Long range wireless control - no laptop

[Beta+]

I'm looking for a wireless control system that does not require a computer. We're going to be building a basic bot that the public can operate during halftimes at sporting events, and I don't want to risk a catastrophe with a laptop.

In my brief searching, I've seen that I can utilize a PS3 controller or XBOX 360 controller with a simple Bluetooth or USB dongle, but my understanding is that the range wouldn't be sufficient - I'm hoping for football halftime so maybe about 50 yards? (sideline to midfield)

Anyone have any input they could help us out with?

Thanks in advance -

[GeeTwo]

xBee has a number of systems that can provide wireless links from tens of yards to thousands of yards. Most of their boards are about 1 inch square. The board can drive a "remote control" directly with no other electronics than the power supply and the joysticks/controls, and there are arduino shields available for the robot side.

[otherguy]

I'd suggest looking at what's available from the RC hobby market.

Andymark has put together a kit of low cost components that would likely get the job done: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2493.htm
It probably includes a bunch of stuff you don't need (e.g. battery)

Alternatively there are lots of online retailers in the RC space. Hobby king is a popular cheap retailer.

You're going to need a controller (radio) and a receiver that are compatible. The receiver needs to have enough channels to drive all your PWM devices (motor controllers). You may also need a BEC (battery elimination circuit - just a voltage regulator) to provide power to the receiver if you dont have a 5v source on the robot already.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...e_systems.html

Range should be good enough for a football field for pretty much all the options available as you're operating line of sight, bu read reviews to convince yourself before you buy.

[Greg McKaskle]

Going for another wireless option is certainly a good project to look into, but you may want to compare it to disabling the laptop's sleep mode, latching the lid, sliding it into a backpack and walking around with the game controller in your hands (cable going into backpack via zipper or such).

We've done this at NIWeek before and it is pretty convenient. Plus you have the laptop and cables if you need to change the code debug something, etc.

Another option, if you can find one, is to get a Surface 3 Pro or similar tablet. Looks cool, and then your project is making a touch dashboard that drives the robot well enough.

Greg McKaskle

[fovea1959]

We're starting the exact same exercise; something cheap and easy to use that doesn't tie up a roboRIO. We just started brainstorming ideas on Tuesday, and haven't gotten around to evaluating them. We have the complication of having a mechanum on this demo bot.

• RC based: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2827.htm
• generic RC based, and have an onboard RPi/ARduino field the PWM off the receiver, figure out the joystick positions from the pulse widths, and do the mechanum math
• wireless joystick to an onboard RPi/Arduino.
• homebrew remote arduino controller talking XBee (or the almost equivalent Ciseco-made XRF units) talking to an onboard RPi/Arduino.
• remote RPi-based controller talking the FRC protocol over 802.11 to a roboRIO onboard
• remote RPi-based controller (or cellphone or tablet) talking OpenRobot over 802.11 to an onboard Sasquatch we have on the shelf.
• goodness knows what else

[connor.worley]

None of the advertised ranges will match reality, so be prepared to drop some $$$ and test a few different options.

[GreyingJay]

I've got an AndyMark control system on the way (the first purchase of parts for my new team!), I'll try to report back what kind of range I can get in open air.

[safiq10]

I don't think this will help your situation specifically but it may help others, but the ChapR works with FRC robots. To my understanding the ChapR will act like a laptop, but I'm unaware of the range. The ChapR is small enough to slip into your pocket allow you to drive.

[Jared]

xBee's don't have a great reputation for being reliable in the world of hobby quadcopters, so I'd be scared of having a runaway robot unless I did some testing first.

I have had great experiences with R/C products from FlySky. This hobbyking radio with receiver is a rebranded ct6b radio from FlySky. I've gotten over 100 yards with mine.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Mode_2_.htm l

You'd need to use interrupts to get information from the receiver though. I have code that uses pin change interrupts on an arduino that can read the receiver that I can send if you want.