PINNED - Plug & Play PGDT for Radio Control

[Burgerman]

Maybe drive someone under a truck! ??

Wont bother me, as I would pull the link fast.

But maybe best is it cant do that if you are going to sell them to other people.

[woodygb]

It wasn't really my intention to have people driving themselves around by remote control ... rather it was to allow them to fetch or send the chair to somewhere ... then once seated.. turn off the R/C and Omni and use the joystick on the pod.

With the addition of a live feed to the Arduino I could turn the Omni ON/OFF via the Transmitter...( it could be manually switched so as to allow the user a choice )

[woodygb]

Additional info.
At the moment I can only turn the Omni OFF via the Transmitter Rudder stick ...doing this removes the 12v supply from the Omni to the Arduino ...so the Omni must be manually turned ON.

[Burgerman]

I use the gear switch or throttle hold switch for this. And a different channel.

I also mix the aileron and rudder channel at 100%. So that I can drive the remote chair with the left stick only, and one thumb, and my powerchair with my right thumb if I choose... This way you can move the chair around, say to the workshop, or college, while following it yourself in another one.

Some interesting info...

I read somewhere in that Omni PDF that you can tell it to keep the 12v power on, even when Omni is turned off. And I don't remember how, but I am sure its in there somewhere.

It will of course send the battery flat long term. But as long as you know this its not an issue.

[woodygb]

Time to browse the Omni pdf for that info ....

EDIT ..found it.

9.1.2.7 Sleep 12V
Depressing the Select button while this option is highlighted configures the Omni+
Module as to whether the 12V supply on the 9-way D-type connector is present when
the module is “asleep”. The settings are On and Off.
On Means the 12V supply will always be present. This should be set
if the input device requires a 12V supply to “wake up” the
Omni+ Module.
Off Means the 12V supply will be removed when the Omni+ Module
is “asleep”. This can be set to reduce control system power
consumption.

[woodygb]

I use the gear switch or throttle hold switch for this. And a different channel.

OK ... How many positions do the switches have ..just 2?
If so you'd need to calibrate using the Rudder channel as the Arduino is expecting three signals during calibration... High - Neutral - Low ... then swap the Rudder plug to the required output at the Receiver.

[Burgerman]

Gear switch? 2.
But I can use the rudder channel. And then set rudder throw to 0 later. Disable all trims. And mix the gear switch or throttle hold switch into the rudder to give only on/off.

There are also 4x three position switches too but they are not in the place I would expect the on/off to be. On helis this would be the left/rear throttle hold long toggle switch.

On a heli there is no throttle as such, you flick throttle hold off and rotor spins up. its constant rpm while flying. On a pitch/throttle curve. Or rotor rpm governor.
So it you screw up, and the ground comes up to meet it, you instinctively flick the throttle hold to cut power. Or it beats itself to death on the ground no matter what you do with the "throttle" stick, as this only controls collective pitch. So I sort of have to use that one!

[woodygb]

Fine ..as long as your aware that all the channels ...when calibrating ... expect a Neutral signal first ...then the two signal extremes.

Setting the Omni "Sleep" setting to ON has done the trick.

[LROBBINS]

This memory loss causes no other problems than causing the Arduino to cease functioning?

As far as I know that's the case, BUT it can permanently cease functioning as the bootloader part of PROGMEM can become corrupted (or at least semi-permanently until you burn a new bootloader). If the bootloader is corrupted you can't download sketches no less run the one already there; it will seem dead as a doornail even though it's not really fried just very confused. I had this happen to a Nano, which I actually re-burned as a Uno because Nick Gammon's bootload burning program is easier to use than Arduino's and he doesn't have a Nano hex file - changing a Nano into a Uno causes loss of 2 extra analog pins that the Nano has but Uno doesn't, but makes more flash memory available as the UNO bootloader is 2k while the Nano bootloader takes 4k.

Ciao,
Lenny

P.S. I don't know if I'll bother changing the brownout fuse on my CANbus nodes because my DC-DC converter setup is such that a fall in voltage will cause a complete shutdown rather than a brownout. But I might - I like doing things "belts and suspenders".

[woodygb]

I've had the Pilot+ pod apart and thought that I'd post the results of probing the 5 joystick wires.

pilot+colours.png (4.92 KiB) Viewed 25186 times

[Burgerman]

http://www.wheelchairdriver.com/pdf-files/JC2000.pdf

This could have saved you the trouble!

[woodygb]

That pdf is not for this Pilot + pod and stick...I have that one in my VSI.

APPLIED VOLTAGES
The JC2000 is designed to operate from a regulated 5Vdc ±0.5V supply, free from voltage transients. Under no
circumstances should voltages above 5.5V be applied to the joystick. The outputs from the JC2000 are ratiometric and are
dependent on the input voltage.

JC200
http://www.pennyandgiles.com/getattachm ... 842468b12/

[Burgerman]

I see. One 12v, one 5v...

I was sure I had a pilot plus with the JC2000 joystick somewhere.

That will make it a pain to have one RC interface that works for all.

[woodygb]

The 5v joystick is the easiest as the Arduino is based around 5v as is the digipot.

The 12v version requires some extra components to be added and is a bit more of a pain to build.

I think that the VR2 and the VSI use the JC2000 5V joystick .... and don't have an Omni option?

I'll need to look at the Rnet Omni pdf and see if it is 12v or 5v.

Edit:-

Seems that the Rnet Omni is also 12v.

The analogue inputs are compatible with PGDT JC200BR3K1Y

http://sunrise.pgdrivestechnology.com/m ... 813-03.pdf

[Burgerman]

I was under the impression that anything that plugs into the Omni Plus works as plug and play on the Rnet Omni too. The D port is the same in/out/etc. Or at least one is. It has 2.

[woodygb]

I originally thought that all the PGDT joysticks would use the same 5v voltage and 1.2v swing as my VSI ... I was wrong ... I'm just making sure that PGDT haven't decided to modify the specs.

[Burgerman]

>>>> I think that the VR2 and the VSI use the JC2000 5V joystick .... and don't have an Omni option?

Correct. Rehab seating and fancy controls now require the r-net.

They now do 2 low power cheap ones and a 120 peak amp one. They will likely be using these more and more as time goes on over the VSI/VR2 setups.

[woodygb]

Packaged for collection tomorrow ..probable delivery Monday.

[Burgerman]

Will test ASAP.

So how much do I owe you? And should I add a page or modify mine showing how others can acquire one of your boards?

[woodygb]

WHEN you've tested it for a time and everything pans out ok...THEN I will price the parts up and let you have it at cost.

I'd also like any suggestions that you might have about mounting / size /connections etc ..I'm currently trying to find a nicer project box to fit everything into.

I won't be happy to advertise the sale of these interfaces ... ( other than on here.... where I have the opportunity to vet and be vetted by the member ) ...until they have proved to work satisfactorily.

[Burgerman]

Fair enough.

[ex-Gooserider]

woodygb
It wasn't really my intention to have people driving themselves around by remote control ... rather it was to allow them to fetch or send the chair to somewhere ... then once seated.. turn off the R/C and Omni and use the joystick on the pod.

Maybe I'm overly cynical, but IMHO you have to assume that regardless of your intentions and any warnings, a person WOULD be driving themselves (or whoever they are caregivers for) via remote, and plan for it...

Even on this board, I've seen many people who are currently driving a relative around w/ an attendant stick talk about wanting to use a remote instead - and having us discourage the idea, who knows how effectively... What would you expect from less technically inclined folks (like the users of that other junky board...)???

Only way I can think of to stop it would be to incorporate some kind of "presence detector" that monitored the seat, and figure out how to stop the users from defeating it... (think seat-belt switches in cars, for both..)

On the packaging - would it be possible to shoehorn the board into the joystick pod, which would mean that all you have coming out would be the wiring for the antenna?

ex-Gooserider

[woodygb]

On the packaging - would it be possible to shoehorn the board into the joystick pod, which would mean that all you have coming out would be the wiring for the antenna?

Yes it's just about possible .

The VSI has plenty of space and a drop in package could probably be designed .... the Pilot+ would however be a PITA and whilst I'm sure that I could do an internal one for myself in a Pilot+ , I wouldn't want to make something for others.


I don't think it will really be possible to prevent the misuse of this gadget .... it would be reprehensible for a 3rd party to drive someone by R/C ... the owner driver however is a different matter and should be allowed to make his or her choice just like any other individual.

[Burgerman]

I agree.
I have driven myself by RC many times, with the transmitter on my knee. I have driven able bodied people about for fun too, including my ex gf (that's not why she's ex!). Never had a problem. But these people were always told to be ready in case of trouble and shown how to stop it fast.

I wouldn't drive a powerchair by RC with a disabled person, child, or even a less switched on adult. Because anything may happen. Even driving an empty chair by a road for eg has risks, it may run away and cause an accident. But everything has some risk. The main thing is that the user understands this.

All this said, I never had any problems and I have been doing this for 16 years quite regularly. Just don't use a cheap RC system that has no encoding or failsafe. Because interference can cause those to go beserk!

[woodygb]

It is impossible to stop people being idiots .. even clever intelligent people can act like total morons seemingly oblivious to the insanity of their actions !

Combat Robot Test I. ( Weight=100 KG )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17mJDJsQ98

[falco peregrinus]

We used to have a saying in the industry that covered this rather well.

"There's no limit to a fool's ingenuity!"

It didn't seem to matter how hard you worked to make something idiot-proof, some idiot would always find a way to circumvent everything you did to make it idiotproof.

Falco

[Burgerman]

Packaged for collection tomorrow ..probable delivery Monday.

Well no sign yet...

[woodygb]

Hmmm ..They ( Hermes via Parcel2go ) picked it up Saturday...

I'll see if there is a tracker on it.

[woodygb]

I'm fairly sure that the delivery was supposed to be 2 days ...however the tracking says.

Current Status: Hub Trailer Via Sorter

Ship Date: Sat 01/03/2014

Service: Hermes / Domestic

Your Parcel should be delivered no later than: Fri 07/03/2014

Seems that I must have selected the SLOW method ...

Parcel delivery within 3-5 working days throughout most of UK's mainland

[Burgerman]

http://www.trustpilot.co.uk/review/www.myhermes.co.uk

I have seen a review on hermes... Load a few extra reviews its fun!
They rank 49th out of 49 carriers...

I wont use them myself, as I saw their offices/store... Its a massive old disused building with a leaky roof on the dock, and the floor is where everything lives. A big free for all disorganised pile of parcels. There are thousands of amateurs delivering in their own cars in their own lax way. Some parcels get left in cars or in that very insecure building for a week at a time.

So they are not great!