DIY WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROLLER FOR ROBOTS ,RC BOATS ..
Monday, December 26, 2016
How much essential it is ,to make an efficient wireless remote controller for your projects like robots, RC cars, RC boats etc.. It is the remote controller which effects the whole performance. It is sure that a good remote controller can make your robot well functioning. In this post I am showing how to make a efficient, simple remote controller using an arduino and two joystick modules.
I choose NRF2401 RF module as the transceiver(transmitter & receiver) because it is a very low cost and very efficient RF modules with a good range.
Watch this video to see it's working with my new robot-
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| Electronic parts |
Meterials-
- 2 x NRF2401(one for this remote and another receiver) - Amazon.in or Amazon.com
- Arduino Pro Mini - Amzon.in or Amazon.com
- 2 x Joystick modules - Amazon.in or Amazon.com
- Small Switch (from a local electronic shop) or Amazon.com
- 3.7 volt rechargeable battery - mepits.com
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| Mosquito killer bat |
- 2 x Old cracked Mosquito Killer bat
- Some small plastic pieces
Step 1: Let's make it case/body
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| Cut this end part from the bat using an hacksaw blade |
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| Open it |
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| Make a square whole on the upper part |
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| Take a plastic peace and make a round hoe |
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| Glue the plastic peace above the square hole |
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| Make a place for placing the joystick module in the lower part also. |
Cut the part from the bat as shown in the figure and make a square hole in the upper side of the part. Then take a small plastic piece and make a round hole on it for connecting the joystick and then glue the plastic piece to the part . Make one more of this same type .
Step 2: Circuit diagram and wiring instraction
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| Download and zoom in for clear view |
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| NRF2401 Pinout diagram |
Wiring instruction' NRF2401' >> 'ARDUINO'
- VCC >> VCC
- GND >> GND
- MISO >> PIN 12
- MOSI >> PIN 11
- SCN >> PIN10
- SCK >> PIN 13
- CE >> PIN 9
- IRQ (not in use)
Wiring instruction 'left Joystick module' >> 'ARDUINO'
- VCC >> VCC
- GND >> GND
- VER (Y axis) >> A0
- HOR (X axis) >> A1
Wiring instruction 'right Joystick module' >> 'ARDUINO'
- VCC >> VCC
- GND >> GND
- VER (Y axis) >> A2
- HOR (X axis) >> A3
Wiring instruction of switch
- Middle leg to >> Battery +ve
- Upper leg to >> Charging port +ve
- Down leg to >> Arduino pro mini pin 'RAW'
Battery -ve to >> Arduino pro mini pin 'GND'
Step 3: The electronic parts
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| Now connect the the arduino to the lower part an take out some wires |
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| Connect a NRF2401 transceiver to arduino as shown ion the circuit diagrem |
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| The switches for the remote (not using in the code) |
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| Connect it to the upper part |
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| Connect the joystick module |
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| Connect the switch |
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Here we are going to connect the electronic parts to the left side case of the remote.
First glue the arduino to the upper side of the case and take out a wire from it, as per the circuit diagram shown in the previous step. Then connect the NRF2401 RF transceiver to the arduino. The switches that I have shown in the figure are not been used in this tutorial there fore I am not going to describe it. Then connect the Joystick module and take out the knob of the joystick through the round hole. Connect a 3 terminal switch (on-of-on) also to the same.Now we finished the electronic section of the left case of the remote. Also take out the wires for the joystick and battery which is to be connected to the right side case of the remote.
Step 4: Finishing the left side case.
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| Take out some wires(as shown in the circuit diagram) for the left case |
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| Make three holes and take out the wires through it |
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| Take two long bolts and 6 nuts |
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| Make a plastic tube using old pen |
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| Take the wires through the tube |
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| Close the case, screw it and connect the nuts like this |
Parts needed
- 2 x Long bolt
- 6 x nuts
- A small kural(made fro old pen)
Now make three holes on the left case as shown in the figure for connecting 2 bolts and for taking out the wire from the arduino to the joystick and to the battery.Then screw the bolts and take the wires outside through the hollow tube tube can be anything hollow,a pen body is used here . Now we have completed the left case works.
Step 5: Making the right side case and connecting them together.
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| Now take the right side case |
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| Do the same \things as the left side case |
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| Connect the battery as shown in the circuit diagram |
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| Make a charging port for charge the battery |
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| Connect the joystick module |
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| Connect the left case with right case |
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| Close the right case(Potentiometer is not using in the code) |
Step 6: Arduino code, Finishing everything and making it good look:)
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| Take a thin aluminum sheet to cover the center part |
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| Fold it like this |
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| Connect it to the center part |
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| Paste a white sticker on it |
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| Add some logos |
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In this step I have used a thin aluminium sheet to cover the center part of the remote and also added some stickers to make it look better . Now it's work is complete. Here you can find the arduino program needed for the remote, the code that I have provided here is that one I used to control this robot. For the receiver code you can visit that tutorial also. Click here to visit that tutorial.
In this arduino code there is a library called print.h. For using this library in the arduino code you need to add the print.h file and arduino code in a same folder that I have provided below.
If you have any doubts or suggestions please comment below!
7 comments
Hey, you're doing a great job, checked your achievements on Facebook. Keep it up! Could you please tell me how many channels are supported in this remote, and where to add a power ON LED? Thanks!
ReplyDelete
DeleteThank you very much! Now in this code I am only using 2 channels. I have tested 6 channels successfully using this remote. You can read more about it - *CLICK HERE*.
You can add a power on indicating LED by connecting '+ve' of the LED to the 'RAW' of arduino pro mini and '-ve' of the LED to 'GND' of the battery in the present circuit diagram.
I enjoyed reading your article :) PLease continue publishing helpful topics like this. Regards, from Let's get gadget, a company whose into selling
ReplyDeleteremote extender
Thank you!
DeleteHi Azhar, we are thankful to you as we are making our project on Rc Rover, but we need your help we have all now but one thing left that is, we want to connect it to our smartphone but you haven't given any tutorial on this please help us
DeleteHey Muhammed,
ReplyDeleteI want to use the potentiometer that you have in the middle of the remote control.
Greeting,
Ruud
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