I have constructed some zombie robot type thing from an old jazzy J6 power wheelchair. Its original design was to hold all of my discs and paraphernalia I usually have while playing disc golf (works moderately well for intended use). It's rideable, has a spotlight, is remote controlled via joystick, has wild long range, has a footrest, chamber light, disc pouch, all sorts of features. I utilized the MDDS30 dual H bridge motor controller for the brain, and this DS-600 (https://www.amazon.com/DS-600-Transmitter-Receiver-Controller-Channel/dp/B09Y8XT53X?th=1) for the controller and RC input.
My main objective with the project so far is to integrate an arduino so as to achieve custom throttle mapping that will give the user a much more controllable experience. I have future aims to be able to add a few sensors, as I have much use for their capabilities. I know I would really benefit from being able to throw some hall effect's on to detect wheel slippage. Even a small amount of automation could be added. I spent about 3 days in the shop with chat GPT ( I am relying heavily on chatGPT for the code, since I never really picked the skill up), my oscope, and an older nano3 trying to intercept the signal, digitize and modify (throttle mapping) before sending it back out to the motor controller. I failed miserably. I couldn't even pass through the RC signal at all, which would have at least proven concept.
Perhaps my ignorance has kept me from asking the right person or question, but I suppose it boils down to this: Can I, via Arduino, intercept a 2.4gHz PWM RC signal, modify and change signal via code, and send it back out to the motor controller? Is this idea even viable or is there another way to achieve this?
Can you post an annotated schematic shwoing exactly how it is wired, be sure all power sources, ground and power connections are shown. Also note any wires connected to the Arduino that are 10"/25 cm or longer.
I can sketch out the CURRENT power and system wiring I have minus the arduino, as that's how she runs right now. It will take me a minute to pull my files on this project (I set out on this last year but only now am taking the mantle back up) on how I had the nano interfaced. I know I sketched something with the arduino, if i can't find that I'll just draw it up again. I'll post soon, thanks for the reply.
I threw that together just to show how the basics work. I didn't include many things that don't matter, like power to the brakes and auxiliary lights. I don't have anything hooked up to the arduino, but when I did, I routed the signal wire from the RC receiver to two pins on the arduino (joystick has x and y axis inputs), and from the arduino back to the motor controller. I started trying to write the whole code from an endpoint stance (again, heavily using chatGPT) but then started with baby steps, just trying to get a response with any joystick input but to no avail.
That link will show you how to post code and images into a post.
Can you please post a copy of your circuit, a picture of a hand drawn circuit in jpg, png?
Hand drawn and photographed is perfectly acceptable.
Please include ALL hardware, power supplies, component names and pin labels.
Just for clarification, I never had any working GPT code, I only started at the top and worked my way down from wanting the end product, but having to step back and try a few baby steps, but nothing ever worked. So what I have right now is a bot with NO microcontroller. This is the main system, there are more things like 24V brake coils, auxiliary lights, and things like that. Strip it all away and this is what you have as operates in the video. My initial thoughts were to send the two signal wires coming from the DS-600 to the arduino, then back out to the motor controller. That in a nutshell is (a better way to represent) my question, I just want to make sure my initial approach was even feasible. Using the arduino as sort of a "filter" to modify the throttle response.
Well I did that and after not getting even a basic command to translate, I just wanted to take a step back and make sure I'm doing something possible to begin with. As in: can the arduino take an RC PWM signal, digitize that, then change the signal based on a set of parameters (throttle curve modification, change turning speeds with throttle limits, things of that nature), then send that back out to the motor controller at a fast enough rate? The proprietary controller that was on it before was very smooth, which made it easy to navigate for disabled people. It now goes full blast, and I just have to keep a steady thumb or else lose traction since I put my own controller in. I'm just attempting to get some control of the throttle. Plus, I thought it would give me the chance to add some wheel slip sensors (or any sensor, really) in the future if I got it working. If this is at all possible, I suppose the most I could ask of anyone would be an inkling on how to structure the code.
Don't know what you did, but in the simplest form you read each channels PPM witdth using "pulseln()" and use e.g. MobaTools to send the out a different PPM signal. Just note that each PPM frame might start at the same time. Oh, be warned that the RC brushed speed controllers need a short sequence "back" "neutral" to reverse speed.
