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Radiocontrolled Bot instead of serial? — Parallax Forums

Radiocontrolled Bot instead of serial?

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2003-08-14 15:54 in General Discussion
Hi guys,

Does anyone have any experience with replacing the serial cable with
a RF gizmo? I'd like to keep in constant touch with my computer, so i
can write software on the PC that controls the bot. Maybe in the
future with a CMU-Cam or video-camera. But I can't find anything
usefull about replacing the serial cable. The only thing i could come
up with is to buy a second BS2 with two RF trancievers. But I'm not
that rich. I need a distance of only 10m max.

Any Ideas?

Timmy Kokke

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-13 13:42
    if you want to be able to see debug statements from your stamp and
    also send data to the stamp, you will need two transceivers. You
    should be able to hook one up directly to your serial port (use a
    max232 in between the computer serial port and the transceiver to
    safely downscale the voltages if needed!) and the other on up to your
    stamp. To be able to program the stamp via radio would be more
    complex (would have to make multiple lines interface with the
    transcievers to replicate the serial cable lines. You can buy
    transceivers for not too high a price. Check out rentron.com, I got
    the 433 transmitter and receiver pair, they didn't work that well,
    but they are actually made to actuating things (on/off switches)
    remotely, not for serial communication of numbers, etc.

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "sorskoot" <timmykokke@h...>
    wrote:
    > Hi guys,
    >
    > Does anyone have any experience with replacing the serial cable
    with
    > a RF gizmo? I'd like to keep in constant touch with my computer, so
    i
    > can write software on the PC that controls the bot. Maybe in the
    > future with a CMU-Cam or video-camera. But I can't find anything
    > usefull about replacing the serial cable. The only thing i could
    come
    > up with is to buy a second BS2 with two RF trancievers. But I'm not
    > that rich. I need a distance of only 10m max.
    >
    > Any Ideas?
    >
    > Timmy Kokke
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-13 15:29
    Original Message
    From: "sorskoot" <timmykokke@h...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 5:31 AM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Radiocontrolled Bot instead of serial?


    > Hi guys,
    >
    > Does anyone have any experience with replacing the serial cable with
    > a RF gizmo? I'd like to keep in constant touch with my computer, so i
    > can write software on the PC that controls the bot. Maybe in the
    > future with a CMU-Cam or video-camera. But I can't find anything
    > usefull about replacing the serial cable. The only thing i could come
    > up with is to buy a second BS2 with two RF trancievers. But I'm not
    > that rich. I need a distance of only 10m max.
    >
    > Any Ideas?
    >
    > Timmy Kokke

    Replacing a serial cable with low end RF modules is tough since they do not have
    onboard processors to handle data communications errors, switching between
    transmit
    and receive modes, etc,. And there *will* be data errors from time-to-time due
    to natural
    & man made RF interference sources. If an occasional data error isn't a problem
    for your
    application, you can use pretty much any inexpensive RF modules for simple
    wireless
    communications, but if you need a true RF transceiver, and one that's reliable,
    it will be
    on the pricey side.

    Maxstream has some of the best RF equipment I've ever used for embedded wireless
    communications http://www.maxstream.net/products_9xcitedev.html The 9XCite
    modules
    are the lower price - shorter range - version of their 9XStream units, and
    significantly lower
    in price. I believe the 9XCite range is ~300". The 9XStream models have a range
    of several
    miles.

    We carry several inexpensive RF modules, but none of them would offer a solution
    for
    replacing a serial cable. If you're really on a budget, and you can get by with
    infrared,
    we have a new 8-pin IC you can use to build a serial data link with that
    supports data-rates
    up to 19,200bps when used with the high-speed Vishay TSOP7000 IR photo modules.
    http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/TX-IRHS.htm

    Regards,

    -Bruce
    tech@r...
    http://www.rentron.com
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-13 15:42
    I was just thinking.... Does anyone have any experience with
    bluetooth?

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Tech <tech@r...> wrote:
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "sorskoot" <timmykokke@h...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 5:31 AM
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Radiocontrolled Bot instead of serial?
    >
    >
    > > Hi guys,
    > >
    > > Does anyone have any experience with replacing the serial cable
    with
    > > a RF gizmo? I'd like to keep in constant touch with my computer,
    so i
    > > can write software on the PC that controls the bot. Maybe in the
    > > future with a CMU-Cam or video-camera. But I can't find anything
    > > usefull about replacing the serial cable. The only thing i could
    come
    > > up with is to buy a second BS2 with two RF trancievers. But I'm
    not
    > > that rich. I need a distance of only 10m max.
    > >
    > > Any Ideas?
    > >
    > > Timmy Kokke
    >
    > Replacing a serial cable with low end RF modules is tough since
    they do not have
    > onboard processors to handle data communications errors, switching
    between transmit
    > and receive modes, etc,. And there *will* be data errors from time-
    to-time due to natural
    > & man made RF interference sources. If an occasional data error
    isn't a problem for your
    > application, you can use pretty much any inexpensive RF modules for
    simple wireless
    > communications, but if you need a true RF transceiver, and one
    that's reliable, it will be
    > on the pricey side.
    >
    > Maxstream has some of the best RF equipment I've ever used for
    embedded wireless
    > communications http://www.maxstream.net/products_9xcitedev.html The
    9XCite modules
    > are the lower price - shorter range - version of their 9XStream
    units, and significantly lower
    > in price. I believe the 9XCite range is ~300". The 9XStream models
    have a range of several
    > miles.
    >
    > We carry several inexpensive RF modules, but none of them would
    offer a solution for
    > replacing a serial cable. If you're really on a budget, and you can
    get by with infrared,
    > we have a new 8-pin IC you can use to build a serial data link with
    that supports data-rates
    > up to 19,200bps when used with the high-speed Vishay TSOP7000 IR
    photo modules.
    > http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/TX-IRHS.htm
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > -Bruce
    > tech@r...
    > http://www.rentron.com
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-13 17:05
    At the stamps class at Parallax last week, Ken brought out two
    Stamps, bluetooth enabled. One was on a 'bot and the other was on a
    BOE with a Memsic accelerometer, so he could direct the 'bot by hand
    rotations only. Very cool. I don't remember the name of the
    manufacturer, but I think he said the modules were kind of pricey, in
    the $200 range.

    -- Tracy




    >I was just thinking.... Does anyone have any experience with
    >bluetooth?
    >
    >--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Tech <tech@r...> wrote:
    >>
    >>
    Original Message
    >> From: "sorskoot" <timmykokke@h...>
    >> To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    >> Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 5:31 AM
    >> Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Radiocontrolled Bot instead of serial?
    >>
    >>
    >> > Hi guys,
    >> >
    >> > Does anyone have any experience with replacing the serial cable
    >with
    >> > a RF gizmo? I'd like to keep in constant touch with my computer,
    >so i
    >> > can write software on the PC that controls the bot. Maybe in the
    >> > future with a CMU-Cam or video-camera. But I can't find anything
    >> > usefull about replacing the serial cable. The only thing i could
    >come
    >> > up with is to buy a second BS2 with two RF trancievers. But I'm
    >not
    >> > that rich. I need a distance of only 10m max.
    >> >
    >> > Any Ideas?
    >> >
    >> > Timmy Kokke
    >>
    >> Replacing a serial cable with low end RF modules is tough since
    >they do not have
    >> onboard processors to handle data communications errors, switching
    >between transmit
    >> and receive modes, etc,. And there *will* be data errors from time-
    >to-time due to natural
    >> & man made RF interference sources. If an occasional data error
    >isn't a problem for your
    >> application, you can use pretty much any inexpensive RF modules for
    >simple wireless
    >> communications, but if you need a true RF transceiver, and one
    >that's reliable, it will be
    >> on the pricey side.
    >>
    >> Maxstream has some of the best RF equipment I've ever used for
    >embedded wireless
    >> communications http://www.maxstream.net/products_9xcitedev.html The
    >9XCite modules
    >> are the lower price - shorter range - version of their 9XStream
    >units, and significantly lower
    >> in price. I believe the 9XCite range is ~300". The 9XStream models
    >have a range of several
    >> miles.
    >>
    >> We carry several inexpensive RF modules, but none of them would
    >offer a solution for
    >> replacing a serial cable. If you're really on a budget, and you can
    >get by with infrared,
    >> we have a new 8-pin IC you can use to build a serial data link with
    >that supports data-rates
    >> up to 19,200bps when used with the high-speed Vishay TSOP7000 IR
    >photo modules.
    >> http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/TX-IRHS.htm
    >>
    >> Regards,
    >>
    >> -Bruce
    >> tech@r...
    >> http://www.rentron.com
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    >Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2003-08-14 15:54
    I do not need to program it thru RF. I just like to give it directions and
    read from sensors or so. And as i said before, maybe in the (near) future
    read data from a CMU-Cam or something. If there's a cable between my bot and
    my computer it can't drive very far. Although, a 3 mile range sounds like
    fun...

    Timmy

    >> Replacing a serial cable with low end RF modules is tough since
    >they do not have
    >> onboard processors to handle data communications errors, switching
    >between transmit
    >> and receive modes, etc,. And there *will* be data errors from time-
    >to-time due to natural
    >> & man made RF interference sources. If an occasional data error
    >isn't a problem for your
    >> application, you can use pretty much any inexpensive RF modules for
    >simple wireless
    >> communications, but if you need a true RF transceiver, and one
    >that's reliable, it will be
    >> on the pricey side.
    >>
    >> Maxstream has some of the best RF equipment I've ever used for
    >embedded wireless
    >> communications http://www.maxstream.net/products_9xcitedev.html The
    >9XCite modules
    >> are the lower price - shorter range - version of their 9XStream
    >units, and significantly lower
    >> in price. I believe the 9XCite range is ~300". The 9XStream models
    >have a range of several
    >> miles.
    >>
    >> We carry several inexpensive RF modules, but none of them would
    >offer a solution for
    >> replacing a serial cable. If you're really on a budget, and you can
    >get by with infrared,
    >> we have a new 8-pin IC you can use to build a serial data link with
    >that supports data-rates
    >> up to 19,200bps when used with the high-speed Vishay TSOP7000 IR
    >photo modules.
    >> http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/TX-IRHS.htm
    >>
    >> Regards,
    >>
    >> -Bruce
    >> tech@r...
    >> http://www.rentron.com
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    >Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/


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