Joystick+Ardunio+2.4GHz receiver?

Development Boards Arduino
1

I’m looking for some help with this project as I’m not sure exactly what hardware I need to get started.

Basically I want to use a 4 axis analog joystick to control servos and camera controller plugged into a 2.4Ghz receiver. I also want to have some switches which could also control anything else plugged into the receiver.

I have never done this before so any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

2

How much experience do you have with electronics and this type of project? I only ask because this is by no means an easy beginner’s type project. If you want to tackle it, you will have to do some pretty serious research.

Off the top of my head, here’s a list of hardware that I think I would use: uC to facilitate communication between controller inputs and transmitter, transmitter/receiver pair (Xbee’s are the first to come to mind), power circuit (battery powered most likely, probably want some circuit/surge protection so you don’t fry your ground control and send the heli doing god knows what), switches/buttons/pots for other controls, LEDs/LCDs to display any relevant info (like battery life left in heli), the ground control housing. There are a bajillion different directions you can take this project.

I might start at diydrones.com. They focus on automating flight but that includes fully functional RC control. Also, if you are going through with this, break the project up into small manageable parts. Get each part working alone, then integrate them (ie get uC to read in controller inputs, then interpret those inputs in code, then get the uC to communicate with the transmitter separately, then communicate with the real data, etc).

3

Thanks heaps for that. I only have experience with basic electronics so haven’t tackled a task like this before. I’m thinking maybe it would be easier to purchase a cheap TX and strip it down to use just the transmitter module and switches, guessing I can replace the TX joysticks for the 4 axis joystick that I want to use?

What is the range on a 2.4 Xbee?

Thanks again

4

Hi,

Thanks for asking your question. And thanks bsagan for your input. Here’s a couple things that might help.

While you are a beginner, and this is not exactly a beginner level project it may be something you can attempt. I would take it in pieces. Starting with your controller.

Red Board

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11575

Joy stick shield

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9760

There is a tutorial, quick start guide, and example code to help you get going.

Even if that isn’t your ideal joystick, it will help you learn to work with the hardware. Adding wireless connection is simple once you have your Arduino code working correctly.

Xbees can vary a lot in range. It depends on what you want to spend. Basic units get a decent range of around 75-100. More expensive units can get up toward a mile range.