Reading a Universal remote

Jim the Hermit

I want to control a robot with a universal remote. But, I want the robot to decide whether or not to obey the commands. So, I want the signal to be read by a propeller or stamp (I'm still trying to learn spin). I have an IR detector module I bought from radio shack when I was a kid. I don't have a scope.

I imagine there will be a stream of square waves coming out of the detector. How do I determine what button was pressed? How is the data of the universal remote organized? (stop and start bits?... different frequencies?) Has anyone else done this already?

Steph Lindsay

Jim the Hermit wrote: »

I want to control a robot with a universal remote. But, I want the robot to decide whether or not to obey the commands. So, I want the signal to be read by a propeller or stamp (I'm still trying to learn spin). I have an IR detector module I bought from radio shack when I was a kid. I don't have a scope.

I imagine there will be a stream of square waves coming out of the detector. How do I determine what button was pressed? How is the data of the universal remote organized? (stop and start bits?... different frequencies?) Has anyone else done this already?

Hi Jim,

These resources might be helpful to you:

This BASIC Stamp book uses a universal remote set to the Sony protocol, and the IR receiver that we include in the Boe-Bot kit. A project in it allows you to drive the Boe-Bot around with the remote. But it is also using infrared object detection, so it won't let you drive into a wall. The program lets the object detection sensors over-ride the remote control signals. http://www.parallax.com/downloads/ir-remote-boe-bot-text

There are a number of Propeller Spin objects available on the Propeller Object Exchange: http://obex.parallax.com/search/IR%20remote

For Propeller C, there is a library to decode Sony protocol signals
http://learn.parallax.com/propeller-c-simple-devices/ir-receiver-and-remote

....and a project for the ActivityBot that uses the remote to both drive the robot and select WAV files to play while driving. This one also has whisker sensors that over-ride the remote control commands so if it bumps into an object it will back up and stop.
http://learn.parallax.com/project/remote-control-rock-talk-and-roll-activitybot

Jim the Hermit

Thanks, this is exactly what I was looking for!