bluetooth controller for robobuilder?

[Traull]

hi there i have seen the IFR controller for the robobuilder but i was wondering about the bluetooth capability i have seen the chip add on but every demonstation i have seen using it still involves a wire (which defeats the purpose for bluetooth) is it difficult to link to a bluetooth controller and still keep wireless?

as i have limited experiance would it be a easy task to achieve????
is there any links to show how to do????

[l3v3rz]

Not sure what you have seen - but this thread shows an Android phone connecting using bluetooth (no wires !)

http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6741

You need the add-on chip and you need a bluetooth enabled PC. Most laptops have this as standard these days - or if you use a desktop PC then you need a USB-bluetooth widget (I have a nice one I bought in Maplins) - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=224653

You then connect using serial protocol and its appears like any other COM port on your PC. If you buy the robobuilder BT module it all works very easily as its preset for 115200 baud comms

cheers

[Traull]

i have seen the phone but not a real control pad like the one used for the khr models.

if i used the blue tooth on the laptop i would need to run it through the pc/laptop instead of a direct link between controller and robobuilder.

if connected through the laptop will i be able to assign controls???

[l3v3rz]

There is a kit - see this

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/l3v3rz/Jo ... 281%29.pdf

Not sure how you buy it though. Also it needs an old PS2 keypad to hack about with.

It may be easier to use a USB PC one and then add your own software like this

http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=18813#18813

[i-Bot]

I have a board which interfaces a wireless PS2 controller and emulates the IR controller of the Robobuilder if it helps.

Not sure if I can get down to the meet in London yet. I will bring one along if can.

[Traull]

thats what iv been looking for cheers, you wouldnt happen to know where to get one from???

[Traull]

nope given up anyone know where to get one of these from????

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/l3v3rz/Jo ... 281%29.pdf

[i-Bot]

The board was home built.

It uses a Logitech wireless PS2 controller like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOGITECH-WIRELESS-PLAYSTATION-2-PS2-ACTION-CONTROLLER-/310223613704?pt=UK_VideoGames_VideoGameAccessories_VideoGameAccessories_JN&hash=item483ac4af08

The receiver is disassembled and connected to an interface board with a Microchip processor. This board is the one we also used for Robonova.
.


This just fits inside the head after a few bits of plastic are removed.


I still have some PCB and chips if you want one. Also source code is available if you want to modify the button allocations and functions.

[Traull]

wow thats amazing i assume it connects onto the robobuilder board as a normal sensor would with no need the get the bluetooth module? how is its reception i assume great ever have any issues???

[i-Bot]

Yes it plugs into the RBC in place of the IR sensor, so no need for bluetooth.
I used it during Robogames in 2009, which was a bit of an RF nightmare with bluetooth, zigbee, WLAN, 2.4GHz radio control, etc. It worked fine.

[Traull]

how did you connect the reciever to the board?
is the board you used easily to get hold of?

[i-Bot]

The green PCB is the receiver without case, the brown PCB is the interface. They just link with a few .1" header pins.

Send me a private message with contact details, I can send you bare board. Can you build it and program PIC, or do you need that too ?

I program with a PICKit2 using 5 Pogo pins to board in the 5 unsoldered pin holes.

[Traull]

yea sadly im not too clued up on the programming so that would be really helpful

thanks alot

i will pm you with my address but dont rush theres no hurry
thank you so much

[l3v3rz]

At CES a company (Gamertell) were demonstrating modded Playstation and XBOX controllers for Robobuilder. No details on it as a commercial product though.

http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment ... ntrollers/