Hello I am bio researcher who has never done anything with arduinos before mainly just looking to see if what I'm thinking of is possible.
I'm looking to make a project that is basically a remote controlled hinge. I need something that raises something like a stick of wood until it is perpendicular to the ground and then you can flip a switch from a distance and have it lower until it is parallel to the ground. It would need to both raise and lower so basically a motorized hinge that flips up and down. Is this at all feasible???
How far is 'remote controlled'.
If possible it would be 20 m away. I work with wild animals and need a mechanism that I can initiate from afar so that I don't startle them.
Battery at the stick location? How long would it need to operate on a given run of your experiment?
a7
Sure, maybe.
Need more detail. What distance? Is it line of sight (no obstructions) between the sender and receiver? How big the stick (size, mass)? How fast does it need to move?
Can you post a drawing of what you want?
One way would be a servo controlled with an IR remote, Bluetooth, radio. But that depends on the size of the stick and the environment.
It would need to function for an hour and a half for each experiment before I would pack it up
The Arduino and the remote part are relatively standard. What is not is how all the mechanics of this will operate. Surely, you have a drawing that you can show.
20m is a bit too far for reliable Bluetooth or IR remote. The rf24 radios may be an option.
I'll see if I can come up with a rough sketch! there would be a line of site between sender and the receiver. I've never done a project like this so I'll try to get some more info
Probably easier to get a complete 433 remote control relay
https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Control-Controller-Transmitter-Receiver/dp/B01G5BDT1O/ref=asc_df_B01G5BDT1O
Grabbed at random googling "433 remote control relay".
Says the range is 20-30 meters. Perhaps a bit of shopping around would get something better, I know that 433 can do more range.
a7
@alto777, yes, I forget about those 433MHz radios. Somewhat simpler than the rf24.
That seems like something that would work! Unfortunately my knowledge base is beginner level at best so sorry if these questions don't make too much sense. Would this then be able to connect to a motor which could raise/lower something 90 degrees?
Well you haven't said how long and heavy, but yes, a "servo" is what you want to move from horizontal to vertical with no trouble.
They come in all sizes. Each would say how much it could move.
So far it practically might not need a microprocessor at all, but that would be for us the quickest path.
How fast does it need to move? Are you worried about noise it might startle the penguins…
a7
One way to make it so a super strong servo is not required is to counter balance the stick.
The speed of a servo can be controlled by a library like the ServoSpeed library and the speed and acceleration profile can be controlled by a library like the ServoEasing library.
So if I under stand the project, a 433MHz transmitter with a button or 2 and a receiver connected to like a tiny85 or Nano driving a servo could do the trick. Power the receiver with 3 or 4 AA cells.
It doesn't need to move incredibly fast. It would be 1 foot long and ~50-100 grams of weight
I have used similar, but not with the crap relay! The device may be programmed one of three ways. The "A" button push on, and push again to turn off. Or the "A" button pressed will close the relay as long as the button is pressed. OR push the "A" button to turn on and wait till the "B" button is pressed to turn off.
Each fob is individual, so once the controller memorizes the codes for that one fob, other fobs will not bother the installation.
And the control device can be taught to recognize a different fob if the first one is lost.
No Arduino involved unless the OP has other problems to solve.
A hobby servo could probably move that, especially if counter weighted so it is balanced.
That's the only problem I have! So I would just need a hobby servo with something like the 433MHz radio?
No, you just need a motivator to move your stick. Can we assume you have visual feedback from the unknown device? A small motor and a screw and nut would move the stick while you watch.
Yes I have visual feedback to the device. Sorry if this is a dumb question but then it that case I would still have control of the movement of the motor moving the stick up and down from 20m out?