Custom ROV Control System Update
Posted: Nov 30th, 2013, 7:30 pm
Hi,
This is an update on my ROV Control System. I posted a few months back about my ROV Control Board, and now I have the other half of the system up and running. Here is the original post: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1159
I custom designed two circuit boards to make it really simple to connect to everything, so this way there is not a huge wiring mess in the ROV. Both board have Arduino Pro Mini's, and are programmed using the Arduino IDE computer software. Using the Arduino software it is really simple to tweak pins, values, and add things because there are so many open source projects and libraries for the Arduinos.
The ROV Control Board goes in the ROV, and ESC's , servos, relays, sensors, etc. are connected to it. It is powered off of 12v, or as low as 8v, and has its own power filtering circuitry, LED's, and serial converter circuit. It receives data using RS-422/485 which is a long distance serial that can go up to 1500m/5000ft - way over spec, but it is a really good option. It requires 4 twisted pair wires, or half a Cat5e ethernet cable, for full duplex(aka two way) communication so you can send motor commands to the board and receive sensor values and other readings back at the surface at the same time.
The ROV Surface Interface board goes on the surface, and there is a PS2 controller and LCD connected. The PS2 controller joysticks and buttons can be mapped to anything like turn on and off lights, move camera pan/tilt servos, etc. Also I will connect LED's and buttons depending on what I need once I start putting everything together.
This setup does not require a laptop to control anything (unless you want to program the Arduino's or are using one for video), and so it makes the surface setup a little bit smaller and lighter weight.
There is more information about the boards on this site I created as well. It is not finished yet, and it is my first attempt at creating a website, and I am continuing to work on it. https://sites.google.com/site/underwaterrovproject/
And I will be selling the extra board from the surface interface soon, as well as the ROV control board once I get more. Originally I was just going to sell the extras, but since a lot of people have asked me since I ran out of components and boards I will continue to sell the boards depending on how much time I have to assemble them.
If you have any comments or questions let me know either as a reply to this post or you can email me instead at njs552@gmail.com.
Thanks,
njs552
This is an update on my ROV Control System. I posted a few months back about my ROV Control Board, and now I have the other half of the system up and running. Here is the original post: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1159
I custom designed two circuit boards to make it really simple to connect to everything, so this way there is not a huge wiring mess in the ROV. Both board have Arduino Pro Mini's, and are programmed using the Arduino IDE computer software. Using the Arduino software it is really simple to tweak pins, values, and add things because there are so many open source projects and libraries for the Arduinos.
The ROV Control Board goes in the ROV, and ESC's , servos, relays, sensors, etc. are connected to it. It is powered off of 12v, or as low as 8v, and has its own power filtering circuitry, LED's, and serial converter circuit. It receives data using RS-422/485 which is a long distance serial that can go up to 1500m/5000ft - way over spec, but it is a really good option. It requires 4 twisted pair wires, or half a Cat5e ethernet cable, for full duplex(aka two way) communication so you can send motor commands to the board and receive sensor values and other readings back at the surface at the same time.
The ROV Surface Interface board goes on the surface, and there is a PS2 controller and LCD connected. The PS2 controller joysticks and buttons can be mapped to anything like turn on and off lights, move camera pan/tilt servos, etc. Also I will connect LED's and buttons depending on what I need once I start putting everything together.
This setup does not require a laptop to control anything (unless you want to program the Arduino's or are using one for video), and so it makes the surface setup a little bit smaller and lighter weight.
There is more information about the boards on this site I created as well. It is not finished yet, and it is my first attempt at creating a website, and I am continuing to work on it. https://sites.google.com/site/underwaterrovproject/
And I will be selling the extra board from the surface interface soon, as well as the ROV control board once I get more. Originally I was just going to sell the extras, but since a lot of people have asked me since I ran out of components and boards I will continue to sell the boards depending on how much time I have to assemble them.
If you have any comments or questions let me know either as a reply to this post or you can email me instead at njs552@gmail.com.
Thanks,
njs552