XBee, Wireless Programming + Remote Control?

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
1

Hi,

I am working on a project using an Arduino Pro Mini 3.3 V 8 mHz, along with an XBee wireless module. Basically a remote control. The XBee is used to communicate with another XBee on a robot.
However, I also want to be able to wirelessly program the Pro Mini in the remote control, and be able to wirelessly debug to a computer. I know that I'll need an XBee connected to my computer also.

Basically, I want 1 XBee connected to an Arduino that can act as both a wireless programmer and a wireless transmitter to other XBees. This XBee should also be able to send serial data back to the computer and debug.
I'll probably have a switch that let's the Arduino know if the XBee should be in 'controller' mode or 'computer communication' mode.

My question is, how can I configure the Arduino/XBee to handle both these tasks? And what about the computer side of the setup?
And best way to handle wireless debug?

I was thinking that during normal operation, the XBee would act normally and transmit data from the Pro Mini, but when I initialize programming, the XBee would reset the Pro Mini and commence programming.

But... that would mean that the XBee in the controller would have to communicate with 2 other XBees, one on the computer and one in the robot. I could overcome this by using the same XBee in the robot and the computer, just swapping between where I need them.

I've read tutorials on wireless programming with XBee, but I haven't seen mention of the XBee also acting as a normal transceiver when programming is not occurring.

Thanks.

2

Anyone have any ideas on this?

3

Yeah, I've tried what adafruit mentions for wireless programming, but it didn't work
worth poo, or even half a poo,
http://www.ladyada.net/make/xbee/arduino.html

These guys have modules designed specifically for this, but I haven't tried using them,
and you'll have to read to find out about programming vs normal comms. They mention
5m and 20m range, which is pretty pathetic compared to normal XBee Pro.

4

Sounds like a reasonable use of Xbees. None of what you are describing is impossible. I guess I would spend some time defining the use cases that I want to implement. If you use XBee API mode, you can communicate point to point with any other XBee that's on the same PANID. The challenge is that you'll have to get to know the API mode enough to express your use cases in terms that translate into functions that can be done with API mode.

Hopefully some words of encouragement.

I'm still learning XBees and arduino myself.