PieterP:
I'd be interested to know why you think "the simplest ESP8266" would be easier to use?
I was thinking specifically of the case of someone who is at the stage of asking "which board to use". I am firmly of the view that if a beginner buys an Uno or Mega and downloads the IDE s/he will get a program working with a great deal less trouble than if s/he starts with any ESP8266 only.
And if you are just using an ESP8266 as an add-on module (an alternative to a Bluetooth module, for example) then I don't see any advantage in getting a complex ESP8266 which has primarily been developed for standalone use.
If it is more convenient to use the Wemos D1 dev board as a "module" (rather than using a "bare" ESP8266-01) then I have no argument against that. I had thought, from your Reply #12 that you were recommending it as a standalone alternative to a Mega or Uno.
since i got good feedback here ill update you guys i bought a cheap an arduino clone kit and started coding already when i get the basics down ill start adding the complex stuff and get a genuine arduino mega.
The main difference between the genuine and the clones is the price - and with it the support of the development of the Arduino platform. The heart of all of them, the microprocessor, is the same. Usually the whole schematics and all parts are even identical.
After playing with Arduino and making a 4 wheel robot on my own now i am struggling with the Wi-Fi extension. I studied adding the esp 8266 but i think there should easier ways to connect to the Arduino wirelessly. So guys, i need your suggestions. Which are the simpler ways on connecting to the Arduino wirelessly to the PC just to be able to control it with an usb contorler from a PC or maybe transfer data.
randomgirl98:
Which are the simpler ways on connecting to the Arduino wirelessly to the PC just to be able to control it with an usb contorler from a PC or maybe transfer data.
PC's normally have Bluetooth and WiFi. Of the two Bluetooth is much simpler - it is simply serial-by-wireless.
On the other hand if you want to make a hand-controller that is independent of a PC I would suggest using nRF24L01+ wireless modules. They are cheap and work well. have a look at this Simple nRF24L01+ Tutorial if you are interested in that option.
I believe you can get adapters that allow an nRF24 to connect directly to a PC but I have never used one.
My system (for controlling model trains) is to connect an Arduino to my PC with the USB cable and use nRF24s between that Arduino and the nRF24s in the trains.
randomgirl98:
After playing with Arduino and making a 4 wheel robot on my own now i am struggling with the Wi-Fi extension. I studied adding the esp 8266 but i think there should easier ways to connect to the Arduino wirelessly.
I need a simpler module to connect my robot directly to my laptop or router via wifi band. I am trying to do all the data receiving and sending via wifi. After that maybe control it with a game controller connected to the pc.
Some advice based on my experience - get an into text - Sparkfun has a free download and should be info here also. Real time programming is different than on a PC or main frame - I have an industrial programming background (real time control using PLC's and ladder logic) among other things and have had a bit of a learning curve which has been painful at times.
Learn hot to blink lights and such before you go for the robot arm or other parts of it.
What do you want to run on the computer side? Do you have a readymade application, or are you programming it yourself? If so, in what language? What protocol and library are you using for the WiFi connection?
You aren't going to find an easier WiFi solution than the ESP8266, I'm afraid.
If you're familiar with Python, you can write both the ESP8266 code and the PC application in Python.
If you want to write a GUI for controlling the robot, I'd recommend HTML + JavaScript in a web browser. Building a user interface in HTML is a piece of cake, and JavaScript has excellent support for manipulating HTML and for WebSockets.
IMHO, the WebSocket protocol is just as easy (if not easier) as Bluetooth.
Added bonus: you don't need to install any special software for running your application.
saildude:
Some advice based on my experience - get an into text - Sparkfun has a free download and should be info here also. Real time programming is different than on a PC or main frame - I have an industrial programming background (real time control using PLC's and ladder logic) among other things and have had a bit of a learning curve which has been painful at times.
Learn hot to blink lights and such before you go for the robot arm or other parts of it.
Good luck
Thanks but that i already covered/made just debating on what wifi module i should use.
PieterP:
What do you want to run on the computer side? Do you have a readymade application, or are you programming it yourself? If so, in what language? What protocol and library are you using for the WiFi connection?
You aren't going to find an easier WiFi solution than the ESP8266, I'm afraid.
If you're familiar with Python, you can write both the ESP8266 code and the PC application in Python.
If you want to write a GUI for controlling the robot, I'd recommend HTML + JavaScript in a web browser. Building a user interface in HTML is a piece of cake, and JavaScript has excellent support for manipulating HTML and for WebSockets.
IMHO, the WebSocket protocol is just as easy (if not easier) as Bluetooth.
Added bonus: you don't need to install any special software for running your application.
Pieter
Like always your detailed answers are the best. I already did most of the movements and arms on C. Everything is done in C. Now i am doing the data transferring part like suggested @Robin2. If you say the 8266 is the simplest ill go that way.
After trying some modules recommended here and testing the esp8266 esp 01 and asking again here in another topic i might need more suggestions.
I need a wireless solution that allows me to upload sketches wireless to the arduino and later on allows me to use an usb control connected to a pc and control the hands and movement of the car wireless
randomgirl98:
I need a wireless solution that allows me to upload sketches wireless to the arduino
As you still seem to be at the beginner stage forget about wireless uploading for now. Just get something simple working.
and later on allows me to use an usb control connected to a pc and control the hands and movement of the car wireless
I can't understand that - it seems to be all muxed ip
In any case deal with "later" later when you know more. It is not practicable to plan a complete system with all its components until you have experience.
Robin2:
As you still seem to be at the beginner stage forget about wireless uploading for now. Just get something simple working.
I can't understand that - it seems to be all muxed ip
In any case deal with "later" later when you know more. It is not practicable to plan a complete system with all its components until you have experience.
...R
Like i said on another thread already got all motors actuators and lcd panels working. Arms are working even my ps3 controller is working to control it. Now what is left is that.
I need a wireless wifi solution to upload sketches and maybe later add the ps3 functionality while connected to the laptop.
I might need more information about this, i urdestand how it works but on the hardware part i am lost. So i wire up any esp8266 module and use this to change the tranfering config?
Get a WeMos D1 mini, add a level shifter on the SPI pins, and connect it to the Arduino's SPI pins. Connect the Arduino's reset pin to GPIO5 of the ESP, preferably with a diode in between (cathode pointing to the ESP).