RC transmitter and receiver

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi,

I'm new here at this forum and i'm new using arduino (and sorry, my english is bad :blush:). But I'm not totally new at programming and using microcontrollers. We made many projects at the university with microcontrolers, but thats been a while and now I'm only programming C++ and Java for Linux. So thats the reason why I thought the arduino could be a perfekt system. Many tutorials and a big comunity where maybe I can get help :slight_smile:

What I want to try is to build a rc transmitter and receiver on my own. I thought about taking an arduino due in a model as the receiver and a due in the transmitter together with wireless shields and xbee modules. But I want to do many things with the rc system. I want about 15 - 20 servos and about 10 sensors (temperature and so on) in the model. The sensor data should be transmitted to the transmitter. I know, now the receiver is also a transmitter and the transmitter is a receiver. Just say, receiver is in the model, transmitter is in my hands :slight_smile:
On the transmitter i want two 3 axis joysticks and maybe a third one. With 12 analog inputs on the due this should be makeable. And on the transmitter the sensor data from the receiver should be displayed, how exactly is not important. And maybe some switches on the transmitter. An important feature is, that the delay between my inputs and the reaktion of the servos is not too big, otherwise it's not that funny driving a modelcar.

Now, my question is not "How can i do that", it's more "Is it possible with arduino to do that"? I know, if it's possible, it's a long long way and much work, but thats no problem. I have a normal rc transmitter for driving my models, so i have no stress to get it working. I want to learn, so the way is the goal :wink:

What do you think, is it possible to realise my project?

Kind regards from Austria, Heinz.

PS: I don't want to make a transmitter for an model airplane or heli or something dangerous. I want it for slow cars that are not driving far away from me. If it's working 10m stable, it's enough.

2

I know exactly what you want to do.

And yes these are my videos, on my channel.

If you wants the codes for both the controller and my robot, let me know and I'll send them in a personal message.

3

Nice vehicle! So it seems to work :slight_smile:

But can you tell something about the delay? Do you see a big delay between touching the screen and the moovement of the vehicle?

4

But can you tell something about the delay? Do you see a big delay between touching the screen and the moovement of the vehicle?

My project has a VERY small delay at least 300 - 400 milliseconds, but that is caused by the time it takes to get the values from the accelerometer, process them and send them out. It looks almost instant, touch and responce.

The delay comes from what is inside your loop and what it has to process. My arduino is processing 3 accel axis', and the data from the touch screen; which is then sent out through the BT module.

I go with simple codes first, just so I know it works, then I make them more complex but also more efficient.

5

Thanks for your help!

Now i konw, that it is possible with arduinos, hence I can start the project :slight_smile:

HazardsMind:
I go with simple codes first, just so I know it works, then I make them more complex but also more efficient.

Off course i will start with short steps. First step: Get an arduino due. All shops have them in backorder :frowning:

6

If you need help with any codes, let me know.

7

Thanks very much! I'm sure, I will have questions :slight_smile:

8

Would it be possible to develop an R/C controller for a hobby aircraft using XBees in place of the Bluetooth modules? There would have to be very little delay for such a thing to work, and since I am very much a novice I don't really know how to determine if it would be feasible.

9

Would it be possible to develop an R/C controller for a hobby aircraft using XBees in place of the Bluetooth modules? There would have to be very little delay for such a thing to work, and since I am very much a novice I don't really know how to determine if it would be feasible.

I don't see why it wouldn't be feasible, other than maybe the range. I dont know for sure how far a Xbee can go, but yea it is possible. Are you talking about airplanes or blimps? If you want to control an airplane, then you need to get an Xbee that can go FAR.

Are you tring to make a controller for an existing RC receiver, then I don't know if that is possible. But Arduino to Arduino would absolutely work, as I showed.

10

According to some documentation I found at Parallax, some XBees have a range of up to 2 miles. It would be for an airplane (and possibly later for a quadrotor). My youth pastor's R/C controller has a range of just over a mile, so if that documentation is correct, range shouldn't be an issue.
I'm going for something like a Due for the ground station and a Pro Mini for onboard control. Based on what you are telling me, my idea is certainly possible. Thanks for your response, and kudos on your robot. That's a very cool project.