Remote control Arduino Tank

Hi everyone! I am trying to make a xBee Arduino tank. There is plenty of code online that will work for me, but the problem is that I don't know how to connect the xBee to Arduino. I found some code here:projectallusion.com that I can adapt, but of corse they don't tell you how they connect the xBee. Also the project I just linked to uses a xBee, but I was planning on using a xBee pro for added range http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8742.

Thanks in advance,
sviv

Ps. I was planning on having two xBees, one for my computer and one for the tank. I would then be
able to send serial commands from the computer to Arduino.

Clarification: The tank is remote controlled. I plan on using the xBee radieos to send serial commands to the robot that will in turn tell the Ardumoto shield (motor controller) to move in the right direction.

Do you mean literally how to connect the xbee hardware? Do you have the xbee adapters?

The first pic in this thread shows the xbee with adapter on top of a carbot that steers like a tank - maybe this will help.

Hardware wise the xbee just wants poer and ground then its tx goes to arduino rx and vice versa.

Tell me if i'm nOt understanding your question and i'll try again.

Thanks for your quick answer,
I do not have the xBee yet because I did not want to buy it till I knew it would work. The Rx and Tx make sense, but I am not sure if it will work with the code on the page I linked to. Do you see any clues in the code as to how the xBee is hooked up? I have no experience with xBee and I just want to make sure it will work with that code.

Also, the xBee that I want XBee Pro 60mW Wire Antenna - Series 1 (802.15.4) - WRL-08742 - SparkFun Electronics has many pins. Which one is Tx, Rx, etc.

Thanks,
sviv

bill2009:
The first pic in this thread shows the xbee with adapter on top of a carbot that steers like a tank.

Thanks, I think this solved my problem! If I have other problems I will continue to post to this thred.

Ok every one,
Thanks for your help, but after calculating the price of an xBee system (2 xBees, xBee explorer, USB xBee explorer) I found that it will cost over $100 for the xBee system alone! I can get a 6 channel fm transmitter and receiver on eBay for about $30 http://cgi.ebay.com/6CH-72Mhz-RC-FM-Heli-Airplane-Fly-Transmitter-Receiver-/250853466218?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a6808206a#ht_2855wt_983. I know there are some rc people on this form that can help me with hardware and code. I just want to control a tank drive system (2 motors, one for each tred) with the rc controller. How would I wire up the rc receiver to the Arduino? How would I code it to work with the Ardumoto motor controller shield (http://www.robotshop.com/sfe-ardumoto-motor-shield-arduino.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=base&utm_campaign=jos)?

granted the xbees are expensive. i don't know how practical it would be to use the rc stuff to drive arduino.

You may want to consider connecting the arduino to the rc transmitter instead of the receiver.

I'm an RC guy, admit though not very experienced with Arduino.
IMHO, I would just buy a tank, but if you are looking for a project, then this may work. xBees, hardware wise are very easy to connect. I have not personally used them, but they are very easy to physically connect. Code wise, IDK anything about it. I too wanted to build an RC car, although the Arduino would control taillights/headlighs/speedometer. It just costs too much. It is easier to just buy a name brand one and mod it from there. Or, but a cheap one and arduino it.
Just my $0.2...

You might consider skipping the xbee/rc route and make some type of routerbot setup similar to below.

http://www.lynxmotion.net/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6343

Hi, I've been surprised at the cost of XBee also. Just seems out of whack with $25 Arduinos...

I have put up a How-To for the Nordic Semiconductor nRF24L01 series. These were designed for very low-cost 2.4 GHz applications and now there are added versions with 100 mW power amplifiers and low-noise receiver preamplifiers for range up to 1000 Meters. Starting at $4.75 for chip and antenna on a breakout board, I think they can't be beat.

There is a very good RF24 Library for these from ManiacBug, who says, "The Nordic nRF24L01, built into a small module and sold by mdfly.com for $6.50 (and YourDuino.com for $4.75) is an excellent solution. It’s cheap, fast (2 Mbps), easy, reliable, and low-power. It entirely implements the Data Link Layer in hardware, handling addressing, collisions, and retry, saving us lots of work on the software side. Zigbee has the brand recognition, but this little guy puts it to shame."

The How-To is here: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo

Regards, Terry King
...In The Woods In Vermont
terry@yourduino.com

DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop...

Thanks for the answers!
I will look into zoomkat's idea. My only question is what are you doing for motor control? Are your servos wired up directly to the Arduino?

Ps. I found this really small and cheap router that I might use! http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?p=CNET-QR980&c=fr&pid=335bf7c486fc3ab4be430c921ac2d6f2b9a8104ae948b5430d640f85c50615dd

Thanks,
sviv

terryking228:
Hi, I've been surprised at the cost of XBee also. Just seems out of whack with $25 Arduinos...

I have put up a How-To for the Nordic Semiconductor nRF24L01 series. These were designed for very low-cost 2.4 GHz applications and now there are added versions with 100 mW power amplifiers and low-noise receiver preamplifiers for range up to 1000 Meters. Starting at $4.75 for chip and antenna on a breakout board, I think they can't be beat.

There is a very good RF24 Library for these from ManiacBug, who says, "The Nordic nRF24L01, built into a small module and sold by mdfly.com for $6.50 (and YourDuino.com for $4.75) is an excellent solution. It’s cheap, fast (2 Mbps), easy, reliable, and low-power. It entirely implements the Data Link Layer in hardware, handling addressing, collisions, and retry, saving us lots of work on the software side. Zigbee has the brand recognition, but this little guy puts it to shame."

The How-To is here: http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo

Regards, Terry King
...In The Woods In Vermont
terry@yourduino.com

DISCLAIMER: Mentioned stuff from my own shop...

so are these one way terry? separate receiver and transmitter modules?

Hi Bill,

Hey, Ottawa is my favorite weekend trip from my permanent home in Topsham, Vermont.

Won't be skating there this Winterlude :0

These are two-way transceivers. Look at the datasheet on the link on the How-To:http://arduino-info.wikispaces.com/Nrf24L01-2.4GHz-HowTo
mmm..

Hey!

Thanks for the answers!
I will look into zoomkat's idea. My only question is what are you doing for motor control? Are your servos wired up directly to the Arduino?

I think, is not good to connect your servos directly to Arduino, because of current. You can demage your Arduino board. You need to make H-bridge.

Be good, have fun!

Andrej Z.

I think, is not good to connect your servos directly to Arduino, because of current. You can demage your Arduino board.

It is perfectly OK to directly connect servos to an Arduino, just don't power them from your Arduino.
Don't forget to connect the grounds together.

Sorry! AWOL, you have right! :smiley: