Ok so I am looking at making my own wireless robot and controller using 2 arduinos and 2 wireless xbees. I have not yet bought any of the parts and so want to first ask what I need before doing so.
I want to start simple and so want one Arduino that is NOT attached to a PC to read the status (HIGH or LOW) from a simple push button, then to send this data from the wireless xbee to the other wireless xbee, then for the second Arduino NOT attached to a PC to read this button status and turn an LED on or off accordingly. Sorry to stress the NOT attached to a PC but ive seen so many tutorials that comunicate an arduino to a PC wnd i dont want this. Ok so I already have the LED, breadboards and push button but will the following be all I need to achieve this task?
So is this all that is required? Do I require any shields or breakout boards? Also do I at some point have to connect the xbees to my PC for initial configuration? If so can this again be done with just the xbee and the arduino?
SamuelCB:
I want to start simple and so want one Arduino that is NOT attached to a PC to read the status (HIGH or LOW) from a simple push button
So then don't communicate with the PC. It isn't that big of a deal.
Generally the tutorials that communicate with the PC are along the lines of "Tutorial for Making The Arduino Communicate with a PC." In that case, what else would you expect it to do?
You'll also need an XBee adapter (XBee Explorer / XBee Adapter as sold on the same Cool Components site). The XBee runs at 3.3V and communicating with it directly from a 5V Arduino is harmful; these adapters handle the power regulation and signal voltage conversion for you.
My apologies James C4S as I may have over stressed the point slightly, it's just that all my results for, 2 arduinos comunicating via xbee, showed results where they comunicate via a terminal program of some kind.
And thanks Chargrin for this information as I thought the adapters where optional. So am I looking to buy 2 of these as well then?
Well I wasn't 100% sure if i'm honest with you which is why I was asking my original question, however I did assume that you could just plug the xbee into a breadboard and then use jumper to connect it to the Arduino?
If so then I assume this does not replace the xbee bu that the xbee fits onto this? Would this be instead of the xbee explorer regulated? And do I need to by a SD card for this then?
Well I wasn't 100% sure if i'm honest with you which is why I was asking my original question, however I did assume that you could just plug the xbee into a breadboard and then use jumper to connect it to the Arduino?
If so then I assume this does not replace the xbee bu that the xbee fits onto this? Would this be instead of the xbee explorer regulated? And do I need to by a SD card for this then?
Thanks again!
Yes that's the shield. If you look in hardware on the main site you'll find all the instructions. Take a very good look a the use of the micro switch which allows programing of the uno or communication with the Xbee.
The SD slot is just an extra and you can just ignore it.
Yes you just plug the shield into the uno and the xbee into the shield.
Sounds perfect to me! I've just looked at the hardware section of the Arduino site and read about the switch. So this switch makes for easy programming of the xbee? In micro mode the xbee will talk to the Arduino for when it's actually running the code and working, then in USB mode it will connect to the xbee in order to configure it using something like Hyper Terminal or X-CTU?
Thanks so much for all this help else I would have ended up getting the regulated explorer and this shield seems so much better!
Also whilst I am here, can all this (Arduino, shield and xbee) all be powered through the DC barrel on the Arduino in a 9v battery? And can all programming of the Arduino, shield and xbee be done through the one USB port on the Arduino UNO?
Not if you are talking about those small rectangular 9V batteries. Maybe the lithium version. The alkaline version can barely supply enough current to run the arudino by itself for a few hours.
Right ok, well yes I did mean the normal square ones and I honestly didn't know they couldn't run the Arduinos for very long.
Battery power for my entire project has been a big thinking point for me over the past few days and I have been trying to do my research when I've had the time. I think I've learnt that rechargeable batteries seem to be better due to their higher amps output? However I am still concerned about my power needs.
The robot will have 4 independent motors which run between 3-6 volts and require 100mA at 3 and 5 volts and 120mA at 6 volts. In addition to the motors I will then have the Arduino, shield and xbee and possibly a few LEDs? Now how on earth to power all this? I was thinking of 2 x 6 battery holder with rechargeable AA or AAA's in but this seems like a lot of weight and batteries, then I thougt about those batteries that my old RC cars had in them made of cells vacuum packed together, but haven't had time to research these?
Any help on this matter would also be very greatly appreciated!
SamuelCB:
Ah ok so USB mode is for serial monitor not hyper terminal or X-CTU? Can't wait until my wages come through and I can by all these goodies! Haha
Cheers!
I missed this when I tried to use an Xbee, it won't talk to your PC unless you use an Xbee on a USB adaptor!
I still use the wireless SD shield but with a wiFly (Wifi) module which can talk to the WIFI on my PC
Ah right, but the xbee will need initial configuration in order for the 2 to talk to each other right? Meaning that I will need to get a xbee USB shield as well? Or will they just talk to each other straight out of the box without needing any configuration?
