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[on:]

I would like to start a forum on controlling tanks via rf and arduino/atmegas.

I have had some success reusing the receiver boards on toy state industrial tanks and using the nrf24l01 module for receiving RF.

Yesterday I was able to read a psx analog controller which I think would make a better transmitter interface than my previous namco pacman joystick transmitter.

Currently I am able to read and reproduce IR pulses from Forces of Valor, Huan Qi, Danbar, and Airbender devices.

I have also created some pcbs that www.iteadstudio.com can reproduce for $1.40 each (must be purchased in packs of 10).

I would like to create a smaller version that will fit in a megatech megatanx.  

I would like to open this forum to talk about useful things we learn as well as possibly defining standards that could allow multiple teams to compete.  I believe the nrf24l01 is a good choice for rf as it is a low cost, decent range, and supposedly has 100 software selectable channels (I have only used 1 so far).  

I have starting documentation at http://atmega.site40.net

thanks,
Paul

[Reply #1 on:]

I combined the PSX Analog controller with an nrf24l01 transmitter to control a tank.  I uploaded a youtube video: .  I also documented the project at http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=PSXAnalogTx

[Reply #2 on:]

Wow, that looks really nice !
It's a shame that the controls don't seem to be proportional...

Dan

[Reply #3 on:]

I hacked the receiver board for toy state industrial tanks: http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=Toy State Industrial Tank,megabotz: http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=MegaBotz, megatank:http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=MegaTech Mega Tank, and heng long 1/30 Sherman:http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=Heng Long 1/30 Sherman.  

The idea is to reuse the receiver board so that you don't have to buy an h-bridge.  Also reusing the power supply makes the finished product a little cleaner.  Next I want to reuse the receiver boards from battle bots and Heng Long, scale 1/16 tanks

[Reply #4 on:]

I hacked a usb missile launcher.  
There is more info at http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=usbMissile
Here is a youtube video:

[Reply #5 on:]

This is really good stuff! I'm pretty new to this, but my plans are making as many Arduino controlled RC toys as I can. I already have found a few of these things on your page at the local Savers. Awesome.

[Reply #6 on:]

I hacked the Heng Long Scale 1/16 Tank receiver board.

Here is a link to the information

http://atmega.site40.net/default.php?bookmark=Heng Long 1/16 Tank

Thanks!

[Reply #7 on:]

Confirmed that the Heng Long receiver board will respond to arduino 5V signals

[Reply #8 on:]

Good stuff, keep it up.

[Reply #9 on:]

Confirmed that the Heng Long Scale 1/24 (Type 90?) has same receiver board and pinout as the above scale 1/16

[Reply #10 on:]

hi Paulware, http://paulware.comeze.com/#Heng Long 1/16 Tank is really a good stuffs link. tkx sharing.

[Reply #11 on:]

Thanks for your comments.  I really appreciate them.
I hacked the IR pulse on the BattleMachines helicopter.  They are very stable and I highly recommend them.  You can get them at Target or Toys R Us for about $50.00 (with air-ground unit and 2 controllers).
I integrated this air component into the existing ground (tanks) plus added a repair (Rumble) robot.  
More info is available at http://atmega.site40.net
Here is a short video:

[Reply #12 on:]

Back in September Dan Trandi mentioned it would be better if the tank movement was more realistic/proportional.  I agreed but was limited by the number of pwm outputs on the atmega168/atmega328.  I use up 1 PWM output on my IR transmitter (D3) and more are tied up with the SPI output to my RF component (D8..D13).  That only left me D5, and D6 but I needed 4 PWM outputs for Left/Right Forward/Reverse.  

To solve this, I placed an additional slave atmega168 on my pcb.  The master communicates with the slave via IIC.  The slaves sole purpose is to control Left/Right Forward/Reverse.  Here is a sample video:  You can also get more info (pcb, source, parts list, and build instructions) at http://atmega.site40.net/#AtmegaDuo  

Thanks for your comments
Paul

[Reply #13 on:]

Spy gear has a tank that also has a camera on it.  

I believe that the feed that goes from the controller to the eyeglass can also be sent to the RCA input of a television.  I need to confirm this.

I was able to find the pins that controls the tanks movement:

[Reply #14 on:]

I created some build instructions on how to take a toy state industrial tank and modify it to accept RF commands and transmit IR pulses

http://atmega.site40.net/showInstructions.php?filename=ToyStateHack&page=1&maximum=16