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and vibration. It should only be operated in dry indoor conditions.

   Provide good ventilation to the charger and battery. Do not cover. 

Set up the unit with space all around it so that cooling air can 

circulate unhindered.

   The charger and the battery to be charged should be set up on a 

heat-resistant, non-flammable and non-conductive surface before 

use. Keep all inflammable and volatile materials well away from the 

charging area.

   Disconnect the charger from the mains power supply before 

connecting or disconnecting the battery.

   The charge leads must not be modified, and must not be coiled up 

when the charger is in use. Check the unit regularly for damage to 

cables, connectors, case etc. If the charger is damaged, it must not 

be used.

   Do not open the charger case.
   Never attempt to recharge faulty, damaged, already charged or hot 

batteries, or a pack which is not fully discharged.

   Only use the charger to recharge original MechRC batteries.
   Never use a damaged charge lead or battery. Take great care to 

maintain correct polarity.

   If the battery or charger becomes hot to the touch, disconnect them 

from the power supply immediately.

   Avoid short-circuits between the positive and negative terminals.
   Clean the charger by rubbing it lightly with a damp cloth when it 

is not plugged into either the battery or mains supply. Do not use 

cleaning agents. 

Storage & Transportation:

   Store the battery at a temperature between 4°C and 27°C (40°F 

and 80°F). 

   Do not expose the battery pack to direct sunlight or heat for 

extended periods. 

   When  transporting  or  temporarily  storing  in  a  vehicle,  the 

temperature range must be greater than -7°C (20°F) but no more 

than 65°C (150°F). 

   Storing the battery at temperatures greater than 71°C (160°F) for 

extended periods of time (more than 2 hours) may cause damage 

to the battery and possibly fire. 

Caring For Your Lithium Polymer Battery:

   Only use the Lithium Polymer charger supplied with the MechRC 

System. A poor quality charger can be dangerous. 

   Do not discharge the battery to a level below 3V per cell under 

load. Deep discharge below 3V per cell can deteriorate battery 

performance. 

   Use caution to avoid puncturing the cell. Puncturing the cells may 

cause fire. 

Operating Temperature:

 

  Charge: 

  0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)
  Let battery cool down to room temperature before charging. 

 

  Discharge: 

  0°C to 60°C (32°F to 140°F)
  During discharge and handling of batteries, do not exceed 

71°C (160°F).

   Battery Life:

  Batteries that loose 20% of their capacity must be removed 

from service and disposed of properly. 

Construction and components

All products supplied and manufactured by MechRC are subject to ongoing 

quality control and compliance checks of all materials and production 

processes. We are sure that you will be satisfied with all aspects of the 

MechRC system. However, should you encounter any problems or have 

queries regarding the operation of the robot, please first attempt to find the 

answer by reading through this user guide. If you still cannot resolve the 

problem, please consult the “Frequently Asked Questions” section of the 

MechRC website at 

www.mechrc.com/support 

and the MechRC forum at 

www.pimpmybot.com

MechRC  are  constantly  seeking  to  improve  the  engineering  and 

performance of our product range as well as the production methods used 

at manufacture. For this reason we reserve the right to make changes to the 

system in terms of dimensions, design, technology, materials, components, 

software and fixings at any time and without prior notification. For this 

reason MechRC will not entertain claims based on illustrations, stated infor-

mation and descriptions contained on the packaging or in this user guide.

MechRC only endorse the use of software, components and accessories   

which have been tested and approved by MechRC for their suitability, 

function, quality and safety. The company accepts product liability if you 

observe this advice. MechRC does not accept liability if unapproved 

software, parts or accessories made by other manufacturers or third parties 

are used as MechRC are not in a position to assess these for their sui-

tability and safety.

Appropriate usage

The MechRC Entertainment Robot System has been developed to be 

used as an entertainment platform, an experimental platform for the study 

of robotic principles, and as a medium for testing newly created robot 

programs within a physical system. The robot can be programmed with 

the accompanying software (MechRC Commander) to perform different 

motion sequences supplied with the robot or created by other users. We do 

not approve the use of the robot in any manner other than that described 

in this manual. The robot is NOT designed for industrial or commercial 

applications.

Liability exclusion

The MechRC Entertainment Robot System consists of a fully working robot 

which can be upgraded with suitable accessories. MechRC recognises that, 

as the manufacturer, MechRC has no control over the way in which the user 

might modify, maintain and operate their robot, nor how they install, operate 

and maintain any associated component or upgrade. For this reason 

MechRC are obliged to deny any and all liability for loss, damage or costs 

which are incurred due to the incompetent or incorrect use and operation 

of ANY MechRC product, or which are connected with such operation in 

any way. Unless otherwise prescribed by binding law, the obligation of 

MechRC to pay compensation, regardless of the legal argument employed, 

is excluded. This includes personal injury, death, damage to buildings, 

damage to personal property, damage due to loss of business or turnover, 

interruption of business or other direct or indirect consequent damage 

whose root cause was the operation of the robot.

The total liability in all cases is limited to the amount paid for the MechRC 

Entertainment Robot System.

This  robot  is  operated  and  upgraded  at  the  sole  and  express 

responsibility of the user. The only way to avoid injury to persons and 

damage to property is to handle and operate the robot with the greatest 

of care and consideration at all times and in strict accordance with the 

instructions and safety guidelines set out in this user guide.

Before you operate the MechRC Entertainment Robot System for the 

first time it is important to check whether your private third party liability 

insurance policy covers you for operating models of this type. If you are 

not sure, take out a special policy designed to cover the inherent risks of 

hobby robotics.

This user guide should be stored in a safe place as it contains important 

safety information and MUST be passed to the new owner should you 

ever part with the robot.

The sole purpose of this user guide is to provide information. MechRC 

reserve the right to alter the information without prior notification, and it 

must not be viewed as an obligation on the part of MechRC. MechRC 

accepts no responsibility or liability for errors or inaccuracies which may 

occur in the information section of this manual.

Environmental Protection Notes

 

The presence of this symbol on a product or its packaging, or in   

             the instructions, means that you must not dispose of that item, or  

 

the electronic components contained within it, in the ordinary 

domestic waste when the product comes to the end of its useful life. The 

correct method of disposal is to take it to your local collection point for 

recycling electrical and electronic equipment.

Individual markings indicate which materials can be recycled and re-used. 

You can make an important contribution to the protection of our shared 

environment by re-using the product, recycling the basic materials or re-

processing redundant equipment in other ways. 

Batteries must be removed from the device and taken separately to your 

local battery disposal centre. If you do not know the location of your 

nearest recycling centre, please enquire at your local council office.

Summary of Contents for Shadow Stalker

Page 1: ......

Page 2: ...e Control Handset does not contain any user serviceable parts Disassembling the Remote Control Handset will invalidate the product warranty The robot s servos do not contain any user serviceable parts Disassembling the servos will invalidate the product warranty Never touch the connections on the Control Module with your fingers or metallic objects as short circuits and electrostatic discharge may...

Page 3: ...ient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help Note The serial cable with ferrite bead attached is designed for exclusive use with this product Don t use others for this product ...

Page 4: ... product liability if you observe this advice MechRC does not accept liability if unapproved software parts or accessories made by other manuf acturers or third parties are used as MechRC are not in a position to assess these for their sui tability and safety Appropriate usage The MechRC Entertainment Robot System has been developed to be used as an entertainment platform an experimental platform ...

Page 5: ...or within 30 days from the date of payment of the Licence Fee the warranty period Licensor shall at its discretion correct by patch or new release at its option that part of the software which does not so comply PROVIDED THAT such non compliance has not been caused by any modification variation or addition to the software not performed by Licensor or caused by its incorrect use abuse or corruption...

Page 6: ...MechRC Ltd All other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies IN CONTRACT TORT NEGLIGENCE statutory duty OR OTHERWISE to the Licensee for any loss or damage whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with this Licence the software its use or otherwise EVEN IF LICENSOR IS NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF SUCH POSSIBILITY exc...

Page 7: ...he mechrc battery 15 preparing the handset for use 16 Changing the Infrared channel 17 turning on the robot handset 18 pre flight check 19 using the handset 20 handset layout 21 default handset functions 22 part ii mechrc commander software introduction to mechrc commander 26 installing mechrc commander 27 installing the usb serial adapter 29 main window layout 30 connecting to the robot 31 motion...

Page 8: ...ing an audio play list 54 creating a controller configuration 57 part iii advanced features Setting the robot s trim data 62 Setting the robot s home position 66 Renaming and adding extra joints 69 Input and output settings 72 Appendix A Decal application Decal application guide 78 ...

Page 9: ...utionary new product Every aspect of the MechRC system has been meticulously designed with you the user in mind to ensure that we provide you with the most rewarding experience that we can The MechRC system will appeal to robotics novices and enthusiasts alike delivering exciting functionality out of the box as well as a host of expansion options to keep you enthralled by this electrifying hobby W...

Page 10: ...your MechRC experience Each text box is characterised by one of the icons shown below to alert you to the significance of its contents This guide is intended to provide you with everything you need to know to get the most out of your MechRC robot taking you from robotics novice to MechRC guru in a series of easy to follow steps The guide comprises of 3 sections each one building on the last to pro...

Page 11: ...luded in the MechRC system Please take the time to check the contents of the MechRC package against the image below and the checklist in the side panel MechRC Commander The easy to use MechRC Commander Software gives you complete control over your robot s actions Electronic Expansion The MechRC control module allows users to experiment and build their own electronic peripherals Mechanical Expansio...

Page 12: ...orward Back Left Knee Left Foot Forward Back Left Foot Side to Side Right Shoulder body Right Hip Side to Side Right Shoulder arm Right Elbow Right Hip Forward Back Right Knee Right Foot Forward Back Right Foot Side to Side Power Switch RS232 Connection Battery Cover Screw Battery Connection Your left or mine Throughout this guide and in the software we will refer to left and right from the point ...

Page 13: ...12 13 Part I Getting Started ...

Page 14: ... battery adapter 2 When the battery has finished charging the green light on t h e c h a r g e r w i l l illuminate Unplug the charger unit from the mains power 4 Undo the battery cover screw located on the b a c k o f t h e r o b o t between the legs It should be possible to undo with your fingers but if the screw is tight you may need to use a medium flat bladed screwdriver 1 Remove the battery ...

Page 15: ...annels 1 and 2 with the selector switch located on the underside of the handset 3 Warning Please pay careful attention to the battery warning notices printed at the start of this guide Incorrect installation of batteries could cause perma nent damage to the remote control handset and may re sult in fire The factory default channel setting for both the robot and the handset is Channel 1 If you need...

Page 16: ...t falling over and causing damage to itself pay careful attention for sud den movements of the joints which could cause fingers to be trapped or crushed The safest place to hold the robot during power up is on the side of the body below the chest indicated by the arrows on the illustration on the fac ing page For further safety instructions on operating the robot please refer to the guidelines pri...

Page 17: ... controlling the robot For maximum range of communication between the handset and robot please observe the illustration below when operating the robot Right Direction Pad RD Left Direction Pad LD Right Joystick RJ Function Pad F Right Joystick LJ Right Shoulder Button RS Right Trigger RT L e f t S h o u l d e r Button LS Left Trigger L T using the handset 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 45 O ...

Page 18: ...e Motion Description Looping Motion RD6 Matrixed MRCmot Robot prepares for battle No RD7 Karate MRCmot Robot performs the crane move No LS RD1 Bounce MRCmot Robot bounces up and down No LS RD2 Flapper Right MRCmot Robot stands on left leg and flaps arms No LS RD3 Sink and Swim Robot does a dance from the 60 s No LS RD4 Pirouette Right MRCmot Robot stands on left leg and stretches No LS RD5 Russian...

Page 19: ...24 25 Part II MechRC Commander Software ...

Page 20: ...h e n t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n program runs click the Next button to preceed with the installation process 2 If you agree to the terms and conditions set out in the End User License Agreement select I accept and click on the Next button 3 If you want to expand your knowledge of the MechRC Commander software beyond the information given in this guide log on to the official MechRC website for v...

Page 21: ...2 adapter To install the adapter please follow the instructions on this page Windows Vista Users Windows Vista includes the required drivers as standard and will automatically install the required drivers when the adapter is plugged in Select the shortcut icons you wish to be installed 5 6 Additional components that may be installed on your computer During the installation p r o c e s s t h e i n ...

Page 22: ...n in the Control Panel or right click on My Computer and select Properties 1 Select the Hardware tab and then click Device Manager to view your hardware configuration 2 Locate the Ports COM LPT entry in the hardware list to see what physical serial ports your PC has if your PC has a 9 pin serial connection it will be listed here or which COM port the USB adapter is providing This port will be deno...

Page 23: ...screen 6 Power up the robot and click on the Connect to Robot icon on the universal tool bar 8 To disconnect from the robot click on the Disconnect from Robot icon on the universal tool bar 10 If the connection fails check the physical connections to the robot and double check the COM port settings in the device manager Note that if you are connecting to a serial port built into the PC there may b...

Page 24: ...to the next By stringing together a number of these frames complex motions can be sequenced Motions are edited under the Motion tab in the main program window the layout of which is shown below Joint Selection Tool Pan Camera Rotate Camera Zoom Camera In Out Fit Robot to Screen Apply Loop to Frame Set Frame Transition Time Set Frame Delay Time Set Frame I O Insert Home Frame Insert Duplicate Frame...

Page 25: ... arrows to the left of the field to fine tune the value Next you will need to move the joints of the robot to give the pose that you want for the first step in the motion Most joints can be moved to any position between 90 and 90 degrees although the arc of travel for some joints may be limited by the frame of the robot This can be done in one of the three ways described here Note that if a connec...

Page 26: ...f a connection to the robot is established the robot will move simultaneously with the robot on screen 8 R e m e m b e r t o save your motion file by clicking on the Save icon on the universal tool bar The file will be saved as a MRCmot file in the MechRC Data Motions Shadow Stalker f o l d e r i n M y Documents 9 First transition time in a motion file New frames not those copied from elsewhere ar...

Page 27: ...rame immediately before the location you wish to insert the copied frame 2 At any point while editing a motion file a controller file or settings you may click the Undo button to cancel the last action performed Undo and Redo The MechRC Commander software includes these standard editing facilities to help you to recover from accidental changes made to your work You can undo or redo up to five leve...

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