Simplest communication with a Sabertooth motor controller

Help & Support Robot Parts
1

A complete newbie on this so here comes a series of uninformed questions. After researching for a week online the old head is about to explode and I still can’t find a simple answer to this question. Which is:

Is there a simple method of controlling a Sabertooth 2 x 32 using the computer keyboard? Can this be done with only the Sabertooth and a wireless or RC transmitter system?

I realize that I’d need a wireless like xbee to get the signal to the Sabertooth controller and that seems fairly straightforward. There are plenty of articles online about using an aurdino and connecting to the Sabertooth but I see that the Sabertooth itself can handle RC (assuming it has a xbee receiver and the laptop has a xbee transmitter I believe) and direct serial communication.

I see some articles online using a program called Processing or Tera Term that have simple programs (not for me but libraries seem to be out there for this) that can take a keyboard press and use it to control the Sabertooth and the motor.

I see articles on Aurdpilot/rover using a mission planner and aurdino boards/xbee.

Here is what I am attempting to do and I want to make sure I start off in the best manner before I splurge on the hardware:

Jazzy scooter, already bought this, working fine after replacing the batteries.
Some sort of motor control to replace the jazzy joystick, thinking Sabertooth 2 x 32 is the best way.
Some sort of wireless or RC communication, environment is a woodworking shop, around 10K square feet so the xbee 900 series or exbee pro was looking best. Receiver and transmitter to communicate to the scooter base.

However, I need this to run off a laptop keyboard for input and control. This is a remote laptop that is controlled by an employee in the Philippines via Team Viewer, they press the arrow key or other key on the keyboard in the Philippines and the remote laptop here in the U.S. responds to that key stroke so I am assuming I can figure out a method of controlling this scooter chassis.

What is the best way to go about this and does robotshop.com sell it online?

2

Perhaps this thread has the answer? assistance-with-part-selection-t15719

Rasberry Pi using USB. Are there libraries of code or is it a learn coding kind of thing?

3

Hi,

The Sabertooth Dual 2x32A 6V-24V Regenerative Motor Driver has a Serial input mode. Therefore, it can be controlled with a microcontroller like an Arduino Board.
As you have indicated, you can use XBee for communication between the Arduino + Sabertooth and the Laptop.
Here is a tutorial that should provide you with useful information on how to do this.