Control System Help

[Bikemab]

So I was pretty sold on the ROV Asia until it apparently vanished. Does anyone know of a comparable system? I did not really want to have to start learning programming. The RC transmitter is also appealing, but kinda pricey. I'm just looking for some good advice, which this forum is full of, Thanks.

[derelicte]

you can get a 9 channel rc system for $65 here:



http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... ouse_.html

you can also check the rc forums for a used system.

[Bikemab]

Wow, Ok. I just did a quick check and the ones I saw were $400+. That's much better. Thanks. Think I may start in that direction.

[manhattan]

Bike,

Similar to you I wanted an easy control without programming. After playing with the Rov-Asia a few months it turned out exactly what I needed, easy and reliable. Also believe something must have happened to Duncan since he really had a good product with the control boards and which were selling well before he vanished.

Assume that Rov-Asia board cannot be directly copied (copyrights etc.) I have been playing with the idea of PCB reverse engineering and to create a similar board with a few modifications and newer components. Don’t know what the initial design cost would be but I would personally be interested co-financing a prototype board. Think after the initial cost one would be able to return the money fairly easy.

Steve should create another section in the board Index called “suggestions on designing the ultimate ROV control board”.

[derelicte]

lol! earlier this week I spent some time trying to figure out how the rov-asia boards communicated. I'm pretty sure I have figured it out. My plan was to build arduino shields for the tx and rx. this would allow for a lot more functionality on the rov if you chose to use arduinos on each end (for instance gyro stabilisation). it would also allow for use of off the shelf joysticks or gamepads and the ability to use a computer for the tx.

I'd be willing to help out with the designing the boards, even if you didn't want to go down the shield route. It might be a fun little project.

[manhattan]

Hmmm. Some king of Ethernet and USB shield would be interesting. I think Rov Asia is almost perfect (for noobs like me) I would maybe add wider voltage input, another motor connection (total 5) and a few more servo connections, if possible in a smaller package.

[Bikemab]

Yeah, I'm pretty much lost when I get beyond the relay method. I got a little excited reading about the ROV-Asia, then read some more and had the big let down. I don't really have much to offer when it comes to electronics, but I would really be interested in how your endeavor might work out.

[Bikemab]

So I've done a little further studying on the RC transmitter method of control. I know know what I was looking at that was pricier. That was transmitters with DSC (direct servo control).

Using the trainer port and wires down to the onboard receiver seems pretty straight forward. I further read that I would need to bypass the rf portion of the receiver. Does anyone know of a link that would help bypassing the rf portion? And forgive me if I touch on something that has already been discussed. I read so much of these entries, they sometime become a blur.

[Bikemab]

I've continued my research with not much progress so far. A few RC forums touch on hacking the receivers, but nothing about bypassing the RF portion. I also checked with our local RC/hobby store, but did not get any information there.

[derelicte]

yep, it doesn't look like you can inject a ppm signal into the rx that comes with the 9x, but that doesn't mean you couldn't buy another older rx from any vendor and mod it to take the ppm signal. or find a rx that has a dsc input.

just a thought.

you could also try just attaching the antennas together. you should probably ac couple it, though.