I have a power chair that I am replacing all of the electronics with electronics of my own. I have a small variety of Adafruit micro controllers to choose from (I haven’t decided which one I want to use yet, (probably whichever one has the most processing power) I am hoping to use circuit python), a joystick out of the busted controller & a RageBridge V2 motor controller.
First things first though, I’m looking to do is just get the power chair running so I can sit in & drive it when I need to. From there, I’ll add on more stuff in time. First add-on though, is going to be remote control, I only need the chair some of the time, but when I need it, I really need it. I need to have the chair with me, but don’t want to always have to either walk hunched over next to the chair or always have to sit in it when going places. I love to exercise & walk my dog.
Well, it seems to me that you’ve already done your homework. Nice job!
The only thing I would like to mention is that some motor drivers have a built-in 5V Switching BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit) that can provide power to a microcontroller or R/C receiver, some of the most popular are the Sabertooth Motor Drivers.
That’s great! Do you have any pics of ur project of making the chair for the girl? I’d love to see them.
What I’m ultimately doing is & making is a kit that could have come in handy when you made that chair. The chair that I’m making for myself, or more over the software & electronics I’m using, is going to be a prototype kit to be put on power chairs that are no longer covered under warranty. This is going to be a completely open source kit so after they replace the proprietary software & electronics from the manufacture with my open source kit. Either they or someone with a wrench set & just a little bit of programming knowledge can keep that chair & the owner empowered & mobile for a very long time.
The motor controller, the RageBridge II does have a 5 volt out put. Found that out after I posted my posting. It’s actually a pretty cool open source controller. Here’s a link for it: I’m still just learning all about it. Draw back of being autistic is it sometimes takes me a while to wrap my brain around something. :-/
