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SparkFun Ludus Protoshield
The SparkFun Ludus ProtoShield is a motor driver shield for your Arduino that is designed to make connecting motors, sensors and other components to your Arduino-based project as fast and easy as possible. The heart of the Ludus ProtoShield is the Toshiba TB6612FNG H-Bridge Motor Driver. This allows the ProtoShield to control two DC motors at once, both CW and CCW, and brake electronically. The TB6612FNG H-Bridge Driver is rated up to 1.2A per channel at 13V, which means it will drive a fair variety of hobby motors ranging in power.
Each of the GPIO pins is broken out on a “servo-style” header field with PWR and GND to allow you to easily connect devices using a 3-pin servo cable. When powered using the barrel jack connector, the PWR rail can even be switched between 5V (from the Arduino’s voltage regulator) and Vin using the onboard slide switches. This feature makes the SparkFun Ludus ProtoShield ideal if you are connecting multiple servos and need more than 5V to your robotics project!
In addition to the “servo-style” header field, this board also features a small protoboard area and an I2C header for you to easily add additional components and sensors.
The SparkFun Ludus ProtoShield was developed by SparkFun Education to simplify connecting up a motor and adding sensors and other components to your Arduino project, and it was lovingly named after our very own mascot.
- TB6612FNG H-Bridge Driver
- Prototyping Area
- I2C Header
- Arduino R3 Layout
- Schematic
- Eagle Files
- Hookup Guide
- Datasheet (TB6612FNG)
- GitHub (Design Files & Example Code)
SparkFun Ludus Protoshield Product Help and Resources
Core Skill: Soldering
This skill defines how difficult the soldering is on a particular product. It might be a couple simple solder joints, or require special reflow tools.
Skill Level: Noob - Some basic soldering is required, but it is limited to a just a few pins, basic through-hole soldering, and couple (if any) polarized components. A basic soldering iron is all you should need.
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Core Skill: Robotics
This skill concerns mechanical and robotics knowledge. You may need to know how mechanical parts interact, how motors work, or how to use motor drivers and controllers.
Skill Level: Rookie - You will be required to know some basics about motors, basic motor drivers and how simple robotic motion can be accomplished.
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Core Skill: Programming
If a board needs code or communicates somehow, you're going to need to know how to program or interface with it. The programming skill is all about communication and code.
Skill Level: Rookie - You will need a better fundamental understand of what code is, and how it works. You will be using beginner-level software and development tools like Arduino. You will be dealing directly with code, but numerous examples and libraries are available. Sensors or shields will communicate with serial or TTL.
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Core Skill: Electrical Prototyping
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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I think I got one of these ding 'n dent, I'll have to dig it back up and use it/review it