I am an Arduino baby so sorry if this is in a post already but I've been researching and have just become more confused 
I jjust need some basic guidence in hardware needed and differences. What I am wanting to do is control a small motors speed via Bluetooth. I don't necessarily need full control as in a potentiometer but maybe 5 or so points at Which I can slightly increase RPMS. I've read articles on PWM and ESCs and have only become more confused. I've also read a article on a digital potentiometer and in the comments I read nothing but bad comments saying that they where a bad idea. Thank you. ~Andrew
First find out if you know enough to get a motor running and learn enough to even try that.
Basically find sites that show how and display the code and if it looks mysterious, you're not ready.
Then see about bluetooth and get that running.
About then you might be ready to combine the two.
Do you want to send instructions TO your Arduino using bluetooth - if so from what?,
OR
Do you want the Arduino to SEND instructions to something else - if so, to what?
Assuming the first case with the Arduino controlling the motor, you will need a driver (h-bridge) between the Arduino and the motor because the Arduino cannot manage the currents required by a motor. Have you already got that, or have you selected one? You could use an ESC as the driver. You can get the drivers from suppliers such as Pololu or, of course, you could use an Arduino motor shield. Just make sure the ESC or driver can comfortably manage the current and volts required by the motor.
An ESC is controlled as if it was a servo using the servoWrite() function. A motor driver is controlled with PWM using the analogWrite() function.
...R
Thanks for the replys. Smoke, I am trying to learn but you can research on your own and if you don't have a huge programing background answers aren't always clear cut. Not to mention I actually need something in my hands to learn on so I am ultimately building a shipping list. I am starting small though. I will get the motors working then worry about Bluetooth.
Robin, I want to send a command from a smart device to the motor through the arduino. Almost similar to a throttle on a rc car.
In a nutshell this is what I want to happen.
If I push this button on smart device motor spins at this speed and if I push this button it spins faster.
Are you even sure you need Bluetooth. To make it simpler, couldn't you just connect your smart device directly to the Arduino?
Via USB? I am pretty sure I want to control it via Bluetooth due to the fact that I want to pair them together . There will be more than one so I don't want them interfering with each other. Also need to be wireless. But maybe if WiFi is a better option then that might be something I could look into
post a link or some technical reference for the motor.
is is dc brushed or brushless ?
Also tell us exactly what you mean by a smart device?
When you say "to the motor through the arduino" it is not clear whether the motor is to be directly controlled by the Arduino or whether it has its own completely separate controller.
If I was controlling a motor with my Arduino I think I would say "from a smart device to the Arduino to control a motor" rather than "through the Arduino"
And you didn't answer my earlier question about how your motor is connected to your Arduino.
...R
andrewbunyard:
Thanks for the replys. Smoke, I am trying to learn but you can research on your own
I'm one of the people who expect that. I'll give a push now and then, I'll try and explain what I see someone missing, but I expect to not do most of the work. If you don't do the work, the lesson probably won't stay or even be half learned. Doing the work means involvement with a mind towards the subject.
and if you don't have a huge programing background answers aren't always clear cut.
You don't need a huge programming background unless you're doing huge programming. :^) Honest!
What you do need is to know fundamental things about variables, arrays, loops and logic, the beginner to intermediate stuff. With that you can tackle a wide array of projects, picking up and inventing new tricks all the way. Maybe even learn bits and pointers which IMO are intermediate subjects that bring a whole lot of power to your game.
No matter how much programming you know, there will always be more. The fun just never runs out.
Not to mention I actually need something in my hands to learn on so I am ultimately building a shipping list. I am starting small though. I will get the motors working then worry about Bluetooth.
That makes me feel good. Too often someone buys a load of parts, hits the curve with that and winds up quitting.
Take small bites and chew thoroughly. Wherever you aren't sure, find out what it is you don't know and work that out. You can learn anything that way.
Learn Faster with The Feynman Technique
No. WiFi is much more expensive than Bluetooth.