Arduino Board and FRC Victors

[Garrett.d.w]

If you want to use a computer to send commands to the arduino then use Processing (arduino's computer based cousin). There is a library included in the software package that allows you to interface with the arduino though the usb serial connection.

If you want to control the whole setup remotely, you can use an xbee shield and radio to create a wireless serial connection between two arduinos.

Personally, I have used ps2 controllers as shown in this link (http://www.billporter.info/playstati...-library-v1-0/). It's much cleaner than soldering the connections to the potentiometers inside the controller, plus you can do some interesting things with the ruble feature, etc. There is also some canned code on that web page.

The web site also has a library for creating complex serial communication protocols (which comes in handy when you want to transmit more than one variable over a serial connection).

PM me and I can send you pictures of the project setup and code (if I can find it).

[DavisC]

Originally Posted by Garrett.d.w

If you want to use a computer to send commands to the arduino then use Processing (arduino's computer based cousin). There is a library included in the software package that allows you to interface with the arduino though the usb serial connection.

If you want to control the whole setup remotely, you can use an xbee shield and radio to create a wireless serial connection between two arduinos.

Thanks, this is truly what I was looking for, I had thought of the xbee addition and that would work; I just didn't know a simple environment that would allow the communication.

Also, I am thinking of the use of bluetooth, or it looks like in aj's link that with the ethernet shield, it could be connected to a router.

[ajlapp]

@ajlapp - Was looking around on the site and looks interesting, do you have a document that explains how it is setup?

No specific document exists at this time, sorry. The source code for both the robot side and operator side is available at the link previously provided.

In general each side of this system has an Arduino and an Ethernet shield. We used Asus routers to communicate.

Everything we use in the system is open-source and available in various libraries.

For the linked project we chose to have an Arduino on the operator side for portability, but this isn't necessary. We typically build these setups with just a laptop on the driver side.

In the very near future this system will be available in a low-cost consumer ready package. It's very cool and very open.

[tipsmiller]

Another option (if you don't want to do surgery on a controller) is to use the Processing software (http://processing.org/) with the proCONTROLL Library (http://creativecomputing.cc/p5libs/procontroll/). The proCONTROLL library will read your inputs, you can interpret them however you like, and then send them through serial to the Arduino.

I found this very convenient as Arduino is based off of Processing, making the interfaces nearly identical and easy to work with. I should be able to dig up some sample code later.

[tsaksa]

Originally Posted by Garrett.d.w

If you want to use a computer to send commands to the arduino then use Processing (arduino's computer based cousin). There is a library included in the software package that allows you to interface with the arduino though the usb serial connection.
Clip
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Good information, and the link to the PS2 library was really handy. I was also considering an XBee radio or other wireless interface at some point to build a more complete low cost Arduino controller. However, do not write off the more crude method of wiring directly into the controller to get at the potentiometers. While this is a much less elegant solution than what you propose it has some other values.

1. Dirt cheap. (I am comparing to the wireless version here) You can build the entire (wired) control system including the computer for less than $30 if you scrounge a few parts for the box and connectors. This is a more reasonable price if your intent is just to build a small debug tool.

2. The students get to open up the controller, identify and test them with a multimeter, see how the joysticks were used, and connect to them. I find it hard to get some of the students interested in practicing soldering skills. But this project did interest them.

3. I think it is easier for the students to understand the complete operation of the simpler system. At least till they get more experience with the Arduino.

4. You can use this approach for controlling your own analog circuits or devices other than the Arduino.

But, you are right that library is cool. I will have to try it now. It is too bad the PS2 used such a large and unusual connector. If it already came with something small and common you could be up and running in half the time.

[DavisC]

Ok, I am using Processing to attempt to send the Joystick data to the Arduino board.
But I just can't figure out how to get the info from the joystick...

[DonRotolo]

As mentioned, an Analog joystick is given 5 volts and ground and returns an analog voltage between 0 and 5 volts (-ish).

A USB Joystick requires you to use the USB Serial connection.

[DavisC]

I'm sorry, but I am still very confused on how to do it (been looking on google for a while). I am trying to use a joystick that is connected to the PC which is sending the value to the Arduino Board which will act upon it using the servo class.

[ericbarch]

Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I've been working with ajlapp to design an Arduino based control system and we've learned a few things along the way.

Your best bet is to go with whatever language you're most comfortable on your PC (Visual Basic, Java, Python, LabView, etc...). There are plenty of great libraries out there for each of those languages that support reading in USB controllers and make it very simple. I personally use Java along with the JInput USB library: http://www.newdawnsoftware.com/resources/jinput/ If needed I can provide all of the source code to get the basic values using JInput. All you need to do once you have the values is write it out onto the USB serial port that the Arduino is connected to.

It's up to you how you want to write the values, but one way would be using a delimiter or a marker character that tells the arduino that a new value from the joystick is coming through. All modern programming languages should have a simple library or method of writing out to any connected serial port.

The nice thing about doing it this way is that you could very easily replace the wired USB connection with a XBee shield and XBee USB adapter (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9819) down the line to go wireless.

[CarlosGJ]

http://principialabs.com/joystick-control-of-a-servo/

This explains how to use Python to get data from a USB joystick, and send it to an Arduino via serial. Of course, you could probably do it somewhat more easily in Labview. The code given is very good basic material-- I have adapted it for multiple joysticks, control over Ethernet, etc.

[Gdeaver]

GHI makes an Arduino compatible board with an Arm 7 on it. You program it with dot net C#. It has a USB host interface and a Class that will allow you to pull the values from a wireless USB game controller eliminating the PC.
http://www.tinyclr.com/support/
I like the Pololu servo driver boards
http://www.pololu.com/catalog/category/12
Plug the usb wireless into the arm board and then talk to the servo board by serial. Gives rock solid control. Assuming one has C# experience.

[DavisC]

Thanks for the help. Yea, I think the decision I made is to test the self-modified controller and also try the USB shield and comimunicate using Xbee or one of those. Might try Ethernet -> Wifi -> Wifi -> Ethernet cause I would like to try to implement the routers, and seeing how that goes.

[Johnjohn]

Newbie here

I was wondering if anyone that got the ... http://principialabs.com/joystick-control-of-a-servo/ ... to work over Ethernet shield would mind sharing the code. Like I said Noob here and just can't get it to work.

John