Posted by Paul Michalczuk, Student on team #217, Team Macomb, from Cousino and Ford.
Posted on 3/10/99 7:21 PM MST
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to make a transmitter and receiver so we could test out another robot with. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Paul Michalczuk
Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 3/10/99 7:52 PM MST
In Reply to: Need info on how to build temp. receiver and transmitter posted by Paul Michalczuk on 3/10/99 7:21 PM MST:
What you need depends on what you want to do.
Some teams simply want to control motors on the other end of a radio link using a joystick as a input device. If this is what you want, contact team #175 UTC & Erico Fermi (if memory serves). They had a “how to” book available at the FIRST kick off meeting. I am sure that they have more. If not, e-mail me, I can make a copy of the one I have for you.
If on the other hand you want to have a FIRST compatible controller, that is a more difficult task, though not impossible. Many teams have reverse engineered the FIRST controller. Most who do so have not bothered to document it well enough to hand it to a 3rd party for them to make it. In our own team’s case, we would have some trouble following our own scraps and notes, yet alone walking you through it. However, one man claims to have a package that is up to the challenge (there may be more, but I know of this one alone). The info you seek is on our old forum pages (golly am I glad we keep those old postings…)
Follow the link to this message:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/wwwboard-old/kit/messages/22.html
You may want to read the entire thread before contacting Rick Berube.
The message contains a link to e-mail him directly.
I caution you that it is pretty late in the day to start rolling your own controller. It is a pretty tough project, even with plans.
But… I wish you and your team good luck and much success.
Regards,
Forum Historian,
Joe J.
Posted by Nate Smith, Student on team #74, Holland FIRST Robotics, from Holland High School and Haworth, Inc…
Posted on 3/11/99 1:19 PM MST
In Reply to: Help is available posted by Joe Johnson on 3/10/99 7:52 PM MST:
Here’s an idea that might work if you don’t need to do anything too complex…
In the early design phase of this year’s base, we didn’t even bother using the official FIRST control system…we just got a standard RC controller(ones designed for RC planes work best) and hooked a couple of Tekins and motors directly to the reciever for the RC unit…
: What you need depends on what you want to do.
: Some teams simply want to control motors on the other end of a radio link using a joystick as a input device. If this is what you want, contact team #175 UTC & Erico Fermi (if memory serves). They had a “how to” book available at the FIRST kick off meeting. I am sure that they have more. If not, e-mail me, I can make a copy of the one I have for you.
: If on the other hand you want to have a FIRST compatible controller, that is a more difficult task, though not impossible. Many teams have reverse engineered the FIRST controller. Most who do so have not bothered to document it well enough to hand it to a 3rd party for them to make it. In our own team’s case, we would have some trouble following our own scraps and notes, yet alone walking you through it. However, one man claims to have a package that is up to the challenge (there may be more, but I know of this one alone). The info you seek is on our old forum pages (golly am I glad we keep those old postings…)
: Follow the link to this message:
: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/wwwboard-old/kit/messages/22.html
: You may want to read the entire thread before contacting Rick Berube.
: The message contains a link to e-mail him directly.
: I caution you that it is pretty late in the day to start rolling your own controller. It is a pretty tough project, even with plans.
: But… I wish you and your team good luck and much success.
: Regards,
: Forum Historian,
: Joe J.
Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 3/12/99 8:34 AM MST
In Reply to: Need info on how to build temp. receiver and transmitter posted by Paul Michalczuk on 3/10/99 7:21 PM MST:
Our team designed and manufactured a few pin-for-pin, dimension-for-dimension, FIRST compatible control systems. They are virtually EXACT replicas of the FIRST controller. We may be looking to market these. If you are interested, e-mail me.
: Hi,
: I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to make a transmitter and receiver so we could test out another robot with. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
: Paul Michalczuk
Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 3/17/99 12:49 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Need info on how to build temp. receiver and transmitter posted by Chris on 3/12/99 8:34 AM MST:
The above post on the FM transmitter is a great idea. It made me realize that I should clarify my post.
The system that I described is not a ‘transmitter/receiver’ in the R/F sense. What we have is the transmitter computer unit (that you hook the joysticks/switches/pots to) and the on board robot receiver computer unit (with the STAMP micro, relays, PWM outputs, etc.). As I stated, this unit is pin-for-pin, and dimensionally equivalent to the FIRST controller. It even looks exactly like the FIRST controller. How you go about transmitting the data between the units is another problem. Our system supports the RNETs as well as a teather cable. If the R/F solution describe in the above post by Mr. Berube (I hope that’s correct) is compatible with the FIRST controller, it will be compatible with this controller.
I hope that makes things clearer.
: Our team designed and manufactured a few pin-for-pin, dimension-for-dimension, FIRST compatible control systems. They are virtually EXACT replicas of the FIRST controller. We may be looking to market these. If you are interested, e-mail me.
: : Hi,
: : I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to make a transmitter and receiver so we could test out another robot with. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
: : Paul Michalczuk
Posted by Rick Berube, Engineer on team #121, Rhode Warriors, from MiddleTown H.S. and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
Posted on 3/15/99 4:32 PM MST
In Reply to: Need info on how to build temp. receiver and transmitter posted by Paul Michalczuk on 3/10/99 7:21 PM MST:
: Hi,
: I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to make a transmitter and receiver so we could test out another robot with. Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
: Paul Michalczuk
Paul,
there’s no need to roll your own RF reciever/transmitter!
More than likely, all you need is a pair of cheap FM data modules. These are both readily available and cheap today (providing you operate in a resonably RF-benign area).
Two sources come to mind immediately:
AbaCom Technologies (http://www.abacom-tech.com)
RadioMetrix (http://www.radiometrix.co.uk)
I’m sure their are plenty of others as well. Because FIRST doesn’t provide feedback (currently -although Eric Rasmusen did hint @Philly that he had some ideas for next year which might provide feedback), you really only need a Tx/Rx pair operating in a simplex mode.
I’m sure these two source can answer your questions regarding their products better than I could. A few things are required however:
You must ensure the power supply for the Rx unit is compatible with the robot (+5v or +13.5-12V)and that the noise rejection is reasonble. Also you must provide at least a 9600 baud rate. Any slower and you’ll notice the difference. You’ll also need to ensure an RS232 compatible interface. That’s it in a nutshell.
Good hunting,
Rick