Hi
I am completely new to servo controllers and the SSC-32. I have been working with Standard R/C equipment for some time so that is not my problem.
My question is is the SSC-32 simple to set up and operate if I am only doing simple servo operation. I am building a model boat and want extra control functions. Major control such as throttle and stering would be controlled via a Futaba radio setup. All the commands would all be single servo commands, so no mixing or anything complex. I just want to control rotation with a slider and latching with a switch. In other words I want to create a radio out of my laptop.
Hopefully this is my item but I just want to make sure before I buy it.
Thanks,
The SSC-32 accepts text commands sent to its serial port (standard RS-232 or TTL level). How are you planning to get the commands to the SSC-32 to control additional servo functions? You would need a microcontroller to interpret commands from the radio and send commands to the SSC-32, based on signals from your radio. The micro can interpret the R/C receiver’s PWM signals and send the appropriate commands to the SSC-32.
8-Dale
No Dale, he wants to use his laptop to control some extra servos on his boat.
To do this you would need a bluetooth modem to connect to the SSC-32, and if your laptop doesn’t have bluetooth you will need a USB dongle to enable bluetooth on the laptop. This tutorial illustrates how to set it up.
lynxmotion.com/images/html/build125.htm
As for the movements the servos will make, although you said you don’t need anything complex, it is certainly possible to do very complex motions. But simple is doable too. We have a program called Visual Sequencer for the PC that makes it easy to make movements mapped to keypresses.
OK this is great. Yes Robot Dude you are right. Although I don’t want to use the blue tooth I want to use the Serial and a Ethernet Adapter hooked up to a wireless router. Then I can have on-board web cameras as well.
So I need to buy the SSC-32 and the Visual Sequencer software and I can start programing. It sounds like the Visual Sequencer has a nice Graphical Interface and will allow the SSC-32 to easily be programed. Thanks for your help.
Cheers,
Hi
Another question and then hopefully I can be less confused. I have bought a Wiport NR from Lantronics. I noticed that the SSC-32 has a TTL serial port on the board. I was under the impression that I had to use the big D-Sub Cable. Does this mean I can take the signal right of the Wiport NR and connect it to this port without any big cables.
Cheers,
Make your own serial cable out of thinner wire. I make my own out of 4 conductor cat3 phone wire, just using 3 of the 4 wires.
If your Wiport also has TTL/CMOS level signals from the serial, then yes, you can run some connectors straight off the header post on the ssc-32. This is how the SSC-32 is interfaced to the Bot Boards, which also has a tap off for TTL/CMOS level serial off the ports.
The WiPort actually operates at 3.3V with 5V-tolerant I/O. I think perhaps the question is what product are you using for a breakout board from the WiPort? If that allows access to the TTL level signals then you can configure the jumpers on the SSC-32 to hook it up just like you would an ABB+BA§. If you only have access to RS-232 level signals then you need to use the DB-9 connectors, but as zoomie said you can just make your own cable using smaller wire and only making the 3 connections required. you can get the parts for this at radio shack easily.
I was planning on building my own board for the Wiport to run off of. In the manual for the Wiport it shows the pin outs on the Wiport board. My plan is that I take wires from the RX and the TX on the serial 1 on the wiport and connect it to the SSC-32 like it was a Bot Board. Of course it would involve mounting and a board for the Wiport and Ethernet Connector/Magnetics to connect to, but that is simple I can do that easy. My concern is just data from the wiport to the SSC-32. I have a 3V source for the wiport to run on and a 4.8 + 6 V sources for the SSC-32 to run on. I think it is starting to come together now. If the direct data flow doesnt work i will have to get a transceiver and a d-sub port and go that way.
Cheers,
