sorry about the link.....I put it on already.

This is what I had been trying to do and I made it.

If you ever wanna give it a try , use your PC to control a RC Toy , this can be a good example for you.

So , the target is : Use a PC to control a RC Car

My example is , I wrote a program which can handle the gamepad windows event then send
the signal to Arduino.     Then Arduino generates appropriate voltage to control the Radio Controller of
a RC Car.

Feel free to have a look and let me know how do you think.
https://sites.google.com/site/arduinorccar/

Hi Guys ,

Let me introduce you a way to control / monitor your Arduino Project from internet.

You can connect your Ethernet cable into your Arduino Ethernet Adapter and consume one of your Arduino in the same time.

Instead , I make a software which has two main functions :
  1. Web Server - which can make the communication between PC and the Internet User
  2. Serial Port Communication - so the PC can talk to Arduino

In this way , the Internet User can communicate with Arduino in real time.    You can control and monitor the status of Arduino via Internet.      In the mean while , the PC can also save and load all the data from Arduino easily.

I have an example for this , Internet Controlled Vehicle , feel free to have a look.
https://sites.google.com/site/ixacproject/

In my example , I use my laptop talk to a wireless router.     
Then I use an XBee with its adapter(has a FTDI chip) to talk to the other XBee which connect to Arduino.
So , the PC and Arduino can communicate wireless.
Finally , the Internet User can talk to the Vehicle.

Feel free to let me know how do you think.

Hi guys ,

I just made a compact web server for controlling Arduino.
Feel free to have a look.

It can receive command from internet , send command to Arduino , and report status to internet.

The user does not need to install any software , just download and play.
Check the link for details :
http://sites.google.com/site/arduinonetserver/

bdragon

Hi guys , need a free USB OscilloScope?

Try this one !

http://sites.google.com/site/analogmc/usb_scope

 

==============
 - using the software from SOR
http://www.societyofrobots.com/sor_scope.shtml

 - Use ADC of Arduino to read an analog voltage
 - Use the Serial.println of Arduino to SOR Scope and get the graphic

I upload the video.

For debug , I made 2 LED panels , so the user be able to see what really happen when operating a stepper motor.

I have a question , if people use more than 2 servo on this motor shield , will this motor shield still be able to drive 4 DC Motors or 2 stepper motor in the same time?

Sounds interesting

I tried the Servo library , its very accurate and reliable than driving stepper motor in my view point.    Because stepper motor lost steps , especially the cheaper one , drain a lot of power and did nothing.

For the 2 wire Stepper motor , that's bipolar stepper motor in Full Step Drive.    Since the other two wire are always drive inverted , so you can just add two inverters for them.

Parcanman ,

may I have a look at your Arduino CNC machine?   I'm interested in this project also.

thanks

With Arduino's servo library , it may drive 12 servo , because all the pins are free.

But for the motor shield , two servo.

And you wont only need servo in reality I think.

Is anyone using ladyada's Motor Shield?

Feel free to try this motor driver.

http://sites.google.com/site/analogmc/

bdragon

AMC(Analog Motor Control) library is base on ladyada's Arduino Motor Shield.

http://www.ladyada.net/make/mshield/

AMC can drive both DC Motor and Stepper Motor in the same time.     With the Arduino's Servo library , the motor shield can also drive two extra servo motors.

Feature :
 - Easy to use
 - Analog drive up to four DC Motors for bi-direction control
 - Analog drive two stepper motors in the same time , it does not need to wait until the other one finished stepping
 - Stepper Motor Support : Bi-polar , Unipolar 4 phases , Unipolar 3 phases


Arduino Motor Shield Hardware :
 - 74HCT595N
The 74HC/HCT595 is an 8-stage serial shift register with a
storage register and 3-state outputs.

 - L293D
The L293 and L293D are quadruple high-current
half-H drivers. The L293 is designed to provide
bidirectional drive currents of up to 1 A at voltages
from 4.5 V to 36 V. The L293D is designed to
provide bidirectional drive currents of up to
600-mA at voltages from 4.5 V to 36 V. Both
devices are designed to drive inductive loads such
as relays, solenoids, dc and bipolar stepping
motors, as well as other high-current/high-voltage
loads in positive-supply applications.

I just made an example about using Arduino talk to a Xbee module.
https://sites.google.com/site/xbeetutorial/example

Welcome to have a look.

Also , this example has a link to show how to achieve Internet controlled Arduino , so you can remote control and monitor your Arduino online using IE or Firefox.    You can monitor and control your Arduino no matter you're in Europe , Asia , Africa , or America , once you have a internet.

Another link show how to use Arduino to control a DC motor , Stepper Motor and servo.

Cheers~

Yes , its very neat.

And everything you need is pay USD$35.0 to buy Arduino board.   And another USD$20.0 for a Motor Shield.
The others are free !
Free - Dev-C++
Free - OpenCV for using a Webcam
Free - SDL Library for windows programming
Free - Web Server - Write a simple one by yourself.  Save money from buying a ethernet shield for Arduino.
Free - Serial Port Programming for talking to Arduino
Free - DC & Stepper Motor Driver (Arduino has Servo Driver)
Free - My AMC Driver can drive both Bi-Polar and Uni-Polar Stepper Motor , so you can find them from a machine easily.   DC Motors are everywhere.

I figure out all the tricky part such as :
 - Install OpenCV into Dev-C++
 - Using SDL_net to write a tiny Web Server
 - Serial Port Programming
 - Motor Driver for 74HC595N and 293D

You can find all these information on the website and links.   And the most important thing is , they're all very simple job.   Non of them requires a deep knowledge to make it.
 

I just figure out a easy way to do that , for your reference.

Arduino : connect to PC via USB Port , be able to control / monitor electronics
Arduino NetServer : Software that embedded a compact Web Server , and be able to turn on a Webcam , communicate with Arduino , transfer image to internet user.

This project does not need to install any software such as IIS or Apache into the PC.    Please check the web site for detail.

https://sites.google.com/site/arduinonetserver/

Try this two website may help :

http://www.ladyada.net/make/xbee/arduino.html
https://sites.google.com/site/xbeetutorial/

Good Luck