Help - Project idea

bitblaster

I have a project idea, and I've bought the equipment the other day, I'm waiting for it to be shipped.

My idea is to take a remote control car and to take apart the remote control, and interface it with a basic stamp. I've ordered a BS1 project board.

My idea is to wire the board into the remote so that it would be able to send signals to the remote, ultimately controlling the car.

I'm also writing a program in visual basic, using the mscomm control, so that the computer is able to control the basic stamp / components hopefully in close to real time.

Does anyone have any suggestions, comments, or any input on this?

I've never attempted anything like this before, all of my previous projects have always been with programming.

My question - What components do I need to get if I want it to simulate the buttons of the remote other than the wires, if any?

Post Edited (bitblaster) : 7/5/2007 8:09:28 PM GMT

bitblaster

By the way, if I am essentially cutting the wires from the buttons and hooking them into the board with the basic stamp, do I need anything other than wires, such as capacitors, etc for the project board?

bennettdan

bitblaster,
The remote car you plan to buy will it be a very simple forward and reverse or will it have variable speed control. The stamp might be able to control a variable speed RC controller if you use a digital pots in place of the forward and reverse pot and the left and right turn pot in a two channel setup but you will have to find out what value the pots are from stop to stop then recreate that with the Stamp and Digital Pots. The Whats a Microcontroller Text that you can download shows you how to interface a digital pot with a BS2.
http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/books/edu/Wamv2_2.pdf
Look at chapter 9 and read up on the digital pot. The digital pot will take the place of most pots as long as you dont use more that 5 volts.

I also can help you with the visual basic programs if you need help. Lets us know what type of car you buy and we should be able to help. I have not used the BS1 much most of my projects use the BS2 and SX but the BS1 should be able to do what you want.

bitblaster

Thanks!!!

As for the visual basic, I think I have it under control. I've started that program. I'll post a link to the source code when its done.

So far, I've only read that PBASIC books. I'll read up on that.

For the car, it is very simple, I believe. It was a $13 car from amazon.com, a 49MHZ car. I'll have to wait for it to arrive to tell you. I'll reply back with that information once I get it.

Thanks so much, bennettdan!

Dgswaner

how about a twist, how about having the stamp onboard the RC car and receive the RF signals from the remote and then issue commands to the RC car accordingly. Why? by having a stamp on board you could add sensors, speed control, camera movement, etc.

You could still interface the remote to a serial port and control it with a computer. If it's too complicated to add a stamp directly to the RF part of the car you could easily interface it at the point it connects to the motors.

Having the stamp read the RF signals could also add more functionality (potentially) if the RC car had a horn or other secondary function you could use that to double the commands you could send to the car. ie

forward = function 1
forward + horn = function 2
reverse = function 3
reverse + horn = function 4

or you could send a pulse code to add even higher functionality.

forward horn forward = function 1
forward horn reverse = function 2
forward horn horn = function 3
and the list goes on.

This could all be handled by the computer in the background. so you would still be able to press one button to go forward and backwards. just a thought. it just seems like over kill to have a stamp just reading signals from a remote. they are capable of so much more.

just a thought.

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A complex design is the sign of an inferior designer. - Jamie Hyneman, Myth Buster

bitblaster

Thanks so much. I appreciate your input.

LilDi

How about connecting two servos' to the two joy sticks of the controller
. Use the Stamp to move the controller joy stick via the servo position.

A mechanical device requires a mechanical solution!

Post Edited (LILDI) : 7/10/2007 5:27:27 AM GMT