First timer...building a remote controlled vehicle

[elec_mech]

.n0rig.,

Anyways, what I will need most help in will be the serout and serin to connect to the chip on the car to make the car move forward, back, etc.

By chip, do you mean the PIC or are you interfacing the PIC to some chip on the car? You only need serin and serout if you're interfacing to a computer or another IC. Or do you mean to talk from one PIC (on the remote) to the PIC on the car?

I doubt you can control the motors like a servo. Rumble packs are typically DC brushed motors with a counterweight on the end that act like pager motors or the vibration ringer in a cellphone. They'll be full on or off like a standard DC motor. You'd have to use PWM with some type of interface circuitry or buy a motor controller that can interface with the PIC.

If you'd like to dive further into motor control, a quick Google search turned this up:

http://www.newark.com/pdfs/techartic...ksBrochure.pdf

http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/e...tes/00893a.pdf

http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/e...tes/00905a.pdf

http://www.seattlerobotics.org/encod...implemotor.htm

I haven't looked at this in detail, but you might get away building this and using pulsout:

http://www.aaroncake.net/CIRCUITS/motorcon.asp

However, I think this would do everything you want and pretty cheaply:

http://www.parallax.com/Store/Access...%2cProductName

[.n0rig.]

elec_mech, you are really helpful and thank you for finding those links for me.In regards to some of your questions, yes, I will be using serout to "wireless" interface like this:

me -> push buttons on remote -> remote has 16F684 in it -> which is connected to an RF transceiver (or transmitter "tx") -> sends the info about me pushing the button(s) -> transceiver (or receiver "rx") in car receives info -> transceiver forwards received info. to another 16F684 chip in the car that is connected to either 3 or 4 rumble motors (dc) without the weights on the spindles -> this controls forward and reverse motions. With some gears and just 3 motors (two on back and one of front between two front tires with spindle facing upward) I can make a steering system.

That right there sums up my plan for this. I don't need anything fancy for controlling the car, nothing that exceeds 30M probably (RF quality).

I am still lost on what actual supplies I can use that are not too expensive. If you have done something like this before I would greatly appreciate either a sample code, parts list, or guides for me. I really appreciate all of your help...this is going to be a really important event for me if I finish this as it will be one of the biggest completed codes I could possibly make. With the knowledge that I attain from this, I can put it to use in the future. Anyways, thanks...just keep all this information rolling guys.

Regards,

n0rig

[elec_mech]

.n0rig.,

Ahh, okay. It's been years since I worked on an IR project, so I did a quick search on the forum under 'infrared' and found some postings you might want to check out:

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...light=infrared

http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/show...light=infrared

Now, by all accounts, everyone said Bruce was the man on IR and to check out the solutions on his website. These are both inexpensive and relatively easy to implement.

http://www.rentron.com/Infrared_Communication.htm

http://www.rentron.com/remote.htm

http://rentron.com/PicBasic/IR_Chips.htm

If you'd consider using a universal TV remote programmed with Sony signals, as a backup plan - I'm not encouraging you to abandon your plans for making your own remote - then: http://www.rentron.com/remote_control/IR-D15A.htm

Hope this helps and good luck!

[.n0rig.]

okay, after spending about an hour reading through rentron's articles...I have come to the conclusion that I will need to generate the signal, run that through my IR transceiver and then collect it again at the transceiver in the car. I have three transceiver here that have an in and out for RF communication. I am sure I will not need to encode the data stream, right?

Well, I have two of these:
http://www.mouser.com/search/Product...CYV8QSMg%3D%3D

100+ 12F683 I/P
~6 16F683 I/P
~3 16F616
1 18F2550
~500 tact switches
~3000 ft kynar wire (30 awg)
no oscilloscope
1 voltimeter
and soldering iron and glue
other basics

Soo...I am not sure if this is what all I may need to make an IR link between two chips. I just need your guidance guys in all of this. I will post pictures of it if I finish it

[.n0rig.]

Found this at rentron and going to see if I can make my own encoder and decoder. Ok...I know I will need this to minimize "noise" that may be from cells and stuff like that at the competition. sooo, what exactly will me connecting my 16F to the encoder pic to the transceiver which will transmit to the tranceiver at the car, decoded by the decoder pic, and forwarded to the 16F in the car do to my remote controlling abilities. Is this required and what are the benefits. And...is my concept above wrong? Does the data go through the transceivers and get picked up by the other transceiver?

This is seriously the first ever pic basic code that I have done for wireless or "serin/serout" communication. I have some good knowledge of a pic but it is just novice to intermediate knowledge. But anyways, the link is here:

http://www.rentron.com/PicBasic/IR_Chips.htm

Also, I will be trying to test some serout/serin commands with my 16F684 tonight to see if I can get a pin on the receiving pic to go high and turn on an LED. If I can do this...maybe using the pulse command can control the DC motors? Then I can incorporate this to the IR transceivers.

Any tips and help is appreciated by all viewing...

[.n0rig.]

Also, for my two 16F pics (not decoder/encoder, Tx/rx) I was wondering if I could make subroutines in the code that simplify the wireless communication part. Maybe have it do something like this (in English not in basic ) .

-------16F in remote controller-----
if porta.0 button is pressed (signifies forward) then goto send_forward
send_forward:
serout the letter "f"

------16F in car------
serin "letter (can be F, B, L, R, and combinations of letters)

if letter = F then goto foward
foward:
PWM on two back motors using hardware PWM
...or jsut make both pins connected to the + of the motors high?

-------------------------------------


Would something like that work? Also....I have some guides here (and the internet) on how to use the serin/out commands....I just need to learn the basics of what I can and cannot do. I cannot test anything right...I really don't want to mess anything up. For now...I want to collect as much info as i can and prepare myself with the knowledge that others have done this before me...that I should be able to as well.

Regards,

n0rig

[elec_mech]

.n0rig.,

As much as I love to help, I'm a bit short on time this week. It looks like you're heading in the right direction. My only advice to you at this point is to put something together and try it. The worse case is it won't work - you're not going to blow anything up. Just make darn sure there are no shorts between the positive and negative power leads and that you don't switch the two going into your ICs before you apply power - those have been my biggest problems (thumping head against wall). Once you've put something together and tried out some code, let us know what you've done, where you're stuck and we'll do our best to help. Good luck!