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Hacking Radio Control Toys to use with Stamp or SX — Parallax Forums

Hacking Radio Control Toys to use with Stamp or SX

ZootZoot Posts: 2,227
edited 2006-11-18 08:12 in Robotics
I'm thinking that my next small project (as a break from my bigger projects) will be to put a Stamp or SX into one of these to make it a robot (plus some IR detetors and such).

www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265584&cp=&view=all&f=Taxonomy%2FTRUS%2F2255956&origkw=radio+control&kw=radio+control&parentPage=search

Since I don't want to have to buy one and 'scope it to dissect signals and then find out I'm toast, I am wondering if anyone has any general comments about R/C toys. I would think it's a safe bet that anything with R/C *can* be hacked presuming you can check out the pulses/signals being used by the receiver for control?

My other general question is power -- anybody have any idea what this means?
Somebody said...
Requires Tyco ProFlex BP&C and one 9 volt for transmitter. Batteries not included.

Is the Tyco ProFlex some kind of NiCad battery pack? I'm hoping I won't have to put another battery in to the case for the Stamp/SX and electronics, since space will probably already be tight.

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When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

Post Edited (Zoot) : 11/16/2006 3:27:04 AM GMT

Comments

  • Brian CarpenterBrian Carpenter Posts: 728
    edited 2006-11-16 03:09
    It is thier (B)attery (P)ack & (C)harger it is a nicad pack that is designed to fit inside the toy.

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    It's Only A Stupid Question If You Have Not Googled It First!!
  • bulkheadbulkhead Posts: 405
    edited 2006-11-18 07:20
    The "proflex" battery pack is just their fancy name for their 4/5 cell brand of rechargeable battery pack that's split into two "flexible" parts. It is required because it is the only type of battery that fits with that model. You would probably be better off using your own batteries and just putting on standard power connectors and find a new spot to put the battery. Make sure it is the same voltage as the "proflex" pack, you can probably find the specs for it online somewhere.

    I'm not sure about this model, but most tyco models aren't "digital proportional," so it is just an on/off type motor/function control. I don't think you really have to read the pulses, but just be able to distinguish between the few different kinds that they send. It may not even be "pulse" since there are only a few basic functions. You could just substitue your own control system and just use the motors and mechanical linkages of the model, and use transistors to switch the motors on and off (it doesn't look that big). You could use a wireless videogame (ps2) controller to make the project "rc," so you could have proportional motor control and more "channels" (buttons).
  • ZootZoot Posts: 2,227
    edited 2006-11-18 08:12
    That's very helpful remarks about the battery back. I'm planning on making it (or something like it) -- a few IR sensors and a Stamp or SX. If I can dissect the high/lows or pulses to whatever circuits they already have in there for driving the motors, I'll be pretty well on my way. A bonus would be reverse engineering whatever the R/C toy gets on it's receiver and reading that into the Stamp as well, but that would be secondary.

    Better save my pennies....

    Actually, we just found these this morning -- which look like they'd be very interesting for outdoor 'bots -- like four of them.

    hearthsong.com/hearthsong/product.do?bc=1005

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    When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

    Post Edited (Zoot) : 11/18/2006 8:18:02 AM GMT
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