Nothing in particular - you would need to find a way to get the raw data from the joystick via the USB or COM port, then take that data and send it via Bluetooth to the Rover.
Yes, but it it will take a bit of development on your end.
No - transmitting video from the rover via the ATMega328 onboard is not possible. You will need to have a separate camera system (for example RF or WiFi).
We will be releasing custom encoders for the DFRobotShop Rover hopefully within the month. Other encoders are not easily incorporated into the DFRobotShop Rover, which is why we had to make them custom. We do not have a product number for this encoder quite yet. Here is a sneak peek.
Not yet. This will come after the holidays. The V2 boards are currently being manufactured - there was unfortunately an added delay because we chose RoHS compliance.
The bluetooth module we suggest plugs into the APC220/ BT port (towards the middle of the board); this is not a shield. The V2.0 also has two XBee slots so you can plug in a Bluetooth-Bee module and not need to purchase a shield. Given this situation, there is certainly enough room for the I/O shield and connections. However, if you want to use the I/O shield and another shield underneath, it’s on a case by case basis, but it would be very tight.
For the XBee control, can you ensure you have Hyperterminal configured properly and set to the correct Baud rate? Only the WASD keys should be recognized, the rest cause the robot to stop. It should work almost 100% of the time unless you type too quickly or there are obstructions.
Usually you connect the rover via USB to upload a new sketch - not via XBee. It’s rare you would need to upload via XBee (although it does sound interesting), since the rover will always be within arm’s reach. Maybe some other users have experimented with it?
Not quite yet. The design is in beta testing - so far everything is good. We have all parts spec’d and priced. We are now getting an ETA for the delivery of the initial shipment. We’ll add it under “new arrivals” as soon as it’s available for sale. We will likely sell them in pairs (two encoder modules, two wires and two encoder disks). The manufacturer is backed up quite a bit producing the DFRobotShop Rover V2 PCBs, so unfortunately we don’t have an ETA yet.
I am going to purchase a DFRobotShop Rover (Basic)
I have pretty good understanding of programming languages and electronics but I
and have a few questions/need recommendations on what to get with it.
I would like to control it with a joystick through a Bluetooth capable PC-
1- What is a good entry level Bluetooth addition to the Rover?
In another post you mentioned “Using an off the shelf” joystick requiring additional code.
2- Do you have a joystick that you recommend?
I would like to use Bluetooth so that at some point I can transition from joystick to controlling it with my Android tablet.
3- That is possible, correct?
4- And as I progress through these projects I would like to get video from the rover to the computer/tablet, can that also be done over Bluetooth? If not what are my options?
Thanks and I am sure I will have a thousand questions as my boys and I make our way through this build.
Thanks for the information. It helps a bunch. I think Xbee is the way I will go for remote control vice bluetooth. The learning curve on Android is more than I want to tackle right now. I do have another question though-
Robot Shop Team… or Coleman (Whatever the case may be)
Getting close to ordering time, can’t order it too soon or I won’t make until Christmas without tearing into it, and I think I have my shopping list nailed down. just a couple more questions though. I read through other posts and don’t think I am duplicating to much.
1- In an earlier post there was some discussion about the 2.0 board…
Is the 2.0 board availble in the Tank Kit?
Regarding an expansion plate and I/O expansion shield with DFRobot bluetooth- Text on the expansion plate description says; “When mounted using the 25mm hex spacers, there is enough room on the plate for at least one shield and possibly a smaller second shield.”
Does that mean the I/O expansion shield w/ Bluetooth will fit and I assume there is sufficient space for connectors to plug into the top of the expansion board? The picture looks like it but they can be deceiving.
First, in a earlier post I made you mentioned you would be coming out with encoders for the Rover soon. Looked through the site and didn’t see them yet. Are they available and I missed them or are they not quite ready for prime time yet?
Second, I got the Rover, a I/O Expansion board, 2 XBee and all the supporting stuff for Chirstmas. The Rover went together no problem. Controling it through a USB cable works fine. Controling it with XBee is a little unreliable. I am using the WASD control sketch provided in the Rover manual and maybe 25% of the keystrokes I send to the Rover appear to go unrecognized. Not to worried about at this stage though. I am working on a more robust sketch with some feedback from the Rover so I see what it is doing in a little more detail. The question is, when I try and download a sketch using the XBee I get a fault similar to one I got before I updated the FTDI driver used in with the USB cable. I thought this operation would be plug and play. I am not sure what additional setup needs to be done. I am going to try the procedures provided at a link you provided in an earlier post. :
This procedure requires installation of a transistor switch to drive the reset on the Arduino board, is this still required or is there a work around I could use to avoid the additional components?
