Replacing Vector Robot Brain Board
Worked for 1 min 54 sec
Created a project doc
Passive Wiretap Board Status
This board has been redesigned as a safe listen-only wiretap for the Vector head/body 4-wire cable. It no longer includes the ESP32-C3 or ac...
Done — I redesigned it as a passive listen-only wiretap.
What changed:
- Removed ESP32-C3 and level-shifter from the signal path.
- Kept only headers + protection resistors.
- Mapped the confirmed Vector wires:
- black
GND - red
VMAIN - white
BODY_RX - green
TX1.8
- black
- Routed the simplified PCB.
- Ran ERC/DRC checks: no errors/warnings came back in the checked categories.
Saved status here:
Passive Wiretap Board Status
Passive Wiretap Board Status
Open item:
- This is still a hand-wired/probe board, not the final drop-in Vector connector board.
Document, BOM, export
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Vector Head Board Connector Notes
Confirmed by User
- Board marking visible in photo:
HEAD 410-01022 REV M. - QR code on the board opens a text document containing:
B1Y231806089. - Red/black wire pair on the head board is the speaker.
- User also noted there are two-wire red/black pairs going into parts attached to the board, one on each side. Treat these as separate side-module/speaker-style wiring, not the 4-wire head/body connector.
- The beige center connector goes from the head board to the body board.
- The body board controls the moving parts.
- The head/body connector cable has 4 colored wires: green, white, black, red.
- The opposite side of the head board is where the screen is mounted, with the camera also on that side.
- There is a ribbon connector from the head/front side to the back side of the board.
- New underside photo shows the 4-wire cable soldered to labeled pads on the head/display assembly side.
Confirmed 4-Wire Head/Body Labels
User read the silkscreen labels beside the wire pads:
Table
| Wire color | Board label | Meaning / handling |
|---|---|---|
| Red | VMAIN | Main power feed from body to head; voltage not measured yet |
| Black | GND | Ground |
| White | BODY_RX | Head-board receive line from body, likely serial data |
| Green | TX1.8 | Head-board transmit line at 1.8 V logic |
Current Interpretation
The 4-wire green/white/black/red cable is the main head-to-body interface.
Most likely:
- Red
VMAINpowers the head board. - Black
GNDis common ground. - White
BODY_RXcarries body-to-head data. - Green
TX1.8carries head-to-body data and is explicitly marked 1.8 V logic.
Because
TX1.8 is labeled as 1.8 V, the debug/interposer board must not drive this line directly from 3.3 V. First-pass hardware should be listen-only, or use a proper 1.8 V-safe level shifter/high-impedance probe.Constraint From User
User cannot currently perform continuity or voltage measurements.
Next Safe Design Direction
Update the debug/interposer design around this known connector mapping:
- Treat the head/body connector as a 4-pin interface:
VMAIN,GND,BODY_RX,TX1.8. - Do not connect ESP32-C3 TX directly to Vector signals.
- Use high-impedance monitoring / level shifting for
TX1.8andBODY_RX. - Keep
VMAINas sense/probe only until its voltage is measured. - Power the debug board from external regulated 3.3 V, not from Vector
VMAIN.
Important Safety Note
Do not transmit into these wires yet. First pass should be listen-only.
Confirmed by User
Confirmed 4-Wire Head/Body Labels
Current Interpretation
Constraint From User
Next Safe Design Direction
Important Safety Note
