12 o'clock position, tilt the tank hull about 15-20 degree in various speed, if elevation speed is too slow, can not keep up tank hull tilt speed, increase fast gain a bit, if elevation moves faster the hull tile speed and over the position it should be (overshoot), decrease fast gain a bit

-Power off TK60G2 board, remove jumper and turn power again to leave IR programming mode.

Adjusting turret rotation motor control gains -Turret rotation motor P , I  and D gain are used to meet the characteristic of turret rotate motor and design on your tank. adjusting procedures are as the following.

-First to put TK60G2 board in IR programming mode.

-Turn GSU on

-Rotate tank hull from stationary to low speed, if turret motor does not start as quick as tank hull rotation, increase I gain a bit, if turret motor runs too fast (overshoot) , decrease I gain a bit.

-Rotate tank hull in various speed( low, middle and full) , if turret rotation speed is too slow, can't keep up hull rotation, increase P gain, otherwise, reduce speed gain,

-Stop tank hull rotation from various speed, if turret stops too early, decrease D gain, if turret stops too late increase D gain.

Tank Personalization 坦克個人化設定

Settings/parameters of TK series board can be changed/tuned by specific procedures

TK系列控制器內的設定值/參數可以通過下列的程序做改變/調整

Hardware needed 需要的硬體

1. IR configuration remote as IR command transmitter, 紅外線遙控器當做設定值發射器

2. TAMIYA battle unit(TBU),  Heng-Leog battle unit(HBU), or our IR configuration line as IR command receiver. picture below is IR configuration line 田宮對戰器, 恆龍對戰器或紅外設定接收線當做設定值接收器, 下圖為紅外設定接收線

紅外設定接收線

Steps to change settings 改變設定步驟

STEP 1: Turn power off, Turn power off, Turn power off,

步驟1: 關閉控制器電源

STEP 2: Plug programming line/TBU through TBU/HBU base into CN2 Infrared Port ,

步驟2: 接上紅外設定接收線/田宮對戰器到CN2接口

STEP 3: Install a jumper to J2 as shown below, Turn power on,

步驟3: 將跳接器插上J2,打開電源

STEP 4:Refer to function table listed below, point IR configuration remote to TBU/HBU/Programming line receiver, and press the button of setting that you want to change,  "*" sign in function table means the default setting that is programmed in factory

步驟4: 參照下面的功能表格, 將紅外發射器對準紅外設定接收線/田宮對戰器, 按下想要改變設定的按鈕. 功能表格上有"*"號的設定值表示是出廠設定

STEP 5: Indicator on TBU/HBU flashes according to new setting value.

步驟5: 在紅外設定接收線/田宮對戰器上的指示燈會以閃爍表示新的設定值

STEP 6: turn power off, remove jumper on J2, then turn power on and TK board runs with new settings.

步驟6: 關掉電源, 取下跳線器,再打開電源, 控制器就會在新的設定值下運作  

Example, to switch EPM1 form ESC mode to PWM mode

The setting function going to use is Gun elevation EPM (EPM1) Mode, it's located on Function page 2, key to use is number key "1", so the full steps to do are as the following

STEP 1: Turn power off, Turn power off, Turn power off !

STEP 2: Plug programming line/TBU through TBU/HBU base into CN2 Infrared Port ,

STEP 3: Install a jumper to J2 as shown below, Turn power on,

STEP 4: Press "-/--" Key once, Indicator on TBU/HBU flashes two times,

STEP 5: Press "1" Key once, Indicator on TBU/HBU flashes two times,

STEP 6: Turn power off, remove jumper on J2, then turn power on

Available Settings 可用的設定

All Available settings are separated in 4 function pages, have to set to right page before changing specific setting by using Function page selection

 General table of available settings

 ※1: Might not found in some IR configuration remote, use alternative key to set

 ※2: V2.3

Function page selection: Press "-/--" Key on IR Configuration Remote to select.

*Text in black means that setting function is on page1.

Function page 1

Save current setting to PRESET 1: Press number key "1" on IR Configuration Remote to save,

Save current setting to PRESET 2: Press number key "2" on IR Configuration Remote to save,

※Once you've adjusted everything, you can push "1" or "2" to save current setting to PRESET 1 or 2. If you don't do this saving the board remembers the last settings.

Use saved settings(1): Press "ENT" or "SOUND MODE" Key on IR Configuration Remote to select.

※To switch between the presets you press either "sound mode" or "enter" button, once the preset is selected, switch tank off and remove setup jumper. Switch back on and away you go.

Mixer mode(1): Press  (MUTE) key on IR Configuration Remote to select.

※pivot turn is also named as super spin.

Mixer mode(2): Press  (MUTE) key on IR Configuration Remote to select( S.BUS version: TK50S,TK50SP )