Several R/C units will work with the TETRIX® system. Shown in this section is the Futaba T6EX (Pitsco product 34243). The instructions
below are general, and you should refer to your R/C’s instructions for more information.
Note: The way you connect your robot and R/C unit will vary depending on the function and design of your robot. Below is a basic setup for a robot with two drive wheels and a two-motor gripper run on one Y connector.
1. If needed, add structural plates on which to place the electronics.
2. Determine where you want to place the electronics. The R/C receiver and its battery pack should be placed near each other; the DC Motor Controller should be close to the receiver as well.
Figure 2 
Figure 1 3. Using the Velcro-like fasteners, zip ties, and screws that come with the electrical components, attach them to the robot body (Figure 1). The DC Motor Controller can be attached with screws, but you might have to use just two screws or angle the controller to align to the holes on the body. Items attached in the model include the receiver, receiver battery pack, on/off switch, DC Motor Controller, and the DC Motor and Controller Battery Pack (Figure 2).
4. Make sure the on/off switch is turned to the Off position. Insert the batteries into the battery holder.
Figure 4 
Figure 3 5. Connect the two folded metal ends of the DC Motor power cables to the posts of one DC Motor (Figure 3). Repeat with the other cables
and motor. Insert the free ends of the cables for one motor to the DC Motor Controller where it is labeled M1A and M1B (Figure 4). Tighten the
screws down onto the cables. Insert the other motor’s cable ends into the controller where it is labeled M2A and M2B and tighten the screws.
6. Insert the free end of the Y connector on the gripper servos to the receiver’s Channel 3.
TETRIX® Tip: Wires
Wires from servos and other electrical components can get messy and tangled. To keep things
cleaned up, you can secure wires out of the way with zip ties or rubber bands.
Figure 5 7. Insert the free end of the on/off switch into the controller where it is labeled B+ and tighten the screw (Figure 5).
Figure 6 8. Insert the black wire from the battery holder into the controller where it is labeled B- and tighten the screw (Figure 6).
9. Plug the red wire from the battery holder into the back of the on/off switch.
Figure 7 10. Locate the three-strand wires connected to the DC motor controller. Plug in the free end of the wires labeled CH1 and CH2 into the receiver slots for Channels 1 and 2, respectively (Figure 7). The wire labeled Flip is not used here and can be tucked out of the way.
Figure 8 11. On the DC Motor Controller, flip the switches so 1, 2, and 3 are flipped up (on) and 4, 5, and 6 are flipped down (off) (Figure F8).
12. If your robot needs anything else connected to the receiver, connect it at this time.
Figure 9 13. Turn on the R/C handset and plug in the wire from the receiver battery pack into the receiver (Figure 9) – an LED light should come on. Turn the on/off switch to the On position. Now, you can use the right steering control to move the robot forward, backward, and side to side. The left steering control will open and shut the grippers.
14. At this time, test the robot and make sure the gears and wheels turn smoothly. If not, you can loosen the motor mount screw and
turn the motors until the gears mesh better. Retighten the screw and test the robot again.
Also, if a motor is running backward, you can correct this either by switching the ends of the DC Motor power cables on the motor terminals or by
switching the red and black ends of the motor power cables where they attach to the DC Motor Controller (either M1A and B or M2A and B).
TETRIX® Tip: R/C
Programming – Some radio systems – including the Futaba T6EX – have programmable features. Depending on your robot design, these options may need to be programmed to achieve desired motor operation, such as motor reversing, mixing, and so forth.