VEX Cortex Repair Help

[capatainespinoza]

Hello folks. I am a teenager in a worldwide robotics competition called VEX Robotics. We use micro controllers called VEX Cortex that are proprietary to the VEX company. A few days ago, we had a few motor and two batteries hooked up using a power expander(a normal load for this device), when we started smelling something. A search guided by smell eventually lead to the Cortex. I've linked images below showing the results. I'm not sure how to fix this, if it is even possible, and don't even know the cause of this issue. You'll find that the bottom of the PCB yielded what I think was the capacitor that was melting the plastic under it. I've used this controller in my robots for three years now, with no issues save this one. I come to your expertise for assistance. Many thanks for your responses.
http://imgur.com/gallery/V4CO3/new

[poot36]

Could you please post or attach the picture to this forum so that is is easily viewed?  I would use a multimeter on the ohms (?) setting to test if the capacitor is shorted.  If it is then you will have to find a replacement one of the same or greater voltage rating as well as the µF rating.

[miguelvp]

The money shot image is all blurry but that IC has had it, it can be seen even with the blurry picture.

[fictive]

I did VEX last year when I was still a senior in high school. I believe that burnt IC is one of the H-bridge IC's for the integrated motor drivers on the Cortex.
The two ports with integrated drivers would be ports 1 and 10 (2-wire motor ports).

Check the motors in ports 1 and 10 to see if the wires have shorts. Normally the PTC in the motor would protect against things like this, but they don't protect against shorts outside the motor.

You could try to get the Cortex replaced under warranty, or desolder and replace the H-bridge driver yourself. There are two drivers per 2-wire port, one on top of the board and one below. See for more info here: http://www.techspin.info/archives/856 (3/4ths of the way down).

The burnt part on the bottom of the PCB is this PMOS: https://www.fairchildsemi.com/datasheets/FD/FDS4935BZ.pdf