IR remote and Radio Control

[fuzzyoboe]

What is the advantage of using RC over the one come with the RN, the IR roboremocon ?
are there especially good radio for RN ? like the right number of channels, 4 ? and small receiver ?

[NovaOne]

The IR remote for RN is quite slow and unreliable compared to RC especially in competitions.

Most RC Receivers can be used with with RN connected to the AD ports, using the RCIN() command. But you are limited to 8 channels since there are only 8 AD ports.

Most people prefer bluetooth control these days, because you can control more then 8 channels (connected to ETX and ERX) while leaving your AD ports free to connect sensors etc.

Check out the wireless section of RN Wiki:
http://robosavvy.com/site/index.php?option=com_openwiki&id=wiki:robonova-i_faq
and:
http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=673&highlight=remote

Chris[/url]

[fuzzyoboe]

Thanks, Chris. I am not familiar with blue tooth, using RC you can move stick to control the motion, like using IR remote by pressing keys.
But blue tooh, what kind of control device you use, you use cell phone ? PDA ? or someting ?

[Pev]

Thanks, Chris. I am not familiar with blue tooth, using RC you can move stick to control the motion, like using IR remote by pressing keys.
But blue tooh, what kind of control device you use, you use cell phone ? PDA ? or someting ?

Bluetooth is ok but think of it like an extended remote as the primciple is very similar. I have been using both PDA's and Tablet PCs. All working fine. Details and free programs are at my site.

Pev

[NovaOne]

fuzzyoboe wrote:

PostPosted: 15 Aug 2007 14:56 Post subject:
Thanks, Chris. I am not familiar with blue tooth, using RC you can move stick to control the motion, like using IR remote by pressing keys.
But blue tooh, what kind of control device you use, you use cell phone ? PDA ? or someting ?

It all depends how advanced you are.

I use the simplest method - a laptop PC with bluetooth. The bluetooth drivers provides what appears to be an additional serial communications port. The control program then simply needs to send commands (strings of characters that define for example a move or position) to this Serial port.
The specific Bluetooth module, which has been setup to talk to your Bluetooth unit on the PC will then relay these signals to its own wired serial port which you will have linked to the serial port of the MR-C3024 at ETX and RTX connections. In RoboBASIC, Data can be read with the RX (receive) common or transmitted (TX command) to the module...... and hence exchanging information with the control program.

In terms of the control program, you could if you were a very very good typist you could just use Hyper-terminal (I doubt any one does?). I wrote a simple Visual Basic program with a "nice" graphical interface. (I won't be posting it at this time because like some of my RoboBASIC programs it very amateurish), but there are various control programs available free from:
http://www.bauerindependents.com/SUBMAIN/Robotics_Puppeteer.htm
Matt must have spent days doing the graphics for that one.
And Pevs BioBlue here: http://www.bipedrobots.co.uk/index.aspx?id=206
Also in Pev's link PDA Pocket PC software (RoboControl PPC II) he wrote for bluetooth enabled PDA (or cell phone, what the difference these days?)

These forms of control device are fine, but if you intend to be competitive at Robo-One, were reaction time is important, most use Play Station or XBOX gamepad controllers. Interfacing is usually via the PC first although I think some use other intermediate decoding device/microcontroller??

Of course your RC unit will also be great when reaction time is an important factor, and as I'm sure you know, they are used in competition.

Chris

[NovaOne]

Sorry Pev it looks like I was half way through writing my reply and you posted yours.... I didn't mean to interrupt.

May ask you a question? Is the tablet client unit linked to below suitable to run Bio Blue or just RoboControl PPC II
http://www.sterlingxs.co.uk/scpages/wireless%20viewsonicv210.htm

Or can you suggest a better device for a similar price?

Chris

[fuzzyoboe]

Thanks. I remember seeing DanAlbert posted that he was working on a XBee hack with PS type controller a while ago. Anybody know what is the status of that ? I like to purchase a complete set if it is on sale.

[NovaOne]

Oh.... I forgot ZigBee, is this the thread you mean?
http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=382&highlight=xbee

I think you will be interested in the as well. Dan seems to have made progress:
http://robosavvy.com/forum/viewtopic.ph ... light=xbee

Its given me a few ideas

Chris

[Pev]

Sorry Pev it looks like I was half way through writing my reply and you posted yours.... I didn't mean to interrupt.

May ask you a question? Is the tablet client unit linked to below suitable to run Bio Blue or just RoboControl PPC II
http://www.sterlingxs.co.uk/scpages/wireless%20viewsonicv210.htm

Or can you suggest a better device for a similar price?

Chris

Hi NovaOne,

Well it is running Windows CE 4.2, and I have tested on an IPAQ that reports windows Pocket PC 4.2 so the RoboControl PPC would probably load. THe two issues I see are :

1. Not sure how the Pocket PC/IPAQ designed screens would render on the larger display.
2. I couldn't see a bluetooth capability on the spec? The apps work on bluetooth but not on WLAN.

I have been using PPC for the low cost option like second hand IPAQ's, I have a 2210 and a 2790 (new their around £280)

My 'expensive' option is a Samsung Q1 tablet which I love and was the basis for the BioBlue software but they are pretty pricey at around £650 I think. BioBlue will run on any laptop/PC though but you loose the ability to tap the screen and need to use the mouse for the buttons. (Oh and I haven't tested it on Vista yet).

Hope this helps

Pev