Pocket PC RN-1 Controller

[Pev]

Have just finished version 1 of a pocket PC 2003 bluetooth controller for the RN-1. Although basic the controller mimics all the functions of the IR remote.

The RN-1 has a BlueSmirf bluetooth module installed and receives data on the serial input (still working on the ability to send data back to the PPC - I hate multi-threaded VB.Net lol). Using the BlueSmirf buffer it is possible to queue motions and have them play as a continuous sequence. The walking functions are assigned to the little joystick on the base of the IPAQ and continuous walking is there.

A specially developed template is loaded to the RN1 to enable the bluetooth control but this primarily reads the bluetooth input and translates it to the standard function calls.

Now I've proved this approach I am going to work on a more configurable versions with tabs and the ability to assign values to the buttons in a config file.

This is what it looks like at the moment:



Pev

[subpilot]

Nice work Pev. You going to keep that to yourself or release it to the world?

[Pev]

Nice work Pev. You going to keep that to yourself or release it to the world?

LOL - well this is the first PPC code I've ever written and the first serial comms app too but if you are feeling brave I am happy to share.

Its written in vb.net 2005 and requires the .NET CF Runtime 2.0 installed on your Pocket PC and that can be downloaded from :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=9655156b-356b-4a2c-857c-e62f50ae9a55&displaylang=en

Then you'll need the executable copied to your device (I haven't done an installer for it yet)

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Pev/RobotControlPPC.zip

The first time you run the program on your PPC it will display a config screen requesting com port details. This should be the outgoing com port for your device as detailed under the BlueTooth Setting/Serial Ports, with the other settings to match your BlueSmirf (or other) bluetooth module.
NOTE: I run my setup at a lowley 9600 Baud and the RN-1 Template is set to that too
Once complete click ok and your back to the main screen.

On the main screen click file/connect and select your RN-1 Bluetooth module form the list. (Mine doesn't use a Passkey so I'm not sure what it will do if it does require one). Once the connecion is established click Initialise RN-1 to start the comms session. (There is a wait in the Template that hopefully stops spurrious characters making the RN-1 do odd things when the link is established). Then you're away with a mixer (hopefully, I've only tested this on my own IPAQ).

Button Special 1 calls the Hitec Matrix move
Button Special 2 exercises my Matt Bauer Grippers on servo ports 10,11
Button Special 3 calls the Hitech Push Ups routine

And finally the template loaded into your RN-1

http://robosavvy.com/Builders/Pev/Bluetooth_test.bas

Hivemind's Flip code (Thanks Hivemind) is in the template too but not associated with a button and you'll also find gyro code too.

PLEASE READ AND NOTE
Please be VERY VERY CAREFUL. This is very much beta code and I cannot warranty it in anyway. I'd hate for it to cause a problem or damage anyones robot. USE THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK, if you're not sure please don't do it.

This is only one way comms at the moment to the RN-1, Am still battling with the Datareceived event in .NET to get two way comms working. If anyone wants the source code let me know and I'll email it to you (But remember I am not a great programmer so it is pretty tatty).

Pev

[rep001]

Pev Great work.I have uploaded all the software to my spv m600 and the template appears.all is well except i have not yet got a bluesmirf.will this run the bluetooth module that hitec are selling ? and is there any way to use this setup but with thew infrared port on the phone .Not ideal just a thought.
thanks
rep001

[Pev]

Pev Great work.I have uploaded all the software to my spv m600 and the template appears.all is well except i have not yet got a bluesmirf.will this run the bluetooth module that hitec are selling ? and is there any way to use this setup but with thew infrared port on the phone .Not ideal just a thought.
thanks
rep001

Hi rep001,

Glad it seems to be working on your phone. In theory it should work with any Bluetooth module that can be connected to the RX/TX ports on the Robonova processer board and that publishes itself to other bluetooth devices as a Serial Port.

I haven't looked at using IR ports for this and probably won't be purely because I was trying to get away from them. I did look at programing the IR port on my PPC but it seems pretty complex and there seem to be a lot of different protocols too. (Or maybe I am just a bit dim lol)

Hope this helps

Pev

[rep001]

Pev any thoughts on taking apart a pc bluetooth dongle and using that with RN or is this an old thought....
if so any idea on connection from the usb side ?
cheers

[Pev]

Pev any thoughts on taking apart a pc bluetooth dongle and using that with RN or is this an old thought....
if so any idea on connection from the usb side ?
cheers

Hi,

To tell you the truth I haven't tried it. Somehow you'd have to get the signal from the bluetooth and grab it before it was turned into a USB signal, and convert it to TTL serial. To be honest a bit beyond my electronics knowledge and TTL serial bluetooth modules are prett y cheap really. The Sparkfun guys will ship worldwide but you do need to pay duty when it gets to the UK (if you are uk based obviously) otherwise there are some I haven't tried at

http://www.rfsolutions.co.uk

Pev

[rep001]

which bluesmirf should i order up then , is there a specific p.np i should order as i see there i smore than one.

[Pev]

which bluesmirf should i order up then , is there a specific p.np i should order as i see there i smore than one.

This is the one I use. I got the one with hardware flow control as it can be disabled by making a solder jumper on the back of the unit (which I've done and needs to be done for faultless RN-1 operation) but it means that I can reactivate it if I use it in another bot.

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=582

Pev

[rep001]

Perfect Pev thanks for the info.Interesting to see that it is alot more than the plug and play version hitec offer.Any thoughts either way.

[Pev]

Perfect Pev thanks for the info.Interesting to see that it is alot more than the plug and play version hitec offer.Any thoughts either way.

I haven't seen the hitech unit and have to confess I went with the bluesmirf as a number of other people on the board were using them. The bluesmirf was very easy to implement so I think thats a plus. I am looking to try and add bluetooth to another 'bot and have yet to make the decision but will probably go bluesmirf again as I know how they work etc. We'll see......

But in general I think they all look pretty good for the money and as long as they can do 8bit, no parity, 1 stop bit (no flow control) at an exceptable Baud rate I think it is probably all pretty much of a muchness.......

Oh one other thing, unless you want to worry about regulating the 5volts on the RN-1 down to 3.3v I'd look for a unit that works on 5volts. That was my other requirement as I didn't want to mod the controller board as some have and didn't want the extra hardware to regulate this just for the bluetooth module.

Pev

[rep001]

Pev great info again cheers.I shall order up all i need in the morning and start experimenting soon after.thanks

[debby]

May I know how can I install bluetooth module on the serial input? I have difficulty in this process. Thanks

[onesandzeros]

i just ordered a bluesmirf.] for my robonova
thanks alot for your great contribution of the ppc aplication pev
iam definately going to be trying it out.

have you made any modifications fromt he ver1.0?

[Pev]

Okay its has been a while since I have worked on this as it does work and I am now working on a Tablet PC controller for my Samsung Q1. I will dig out the latest source code and executable and post them in this thread. Just got to remember where I put them lol

Pev