Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Question on wireless control for Propeller board — Parallax Forums

Question on wireless control for Propeller board

alan2009alan2009 Posts: 3
edited 2009-06-29 03:16 in Propeller 1
well, i am new here and i am from overseas.
I am going to create a flying aircraft using Propeller control board, but i have a few question before I buy the board.

First, I would like to remote the aircraft in limited area, but i dont know if the Parallax 433 MHz RF Transceiver Package support it or not (the website said only support basic stamps) and i cant find any spin code for it.
I have searched the Parallax forums but not many posts talks about the wireless method.
I want to know what other method(easy) can i use to remote my airplane through my laptop.

By the way, what is the meaning of "Propeller control board - END OF LIFE". Is this mean there are new product?

sorry for asking those stupid question.

Thanks

Comments

  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-06-28 15:51
    END OF LIFE means that Parallax has stopped production of the product and, whenever the current stock is sold, the product will be dropped. In this case, they've shown a new robot with a new Propeller control board that's much more affordable than the QuadRover with its Propeller control board

    The Parallax 433 MHz RF Transmitter/Receiver package is designed for use at +5V. It could be used with the Propeller, but would need some protective interfacing, something as simple as a 1K resistor in series with the receiver's output lines. The transmitter should be able to be driven directly from the Propeller, but a 1K series resistor in the transmitter's signal lines would be prudent.

    There's no ready-to-go code for the Propeller since ordinary asynchronous serial data is normally used and there are several appropriate I/O drivers available in the Object Exchange. Remember that these Transmitter/Receiver links have no error detection or retransmission capability and your program would have to manage that. The same is true for its use with Stamps. My own personal preference for wireless control is the Digi xBee Pro devices (www.digi.com/products/embeddedsolutions/zigbeesolutions/) and SelmaWare's adapter boards (www.selmaware.com). SparkFun also makes adapter boards that can be used.
  • alan2009alan2009 Posts: 3
    edited 2009-06-28 16:17
    Thanks for your answer. ( i feel really happy of your reply)
    But there would be some problem of finding the SelmaWare's adapter boards seems they only ships at US, i will take a look in SparkFun later.

    By the way, i am still a student and cant afford for too much expansive board. And i wish i can finish this project as soon as i can.
    As you said, there will be a new Propeller control board appearing , right?
    Then do you think i should buy the old one now or wait for the new Propeller control board (hope it will release as soon as they can), and what is the new features that on the new one.


    Thanks again....
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-06-28 17:02
    The new controller board is designed for this new robot. It's not designed for aircraft control, so it may not be ideal for what you need. The old controller isn't designed for aircraft either.

    First you have to describe what you want to control and what kinds of sensors you want to use.

    If you're at least a little handy with a soldering iron, I'd suggest you build your own controller using a Protoboard. The Propeller would do most things by itself and you would only need to install connectors and some resistors. For example, servos only require a simple connector and a 1K resistor between the servo control line and the Propeller I/O pin. You'd also have to connect the servos to power and connect the servo power ground to the Propeller board ground.
  • sylvie369sylvie369 Posts: 1,622
    edited 2009-06-28 19:47
    I flew a rocket yesterday carrying an XBee RF unit mounted on a Selmaware board, and it performed perfectly. I wasn't using it for control, but rather to send data down to a ground station, but·I'm fairly sure it would work well the other way as well. I flew to 1600 feet, and a heck of a lot faster than your airplane is likely to travel, and never lost the signal. I tracked it right down to the ground. All that I was using was a Series 1 XBee pro with a little attached wire antenna. You could certainly get better range with a better antenna if necessary.
  • DogPDogP Posts: 168
    edited 2009-06-28 20:03
    I haven't gotten a chance to try them yet, but I bought a couple of these: www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=691 ... they seem pretty good (250kbps at 100m with 32 byte FIFOs and auto-ack/auto-retransmit), and use SPI (SPI driver is available in the obex). They have that model w/ the chip antenna, as well as one with an RP-SMA connector, which may be better if you want more range (you could do a good omni-directional antenna on the aircraft, and a directional antenna on the controller).

    DogP
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-06-28 20:42
    I've used those nRF24L01+ modules with the PIC18F4520, they work very well. I can supply C test code if anyone needs it.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle

    Post Edited (Leon) : 6/28/2009 8:58:27 PM GMT
  • PhilldapillPhilldapill Posts: 1,283
    edited 2009-06-28 21:23
    DogP, those RF devices you linked to are the nRF24L01+, but the item in the obex is the nRF2401(no "L"). You say you've tried the item from SparkFun, and it works fine with the item in the obex?
  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-06-28 21:46
    The nRF2401 and nRF24L01 have a different interface, the latter is SPI.

    Leon

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • DogPDogP Posts: 168
    edited 2009-06-28 22:02
    Philldapill: I haven't tried them yet, but I don't think they'll work directly w/ the nRF2401 object, since I believe the nRF24L01+ uses true SPI, while the nRF2401 uses a strange serial protocol. There may be some similarities that it may be useful as base code or reference, but I think there's quite a few differences/enhancements in the nRF24L01+, and it seems easy enough to interface to that it may be easiest to just start from scratch just using the SPI object. The datasheet says the nRF24L01+ is drop-in compatible with the nRF24L01 (no +), and on-air compatible with the nRF2401 in 250k/1M modes (assuming that means it can communicate w/ it).

    DogP
  • PhilldapillPhilldapill Posts: 1,283
    edited 2009-06-28 23:34
    Well, it sure would be nice if someone could write an object for the nRF24L01... hint hint [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    These chips are $2.05 in qty's of 1 each. The whole board could easily be made for about $4 a piece.
  • DogPDogP Posts: 168
    edited 2009-06-29 01:35
    Yeah, I'll definitely make an object for it when I get a chance to wire them up. I've been playing w/ my magnetometer and ultrasonic sensors lately, but I'll probably either need this soon enough, or won't be able to resist the urge to wire it up and test it out [noparse];)[/noparse] . I'll definitely post the object when I get to writing it.

    DogP
  • alan2009alan2009 Posts: 3
    edited 2009-06-29 03:16
    Thanks all of you for replying my question.

    RE: Mike Green
    My airplane will include :

    Hitachi H48C Tri-Axis Accelerometer Module
    Parallax GPS Receiver Module
    PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor x5 <--- i dont know if the weight is too much or not
    PIR Sensor x5
    GWS Nano servo x4
    servo x 4 (for wing use)



    Still looking for 2 things:
    Video camera (live use)
    Wireless device

    Please give me some advice, thanks
Sign In or Register to comment.