I have a motor controller I am wanting to control via standard rc signal how can I get that from a photon. I am using the blynk app with the joystick button. I am able to control 2 servos this way but it won’t work with the motor controller. How or can you get a standard rc signal from the photon.
No you can’t get a standard RC signal from the Photon without some special hardware.
Hi @Smitty
The digital output using the servo object is a standard PWM signal like you would use for a servo in an RC vehicle so if your motor controller takes a servo channel in a RC device, it should work with a Photon. If you mean the RF signal to an RC vehicle, then you need a special radio transmitter or receiver depending on what direction you are going.
Please note that only certain pins can do PWM on a Photon. This list from the doc is:
on the Photon, Servo can be connected to A4, A5, WKP, RX, TX, D0, D1, D2, D3
If you can give us a link to the datasheet for the motor controller, we can help more.
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I am sorry I did not get back to you sooner a little frustrated with the project and took a little break… the link for the motor controller is www.dimensionengineering.com/products/sabertooth2x25 I just can’t seem to get it to work with the photon and the blynk joystick app. I have played around with little projects and did ok. but just can’t seem to get this one… over my head I guess…
You need to clarify your intentions a bit more. The Sabertooth has several different modes (analog, R/C, serial, simplified serial and packetized serial) which one do you intend to use?
Have you had a look at the provided Arduino library and examples?
https://www.dimensionengineering.com/info/arduino
Hi Smitty,
I think you might want to describe your intentions a bit better.
I’m guessing here, but I think you want to use a joystick to control a motor.
So you have a photon, measuring the joystick movement, and you want to send the control signal from the photon to the motor controller, which drives the motor.
Is that right?
Liam
@VideoLiam, a Blynk Joystick is a software widget/control provided by the Blynk app which communicates with the Photon via the internet.
Like this
But due to the communication channel latency might need to be taken into account.
Hi Scruff,
Ah didn’t know about the Blynk app. Made a mental note to take a look at it.
Thanks.
Liam
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I am Building a droid that I want to control over the Internet using blynk. I have the video all worked out. I just need help controlling the movement. I will be using the blynk app and photon to control a few relays to turn everything on and to control a servo to control rotation of the droid head I have all this working. I just can’t seem to get the photon to control the Saber tooth motor controller. As to what method rc or serial ECT. I have not a clue I did read the docs and examples of the Saber tooth but I am unsure as to how to use all that with the photon and blynk app… again I am more of a machinacal mind and struggling with the software part…
I haven’t done it myself and I have no device to test but there are some members who seem to have worked with these devices
Spark and Sabertooth 2x60 Board - Anyone out there?
5v analog with saber tooth 2\25 motor control
Spark restarts after command
Maybe pinging one them may be able to provide some sampe code.
On the other hand the Arduino samples should get you 90% there.