Just starting my first robot project. I have a ton of questions from motor controllers to navigation. I am hoping this community can help.
Thanks,
ToolMaker
Where I want to start is: joystick control from my laptop to an existing RC buggy. I have removed the radio, and added a wireless IP to RS232 device (with power). I need a motor controller. The draw from the main motor of the buggy is low so a Sabertooth Dual 10A should work nicely. I have a good background in RS232 and have the software and network all set up. I can read joystick input from my laptop and send to the RS232. Two questions. 1) The buggy has a simple electromagnet steering. Will one side of the Sabertooth be able to handle this?( I’m not bothered about proportional steering…yet.). 2) Will the Pololu Deluxe Serial Adapter convert the EIA RS-232 from the wireless device to TTL for the Sabertooth?
Thanks Carlos. The steering is a coil + steers one way - the other. The sabertooth will probably see it as a small stalled low current motor. Guess I should just give it a try! Once the platform is working I plan to add an arduino, sensors and some human interface, relaying telemetry to the laptop. I would like a compass module for heading info. Devantech and Parralax seem to be geared for BasicX and Stamp. Could the parallax hmc6352 compass modulel be used on the I2C of the Arduino?
Oh Would you mind giving us more details in your robot project?
maybe any question and some problems
Hi ToolMaker,
Welcome to the RobotShop Forum. We are certainly here to help. As Casmat indicated, if you are new and not sure where to begin, consider the “How to Make a Robot Grand Tutorial Series” on GoRobotics.net as well as the RobotShop Learning Center. Feel free to post your questions, projects and brainstorming here as well. We look forward to having you become an active participant.
We hope you can post some images about your project - we love mobile robots! There should not be any issue with connecting I2C sensors (like the compass) to the Arduino’s I2C.
Hi ToolMaker and welcome to the RobotShop Community Forum!
We will be more than happy to answer your question. Also, please fell free to share your experience of building robots with the other users in the community.
You might also be interested in a series of tutorials we are putting together for people getting started in robotics:
gorobotics.net/how-to-make-a-robot
Electromagnets are very simple devices and usually, in your type of application, do not require that much current. Your Sabertooth should be able to handle it without troubles. Also note that the electromagnet can be controlled with a simple relay or switch.
Finally, depending on the electrical characteristics of the electromagnet, the Sabertooth might see it as a short circuit. In such case, making it work properly will require some extra components and a bit of experimentation. Unfortunately, it is very hard to tell if tat is the case without physically testing it.