Remote controlled car -> robot hack? - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

Doug3737 · 9th April 2003, 12:19 PM

Does anyone know what it takes to take a remote controlled car and hack it into a robot... I was thinking you could probably use a mini-itx board thru serial maybe, and attach it to the motors. Maybe hook up a webcam to the mini-itx board, and put a wireless pc card on the board and write some software to control the robot over the peer-to-peer network?

Does that make sense to anyone?

If not, anyone know of any good websites where I might find some info on how to take a remote controlled car and hack it into a robot, so I could add sensors and enchance it?

Thanks!

Scubasteve · 10th April 2003, 07:50 AM

Wow! That is a big project you are detailing there..
It would be a good idea to start with that platform, but making use of their drive electronics might be a bit much. Having a scope and some patience, you might be able to come up with how the speeds are controlled.

It is simple to come out and say all the things you proposed, but if you get into more detail you will see the underlying complexity of the whole thing. Let me know how it works out!

Steve

Doug3737 · 10th April 2003, 05:41 PM

So it's hard to use their drive controller? If that's the case, then I would need to hook up my mini-itx board to the motors?

I'm new to robotics... that was just my idea

Scubasteve · 10th April 2003, 05:55 PM

It all depends on what you want to accomplish.. If you want to use computer control over a network, then you can do this many ways.. You can make your own link and taylor it to the circuitry integrated in the car, or you can design your own interface to run the motors.

Alternatively, you can use some digital potentiometers in place of your controller's mechanical potentiometers and use their interface. If you want a quality transmitter that you can add other controls to, using your own link is recommended. Usually when people use ready-made platforms they are just wanting to save time making the structure and etc., rather then replacing the electronics completely.

As I said, you could study the PCB and the signals going to the board and make some cuts in the board and replace the signals with your own. I would probably just make my own interface since it isn't too complex.

Steve

Doug3737 · 11th April 2003, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scubasteve

It all depends on what you want to accomplish.. If you want to use computer control over a network, then you can do this many ways.. You can make your own link and taylor it to the circuitry integrated in the car, or you can design your own interface to run the motors.

Alternatively, you can use some digital potentiometers in place of your controller's mechanical potentiometers and use their interface. If you want a quality transmitter that you can add other controls to, using your own link is recommended. Usually when people use ready-made platforms they are just wanting to save time making the structure and etc., rather then replacing the electronics completely.

As I said, you could study the PCB and the signals going to the board and make some cuts in the board and replace the signals with your own. I would probably just make my own interface since it isn't too complex.

Steve

Sounds a little complex to me :cry:

Scubasteve · 11th April 2003, 07:11 PM

What you proposed is complex.. , so that is what you will get.

Goodluck,

Steve

bogdanfirst · 11th April 2003, 07:38 PM

maybe we can help you solve the mistery of the pcb, if you can post a picture with it from top to bottom....but try to make them clear....

Doug3737 · 17th April 2003, 06:49 PM

Any websites for this?

9th April 2003, 12:19 PM	(permalink)
Doug3737 New Member	Remote controlled car -> robot hack? Does anyone know what it takes to take a remote controlled car and hack it into a robot... I was thinking you could probably use a mini-itx board thru serial maybe, and attach it to the motors. Maybe hook up a webcam to the mini-itx board, and put a wireless pc card on the board and write some software to control the robot over the peer-to-peer network? Does that make sense to anyone? If not, anyone know of any good websites where I might find some info on how to take a remote controlled car and hack it into a robot, so I could add sensors and enchance it? Thanks!

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10th April 2003, 07:50 AM	(permalink)
Scubasteve Experienced Member	Wow! That is a big project you are detailing there.. It would be a good idea to start with that platform, but making use of their drive electronics might be a bit much. Having a scope and some patience, you might be able to come up with how the speeds are controlled. It is simple to come out and say all the things you proposed, but if you get into more detail you will see the underlying complexity of the whole thing. Let me know how it works out! Steve

10th April 2003, 05:41 PM	(permalink)
Doug3737 New Member	So it's hard to use their drive controller? If that's the case, then I would need to hook up my mini-itx board to the motors? I'm new to robotics... that was just my idea

10th April 2003, 05:55 PM	(permalink)
Scubasteve Experienced Member	It all depends on what you want to accomplish.. If you want to use computer control over a network, then you can do this many ways.. You can make your own link and taylor it to the circuitry integrated in the car, or you can design your own interface to run the motors. Alternatively, you can use some digital potentiometers in place of your controller's mechanical potentiometers and use their interface. If you want a quality transmitter that you can add other controls to, using your own link is recommended. Usually when people use ready-made platforms they are just wanting to save time making the structure and etc., rather then replacing the electronics completely. As I said, you could study the PCB and the signals going to the board and make some cuts in the board and replace the signals with your own. I would probably just make my own interface since it isn't too complex. Steve

11th April 2003, 07:11 PM	(permalink)
Scubasteve Experienced Member	What you proposed is complex.. , so that is what you will get. Goodluck, Steve

11th April 2003, 07:38 PM	(permalink)
bogdanfirst Experienced Member	maybe we can help you solve the mistery of the pcb, if you can post a picture with it from top to bottom....but try to make them clear....

17th April 2003, 06:49 PM	(permalink)
Doug3737 New Member	Any websites for this?