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i'm new here, and i need to know what i need to do this — Parallax Forums

i'm new here, and i need to know what i need to do this

dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
edited 2009-12-20 20:55 in General Discussion
i'm new here, and i want to make it possible for my RC tank (that i modified) to receive commands from my computer

just simple forward back, left, and right is all i want

what product do i need to accomplish this?

i was looking at this:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/MotorServoControllers/tabid/160/CategoryID/35/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/595/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName

but i'm not totally sure if it's what i need

Comments

  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2009-12-20 19:42
    That device is a USB device. Are you wanting to drive the tank with wireless or with a wire? USB would not be ideal for remote control of a gadget that needs to roam around. There are quite a few devices that are not hard to setup that would allow you to transmit from your computer, and receive on the other end, then drive a Propeller or other servo/motor controller. First you would need to post what your goal is, wireless is assumed from your post. You would simply send a command to run each motor or stop each motor separately. The best thing if you have no prior experience with a micro would be to get a development board and start learning the basics of programming, tackling each area needed for controlling the device.

    Basics of micro operation
    Wireless communication
    Motor control
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-12-20 19:47
    The Propeller Servo Controller does sound like what you need. Given that you have an RC device, you need some kind of servo controller. RC receivers produce one or more channels of pulses that are often used to control servo motors or DC motors set up to behave like servo motors (with their own controllers).

    The Propeller Servo Controller can handle up to 16 servos and can be controlled via USB directly from a computer. It also happens to be a stand-alone microcontroller (the Propeller) that can be reprogrammed to handle sensors, can be used with a Bluetooth adapter to handle wireless communications with the computer, infrared remote control, some autonomous functioning (like object avoidance), etc.

    Make sure to go through the documentation. There are links on the Parallax webstore product page.
  • dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-20 19:49
    @todd:
    actually, i was wanting a wired connection, have a netbook mounted on the RC and have the net book controled via Remote Desktop though a router or the internet, may have some delay, but i figued wired would be less complicated

    thanks i will look into it, do you know a good development board i should start with?


    OH, 1 more question, so if i get the propeller servo controller usb, it replaces the enitre board already on the RC, right?

    Post Edited (dustin22) : 12/20/2009 7:57:58 PM GMT
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2009-12-20 19:58
    Dustin, I was incorrect on the Prop USB, as it can be driven by the PC or by another micro. Your setup will work, but it seems a bit awkward having that laptop sitting on the tank. There are other much easier methods to transmit the commands, like Mike said Bluetooth, also XBee is a small device that can transmit and receive commands, and are very easy to use.

    If you already know how to program on the PC side, then adding the transceiver on the PC will be easy as well, then just add the transceiver to the tank, connect it to the Prop Servo Controller. I think you will get much better responsiveness that going through the router>laptop>controller.
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2009-12-20 20:00
    dustin22

    You could use a stamp to take over controls on Your remote (replace switches with I/O pins). The stamps can talk with Your computer with no problem using a debug window. I'd recommend the BS2 to start with.

    Thats if You have some Elc. back round.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Truth is out there············___$WMc%___···························· BoogerWoods, FL. USA
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2009-12-20 20:01
    Using a tranceiver and Prop Servo Controller will replace your laptop. You will drive the servos from the Prop. The Prop will get it's commands from the transceiver you use, and the PC will transmit with the matching transceiver. I have only used XbeePro modules, but there are other devices out there, others can comment better on the wireless protocol.
  • $WMc%$WMc% Posts: 1,884
    edited 2009-12-20 20:05
    If You like wires then the Propservo controller is the way to go

    Its very easy to use and it has a nice software package to control the servos

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The Truth is out there············___$WMc%___···························· BoogerWoods, FL. USA
  • dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-20 20:06
    probably, but i'm pretty sure bluetooth has bandwidth, and can only transfer so much data so fast, plus, i wanted a webcam setup, and my tank is pretty big, and could easily carry a net book or a full size laptop.. plus it'd be pretty cool to have skype on it for communicating

    maybe i'll just the net book for extra things only, like a webcam, or wiimote for monitering angle and tilt and then use the bluetooth setup for controls..

    your idea sounds better, i'll do that instead

    woh, many responses.. ok, the transceiver connects to the usb on the propeller servo, and i'm guessing there's something usb plugged into my computer?

    Post Edited (dustin22) : 12/20/2009 8:13:03 PM GMT
  • dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-20 20:19
    so, if i do the wireless tranceiver

    http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?cPath=297&products_id=2367

    thats what i need, right? and they will just, plug together...
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2009-12-20 20:25
    On the PC you would have to have an application that was sending out the commands to the Propeller on the other end. Those commands can be sent via USB or by a transceiver. On the tank, you could have either a USB cable as you mentioned hooked up, or RS232 cable as well, or a transciever for wireless.

    The transceiver on the Prop side would not hook up to the Prop Servo Controller USB input, but to two pins on the Prop for Tx and Rx. Although, maybe someone knows of a tranceiver with USB output, I am not aware of it.

    It sounds like your best bet is to buy the Prop Servo Controller, and experiment with that and some servos for starters. For continuous motion, you will of course need continuous motion servos, but servos for steering etc, you would only need servos that turned partially, say 180. The Prop can control either.
  • T ChapT Chap Posts: 4,223
    edited 2009-12-20 20:29
    dustin22 said...
    so, if i do the wireless tranceiver

    http://microcontrollershop.com/product_info.php?cPath=297&products_id=2367

    that's what i need, right? and they will just, plug together...

    You could use that USB>Xbee device on the PC side, then just a standalone Xbee on the tank. There may be better options for wireless for RC type:

    www.parallax.com/Store/Accessories/Communication/tabid/161/CategoryID/36/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/550/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName
  • dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-20 20:33
    well, steering would be as easy as go and stop, because tank controls, steering is going forward on one side and going backwards on the other side

    and ok, i will just get the propeller servo for now
  • dustin22dustin22 Posts: 6
    edited 2009-12-20 20:55
    and that bluetooth device would be connected to the prop side...

    i'll just get the prop servo for now, and then maybe later i'll get the bluetooth module, i don't have $100 to blow right now so, start out with wires and simple programming first
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