I am researching remote control methods for a Raspberry Pi based Robotics Platform for a Robotics competition in April next year. (Pi Wars).
Before I run off and purchase an RC Transmitter and Receiver and some RC switches as in this Instrucatble I thought I'd have a look at some of the junk I have laying around.
I have a couple of old RC cars that I dismantled a while ago and found this small Rx board on my workbench.
I hooked up a couple of AA batteries to the + and gnd and then using a multimeter I check the outputs P1, P2, P3 and P4 to see what the readings were when operating the RC Tx (Fwd, Bwd, Left, Right).
P1 reads +2.6v and -2.6v when the Fwd and Bwd joystick is operated.
P2 reads +2.6v and -2.6v when the Left and Right joystick is operated.
P3 just reads 2.6v no matter what.
P4 reads nothing.
Would there be a way of reding these volytages from P1 and P2 using the GPIO on a Raspberry Pi and python script to send signals to a DC motor board to operate 2 x DC motors?
I previously successfully used remote web interface using a Pi and an Arduion communication usin I2c and also more recently a serial communication using a Sabertooth Motor Driver Board but using a web interface is prone to network issues and delays.
There must be more electronics than what you show. It sounds like the end effect is like a relay. You would need to check the current, but the Pi takes 3.3V, so you might use a step-up regulator. Adding electronics will likely just cost you money which could have gone towards a “real” transmitter. What functionality do you want in the end?
What does the backside of that board looks like? Picture?
Sure you can get it somehow to work with a hand full transistors and resistors somehow, but I also have to agree with Cbenson that there are better/cheaper options.
After doing some more research it would appear that the best / cheapest solution is Wireless Handheld Controller.
So we purchased a PiHut re-branded Playstation Wirelss Controller which we are using with a CamJamEdu Kit #3 which comes with a small motor header and can control 2 x DV motors quite easiliy.
Not sure what happens if we opt for bigger motors? Maybe a better motor driver board?
