PINNED - Plug & Play PGDT for Radio Control

[woodygb]

This is the Pilot+ OMNI Version....rebadged as Qtronix....note that you'll also need one extra connecting lead.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/QTRONIX-ENHANCE ... 232cba60cd

[Burgerman]

Username change means creating a new account...

RC Switch - there are many different ones. Also you can use a reversible speed controller for brushed motors to directly control actuators and speed of operation.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Turnigy-RC-Re ... 1411066572

[woodygb]

Hobbyking will give you a cheaper price than most on R/C gear.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... witch.html

The problem with many R/C switches is that they are a single switch that works when a signal exceeds 50% ...this is a waste of one end of the channel... a dual switch gives ON/OFF at both ends of the channel above 50% and below 50%.

I use this dual switch in my Robot.... and I abuse it using it @ 33v which well exceeds it's 24v rating.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-WAY-Radio-C ... 339a02b584


The need for actually operating the actuators by R/C switches or an ESC ( Motor controller... Electronic Speed Controller) is negated IF you are happy to interface with the wheelchairs pod ... ( use it's existing functions ) ...via the Arduino.


NOTE:- I can't recall if you can access the actuators via the OMNI.

[david kott]

Actuators are accessed with the mode button, right or left with joystick steps through the 4 actuators, joystick forward and back extends and retracts the actuators.

I like the idea of using the Arduino to interface with pod would I still need the omni also.

[woodygb]

No OMNI required

[david kott]

woody are you willing to build me a control? If yes should I buy the controller you sent the link to?

[woodygb]

I can certainly build you a R/C Arduino version ...but it won't be till after Xmas.

It's a limited market ... also just a hobby for me ... & I simply haven't had enough interest to make it worthwhile ordering in the next batch of components.

[rustyjames]

David, are you in the US? I have an extra Omni for sale, and could make you a better deal than the one on eBay. They can be had much better prices than that one.

[david kott]

Yes I’m in Minnesota US. I am interested in the Omni you have. If you’re not interested in building one are you open to sharing the sketch for the Arduino?

[cdb0ewm]

I working on an IOS version of the joystick/android wheelchair joystick Woody did such a great job on.

Since I'm just learning I'm starting out with an Arduino Uno and the MCP4260.

I have hooked up a separate volt meter to each wiper. My problem is that when I run the sketch the runs from low to high for each pot I get the expected voltage readings on one of the volt meters - .2v to 4.68v, while on the second volt meter I only get .19 - .2 v.

I've tried different MCP4260 chips and switch volt meters around but I keep getting the same results.

I would really appreciate some suggestions.

[woodygb]

I didn't say that I wasn't interested in making any ...just that I like a minimum of 4 people to express firm interest in wanting one.

cdb0ewm ...here is the code snippet for sending values to the MCP 4261..... note the spec sheet is ambiguous and the pot addresses are 0 & 18.

// 8-bit: 256 Resistors MCP4261-502E/P Digital Potentiometer
// send value (0~255)
void digitalPotWrite(int address, int value){// addresses = 0 & 18 for the MCP4261-502E/P Digital Potentiometer ...they may need to change for other chips.
// take the SS pin low to select the chip:
digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin,LOW);
// send in the address and value via SPI:
SPI.transfer(address);
SPI.transfer(value);
// take the SS pin high to de-select the chip:
digitalWrite(slaveSelectPin,HIGH);

post a pic or diagram of how you've connected it up.

[rustyjames]

Yes I’m in Minnesota US. I am interested in the Omni you have. If you’re not interested in building one are you open to sharing the sketch for the Arduino?

I don't know anything about building one, I bought mine from Woody, but I still haven't installed it I've got too many projects going on, added to managing all the other things that pop up. Hopefully, this winter I'll get it done. I also bought the Bluetooth version

[david kott]

Ok you can count me in do you want a deposit?

[rustyjames]

Not necessary, let me know when you're ready. I can do one for $100.00 shipped to you. But, you might luck out and find one on eBay for less if you're patient.

[woodygb]

Ok you can count me in do you want a deposit?

If that was aimed at me.
No deposit needed just firm interest expressed .... and you'll be number 3.

[woodygb]

cdb0ewm ..I've just seen your code on the Arduino forum.

You are indeed using the wrong address or in your case CommandByte numbers ...hence your only moving a channel wiper and that is the one referenced by CommandByte 18

[david kott]

Woody it was meant for you I would like the Omni interface you have also. I haven’t figured out how to use the site very well yet.

[woodygb]

Rustyjames has the OMNI for sale....I make the interfaces ...

[david kott]

Ok Woody thanks

[cdb0ewm]

Don't know if you saw my post in Arduino Forum but it works fine. I reviewed the data sheet for the MCP4261 and can't find how you figured out it was 0 and 18. I'd like to learn. Thanks again

[woodygb]

I cannot claim any clever programming tricks or knowledge.

Actually I used the same tutorial/example that you posted on the Arduino forum ...I had the digipot wipers attached to leds ... and only one led worked!!!***??

It didn't take long to find out that only one of the address numbers in the example worked ...18....but after that it was much head scratching , data sheet searching and frustration.

I finally resorted to simple number substitution & eventually I found that ZERO worked!

[cdb0ewm]

HA HA I feel better

[cdb0ewm]

Back to working on an IOS version of the joystick control. I got the sketch working that talks to the MCP4261. I have connected a voltmeter to each wiper and I'm getting voltages between 0.05 volts and 4.65 by varying the input from 0 to 255.
Since I don't have a method to check the actual voltage on the joystick pots, assuming it max's out at 5 volts, is the center position at voltage 0 volts with a +5 to -5 volt swing or is the center position around 2.5 volts with a 0 to 5 volt swing.

I'd appreciate any input available.

[woodygb]

Feed the digipot via 1k resistors.

http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotfor ... ttach=3041

[rustyjames]

Hi Woody,

I'm finally getting around to playing with my Radio Control . I noticed in the interface instructions that the Omni output is 12 volts powering the receiver. I'm using a Spectrum AR600 and noticed the max voltage is 9.6 volts. I just want to verify that it's ok to proceed?

[woodygb]

The interface has a built in 5v regulator that feeds the Arduino and the RC receiver..

So it's fine

[rustyjames]

Thanks Woody, I figured you had it covered

[rustyjames]

Got a question, will the Omni/Interface work if I just unplug the joystick pod and hook it up to the controller cable? Or do I need to plug in a seperate cable to the other controller port?

[woodygb]

Huh!

You will need to refresh my memory on which model of interface you have bought.


An OMNI specific interface has a DB9 pin plug.

[rustyjames]

Thanks for the quick response, Woody. I bought two of them from you. I believe one of them was your first one, the one that BM had and sent back, the one in the white box. That's the one I'm working with at the moment. Here's what I did so far:

--Unplugged the joystick pod.
--Connected the Omni to the interface. Plugged in Redel cable (unplgged from j/s pod) into Omni. The interface LED's blinked without the Omni turned on
--Turned on Omni
--Turned on transmitter
--Pushed calibration button
--Moved the transmitter joysticks off their centers within 15 seconds, steady LED's
--When I move the transmitter sticks the LED's flash so seems to be functioning correctly

The Omni screen reads communication error (or something similar), I can't seem to get it to go into "joystick calibration mode"