I mean, this guy wrote this code for controlling two motors with a RC receiver and the UNO:
but the UNO has more capabilities than I need, plus it's big, can I use the Nano instead?
Thanks
Same 328P on both.
Different part for USB/Serial adapter
5V regulator on both.
Nano has all the capabilities the Uno has.
If you want a simpler board with less capability, than ProMini is the way to go. Use FTDI Basic or equivalent to download code (offboard USB/Serial adapter), unplug when your code is done and embed the Promini into your project.
Thanks.
Maybe I'm asking stupid questions but I'm new to this world of programmable interfaces (though I'm a software developer).
Now, what do you mean by "Use FTDI Basic or equivalent to download code ", can't I use the software I downloaded from this website?
All I need is to proportioally control two motors, with proportionally steering capability (yes, for RC tanks) using my RC system, so the board must read the pulses (1 to 2 ms, being 1.5 the neutral zone), then for sure the output should go to a H bridge.
Thanks again.
The Uno and Nano use different USB drivers so when first plugged into your PC you have to point to different USB drivers to install but both drivers are distributed in the current IDE. Once installed you just select Uno or Nano (depending on what you actually use) from the IDE board selection menu, and the proper com port selection, and after that they are no difference in coding either type board. They of course have different form factors, the Uno being able to accept 'shield boards' while the nano can be directly plugged into a solderless breadboard.
As you get more proficient in using arduino, one can actually install the Uno bootloader into a Nano module and after that one selects Uno as board type, which gives you faster sketch uploads and a little more flash memory size.
He is referring to these:
Which are , IMO, pretty awesome little controllers. I use them when I 'deploy' my creations. Unfortunately, Sparkfun makes them in-house and they are out of stock. There is a 5V/16MHz version as well as a 3V3/8MHz version so make sure you pick the one that is most compatible with your project.
You can't connect to USB directly to them like you can with a standard UNO. You need to use this for USB communication:
Really, it's not a big thing. Here is a tutorial on how to use it to program :
https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/245
But as far as the PC side goes, it all stays pretty much the same. You will still use the Arduino IDE, you will still select which board you use from the main menus as well as which Serial Port to use.
Tim
Thank you guys. Now, another question: do Arduino boards include BEC, Battery Eliminator Circuitry feature? Like some ESC's, you power it with something around 7-12V and it gives regulated 5V for powering a RC receiver, like this:
http://myrobotlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RC_Rec_bb.jpg
He is referring to these:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11113
I was of course assuming the board type in the title the OP used, the Nano board, which does have on-board FTDI USB. I don't see him mentioning the pro-mini type board?
rva1945:
Thank you guys. Now, another question: do Arduino boards include BEC, Battery Eliminator Circuitry feature? Like some ESC's, you power it with something around 7-12V and it gives regulated 5V for powering a RC receiver, like this:http://myrobotlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RC_Rec_bb.jpg
In the normal non RC world, we call that a voltage regulator. Not exactly sure why they call it a BEC, the name doesn't make sense to me and never has since your not eliminating the battery but regulating its voltage down to what is rated for your device. They are just typically higher than normal current rated regulators.
rva1945:
Thank you guys. Now, another question: do Arduino boards include BEC, Battery Eliminator Circuitry feature? Like some ESC's, you power it with something around 7-12V and it gives regulated 5V for powering a RC receiver, like this:http://myrobotlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RC_Rec_bb.jpg
Most of the small 328p based modules do have a +5vdc voltage regulator on-board, so can act as a BEC function, but you have to be very careful with how much current is available from this +5vdc, for example there is enough to power a R/C receiver, but not to power servo(s), for that you would need an additional standalone BEC module.
Tw34kd:
rva1945:
Thank you guys. Now, another question: do Arduino boards include BEC, Battery Eliminator Circuitry feature? Like some ESC's, you power it with something around 7-12V and it gives regulated 5V for powering a RC receiver, like this:http://myrobotlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/RC_Rec_bb.jpg
In the normal non RC world, we call that a voltage regulator. Not exactly sure why they call it a BEC, the name doesn't make sense to me and never has since your not eliminating the battery but regulating its voltage down to what is rated for your device. They are just typically higher than normal current rated regulators.
When R/C aircraft using electric motors were first being used one usually needed two battery packs, a 4XAA to power the R/C reciever and servos, and a higher voltage pack (Ni-cads at the time) to power the motor. After electric planes became more popular the ESC modules started containing a built-in 5vdc regulator so you could power the R/C receiver and servos via the same single pack that powered the ESC/Motor, thus 'eliminating' one battery pack, and the term become standard R/C jargon.
Let me explain the origin of "BEC": in the early days of RC, you needed to power the motor(s) and the receiver independently, with separate batteries, as the receivers must be powered with regulated 5 to 6V. IF an ESC includes a voltage regulator, the same connector that reads the signal from the RX channel includes ground and +5V, so you eliminate the RX battery. In our RC world, we use a single 7.4 or 11.1V li-po battery connected to the ESC, and the ESC provides regulated 5V for the receiver.
I have also bought FTDI Basic equivalents from www.tinyosshop.com to connect ProMini's to a PC for programming.
They have a jumper to select 3.3V or 5V (vs cutting a trace on the back of the board) and a micro USB-B connector (vs a mini USB-B, or the larger "standard" USB-B found on Unos).