!!!HELP!!! to build a Wifi Remote Controller!!!!

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello guys, Newbie here...

I would like some advices for a wifi remote controlled project

I've been spoofing around trying to figure out what would be the best way to achieve this,
knowing that space and form factor would be an obstacle. I apologize for my english I'm from France actually.

So I hand drew a little sketch so you guys could advice me what would be better easy and more precise.

Transmetter:

_ 1 Arduino ???nano???
_ 2 Oled 12c display (is it possible???)
_ 5 Rotary Encoders
_ 3 Press Buttons
_ 2 Leds
_ 1 Light Sensor
_ 1 Wifi Transceiver

Receiver:

_ 1 Arduino ???nano???
_ 1 6 digit led display or oled
_ 1/2 group of 2 or 3 step or servo motors (1/2/5)
_ 2/2 group of 2 or 3 step or servo motors (4/3/6)
_ 1 group of 2 step or servo motors (7/9)
_ 1 servo motor ( 8 )
_ 3 Potentiometers Vr 1 to 3
_ 1 Wifi Transceiver

Led 1 should blink when ever Either Rotary encoder 1 to 3 is used
Led 2 should blink then stay on when step or servo motor 7,8 and 9 are locked in position given by Rotary Encoder 4 and 5

Long press on Press Button 1 On/Off or Sleep (maybe use a digital pin to switch power for oleds and wifi)
Press Button 2 for Oled 1 Menu access, using Rotary Encoder 1 to navigate
Press Button 3 for Oled 2 Menu access, using Rotary Encoder 1 to navigate

Rotary Encoder 1 will give same command to step or servo motors 1 and 4
Rotary Encoder 2 will give same command to step or servo motors 2 and 3
Rotary Encoder 3 (option) will give same command to step or servo motors 5 and 6 (option)

Rotary Encoder 4 will give same command to step or servo motors 7 (CW) and 9 (CCW)

Vr 1 and 2 should be used as limit feedbacks for step or servo motors 7 and 9
Vr 3 should be used as limit feedbacks for step motor 8

Oled 1 on remote should be used to display infos about Rotary Encoders 1 to 3
Oled 2 on remote should be used to display infos about Rotary Encoders 4 to 5 and the light sensor
The 6 digit led or Oled display will show infos about step or servo motors 7, 8 and 9...

My first question is, can the remote and the receiver be built around a arduino nano ?
What would be more precise for 1/2 to 1° angle rotation step motor or servo?
What would be more precise for 1/2 to 1 mm displacement ?

I know I will have to learn a lot probably build some libraries. But I am so motivated and willing to learn.
So if I could get some advices and direction to start it would be price less.

Thanking you guys in advance for your patience and Time...

"There are no stupid questions, but there are lots Dumb answers..."

2

All of that should be possible, but I am a bit confused. Your title is about using WiFi but there is nothing in the body of your Post about WiFi. Does that mean you know how to do the WiFi part and just need help with the other parts?

If you are not familiar with Wifi and if the distance between the Arduinos is not great (say 10 or 20 metres) then I suspect it would be easier to implement remote control using nRF24L01+ transceivers.

In any case you need to develop your project in small steps. Learn how to get data from an encoder and show it on the Serial Monitor. Learn how to display "hello world" on the display Learn how to get data from button switches etc. Don't try to put the parts together until you can do them separately. You will find lots of online help for the individual parts.

You have not provided enough information to advise whether a servo or stepper would be suitable. Tell us what you are trying to make. Provide a diagram if at all possible. Servos are much easier to use than stepper motors.

These links may help
Simple nRF24L01+ Tutorial

Stepper Motor Basics
Simple Stepper Code

...R

3

An Arduino board will be fine to use in this setup, but it may get a bit messy with the number of shields / extra-boards needed; and (no-offence) if you're a newbie then maybe using another micro-controller may be a better option and much cheaper too.

Other Micro-Controller Option:
The ESP32 is a micro-controller (like Arduino) which has a built in 2.4GHz WiFi chip and bluetooth BLE. It has 32 GPIO pins and supports I2C serial communication (for your display). They are a lot cheaper than buying an Arduino board with the relevant shields, however they run at 2.3-3.6V (but I have run a 20x4 LCD with I2C, with no problems). They can also be programmed using the Arduino IDE.

Arduino Option:

  • You'll need an Arduino board capable of all inputs/outputs
  • You'll need to buy a decent shield for WiFi and the relevant libraries
  • You'll need the <Encoder.h> library for your quadrature rotary encoders
  • You'll need the (LiquidCrystal_I2C.h> library for the LCD display using I2C commands
  • Make use of the Arduino's input pullups for the buttons (rotary encoders should be fine without)

I'm admittedly not a "professional" and can't answer all your questions, sometimes I'm stumped too, and sometimes I'm wrong. I'd like to help, like I say, the ESP32 sounds perfect for this so it might be worth investigating. Hope some of the tips came in handy anyway and best of luck in the meantime.

4

Robin2:
All of that should be possible, but I am a bit confused. Your title is about using WiFi but there is nothing in the body of your Post about WiFi. Does that mean you know how to do the WiFi part and just need help with the other parts?

If you are not familiar with Wifi and if the distance between the Arduinos is not great (say 10 or 20 metres) then I suspect it would be easier to implement remote control using nRF24L01+ transceivers.

In any case you need to develop your project in small steps. Learn how to get data from an encoder and show it on the Serial Monitor. Learn how to display "hello world" on the display Learn how to get data from button switches etc. Don't try to put the parts together until you can do them separately. You will find lots of online help for the individual parts.

You have not provided enough information to advise whether a servo or stepper would be suitable. Tell us what you are trying to make. Provide a diagram if at all possible. Servos are much easier to use than stepper motors.

These links may help
Simple nRF24L01+ Tutorial

Stepper Motor Basics
Simple Stepper Code

...R

Thanks for your answer...

Yes I would like to use 2.4G 1100m Wireless Transceiver NRF24L01
I would like to achieve a rotation by 0.5 degre to 1 degre precision by the rotary encoder clik for motor 7 and 9
and 0.5 to 1 mm displacement for motor 8.

Diagram is coming soon; I know I might not expressing my self accurately,but your advice by ading the components one at the time makes sens.

Emetter and Receiver are at about 800m distance in hood.

I am Trying to build a surveillance remote system to capture some night insects on cam. So I need to follow them precisely an quietly...

I will update diagram soon. Thank you

5

D15H:
An Arduino board will be fine to use in this setup, but it may get a bit messy with the number of shields / extra-boards needed; and (no-offence) if you're a newbie then maybe using another micro-controller may be a better option and much cheaper too.

Other Micro-Controller Option:
The ESP32 is a micro-controller (like Arduino) which has a built in 2.4GHz WiFi chip and bluetooth BLE. It has 32 GPIO pins and supports I2C serial communication (for your display). They are a lot cheaper than buying an Arduino board with the relevant shields, however they run at 2.3-3.6V (but I have run a 20x4 LCD with I2C, with no problems). They can also be programmed using the Arduino IDE.

Arduino Option:

  • You'll need an Arduino board capable of all inputs/outputs
  • You'll need to buy a decent shield for WiFi and the relevant libraries
  • You'll need the <Encoder.h> library for your quadrature rotary encoders
  • You'll need the (LiquidCrystal_I2C.h> library for the LCD display using I2C commands
  • Make use of the Arduino's input pullups for the buttons (rotary encoders should be fine without)

I'm admittedly not a "professional" and can't answer all your questions, sometimes I'm stumped too, and sometimes I'm wrong. I'd like to help, like I say, the ESP32 sounds perfect for this so it might be worth investigating. Hope some of the tips came in handy anyway and best of luck in the meantime.

Thank You D15H

you're right, starting such a big project as a newbie is such a challenge. But the esthetical design of the remote is what led me to the arduino nano, I'll have to take a closer look to its capabilities.
Price wise the project is not to coasty and the NRF24L01 seems to be a pretty easy to use wifi board.

The remote should fit in a carbon tube so it's a long tight shape than a flat one.
I'm already gartering all the lib's and specs of the different shields.
That ESP32 is just amazing, studying it right now, it may get my project lot more easier.

I'll keep you guys ported. Cheers

6

Also, in the future, it may benefit you to know that there is a French Forum. :slight_smile:

7

BenzDuino:
I'm already gartering all the lib's and specs of the different shields.
That ESP32 is just amazing, studying it right now, it may get my project lot more easier.
I'll keep you guys ported. Cheers

There are so many libraries out there, I've used a few libraries that aren't even mentioned on here for some projects, always good to explore... I'm still learning

The ESP32 is great, I don't want to steer you away from Arduino (because I love them) but it seems well suited for what you're trying to achieve.

Keep us updated on how you do, I'd love to hear it!

  • D15H
8

DangerToMyself:
Also, in the future, it may benefit you to know that there is a French Forum. :slight_smile:

Yeah! sure :smiley: but ideas and sharings are not the same...

9

D15H:
There are so many libraries out there, I've used a few libraries that aren't even mentioned on here for some projects, always good to explore... I'm still learning

The ESP32 is great, I don't want to steer you away from Arduino (because I love them) but it seems well suited for what you're trying to achieve.

Keep us updated on how you do, I'd love to hear it!

  • D15H

No prob's, I've ordered a pair, now I'm trying to know how far the signal can travel through the woods...
I will keep you guys posted, thanks for everything

10

BenzDuino:
Yes I would like to use 2.4G 1100m Wireless Transceiver NRF24L01

If that "1100m" means 1.1 kilometres then I suspect the nRF4L01+ is not suitable. I suggested distances of 10 or 20 metres in Reply #1 so I don't know where the 1100m came from.

The high-power versions of the nRF24 will have a much longer range than 20m but I don't know if they will work reliably at 1100m.

For longer ranges lower frequencies are better. You might consider the HC12 modules which have received very favourable on the Fourm but I have no personal experience of them. (And note that WiFi also works at 2.4GHz so it will have much the same distance limitations as the nRF24)

...R

11

BenzDuino:
now I'm trying to know how far the signal can travel through the woods...

I missed this bit in my previous reply. 2.4GHz works very poorly through trees because the moisture in the leaves absorbs the signal.

I think you need to tell us exactly what you are trying to do if you want to get sensible advice to avoid wasting money.

...R

12

Robin2:
I missed this bit in my previous reply. 2.4GHz works very poorly through trees because the moisture in the leaves absorbs the signal.

I think you need to tell us exactly what you are trying to do if you want to get sensible advice to avoid wasting money.

...R

As I told you earlyer I am Trying to build a surveillance remote system to capture some night insects on cam. So I need to follow them precisely an quietly... Distance between remote and receiver can be around 800 to 900 m often in the woods..

So at first I 've had ordered a pair of these

https://tinyurl.com/y8srn72g

13

BenzDuino:
So at first I 've had ordered a pair of these

I will be interested to hear what range you get from them. The only tests I have read about were done in ideal clear line of sight conditions.

I would start doing some range checks with a very simple program - probably just the second example in my tutorial as it sends messages in both directions.

You may also find big differences when the leaves are wet from rain compared to when they are dry.

Interesting project. Keep us informed.

...R

14

Robin2:
I will be interested to hear what range you get from them. The only tests I have read about were done in ideal clear line of sight conditions.

I would start doing some range checks with a very simple program - probably just the second example in my tutorial as it sends messages in both directions.

You may also find big differences when the leaves are wet from rain compared to when they are dry.

Interesting project. Keep us informed.

...R

Sure, juste can't wait to receive everything. :smiley:
Actually learning the basics and went strait to a wall

SSD1306 OLED displays have the possibility to chose between 2 addresses if using 2 identical
but can't get much infos about this little guy

1000×1000 70.2 KB

Can't see no short pins or indications and the internet is so over loaded but not with the info I need.
If you ever come accross anything about it just let me know.
Cheers