This dual channel controller for DC motors was created by group of robotics enthusiasts from Personal Robotics discord server, who needed a mid-power dual channel motor controller supporting closed loop motor control but were not ready to pay $70 and more for existing commercial realizations. So, we designed our own, based on Infineon's TLE9201SG motor drivers and RP2040 MCU.

Key features

• support for 2 brushed DC motors

• Motor voltage: 5-18v; reverse polarity protection for power input

• Current per channel

  • 8A peak, current limited
  • 3.5A continuous if used without heatsinks
  • 4.5A continuous with optional heatsinks (not included)

• Support for quadrature encoders for each channel. Note: it uses 3.3v for encoders - make sure your encoders support that (many encoders require 3.5V or above)

• Closed loop speed control, using PID algorithm

• Variety of protection features: automatic overcurrent, overtemperature, undervoltage, and short circuit protection

• Controlled by a host microcontroller or single board computer such as Raspberry Pi using I2C interface.

• MicroPython library is provided

Connector options

• Input power: you can choose between

  • screw terminals (5mm pitch, high quality rising cage type)
  • XT30 connector

• Motor connections: choice of

  • screw terminals
  • JST VH2 connectors
  • 6-pin male headers (motor + encoder), matching pinout of 22mm motors from ServoCity

• encoder connectors: JST PH4

• I2C connectors: Qwiic/Stemma QT

Note: By default, main power and motor connectors are shipped unsoldered - you will need to solder them yourself. Since these are massive, you will need a powerful soldering iron - especially for the main power screw terminal connector: because of an error in original order of PCBs, ground connector for it has no thermal reliefs, which means it will be harder to solder. If you are not sure your soldering skills are up to it, choose an option "Solder connectors" and we will solder them for you, for an extra fee.

Encoder and I2C connectors are always soldered on the board.

Documentation

Full documentation for the product is available at motor-controller.readthedocs.io

Design files, firmware, and user library are available from the project github repository under open source license.