Subject:
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Re: replacement for IR-communication
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Thu, 9 Oct 2003 12:38:35 GMT
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Viewed:
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1858 times
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That seems like a very expensive solution. Isn't there a cheaper way?
Also, could there be an internal solution (keeping everything inside the RCX
and tower)?
Rob
"Mike Reddy" <mreddy@glam.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:HMDouD.Dww@lugnet.com...
> We have done this. That is retro-fitted an RCX with a bluetooth module. It
> involves hardware hacking the RCX, which will "void the warranty". Don't • do it
> unless you can afford to completely break your RCX, and can afford a • spare!
>
> Can I ask, are you prepared to hack the RCX? It can be a bit dodgy and our • first
> effort is currently broke, cos it has stopped talking to me; probably one • of
> several dodgy solders... If you are prepared, please find below some • resources.
> Just be careful! The alternative is to adapt a serial tower and plonk it • in
> front of the RCX, which is definitely much easier once the BT module is
> configured, but slower.
>
> Here was our test set up, as described in a recent paper for the Reading
> University On-line and Internet Robots Workshop:
>
> Well it was running. Some very dodgy soldering straight onto the • motherboard
> of the RCX. Here are the specs:
>
> 1) Free2Move Serial plug - supplied caseless, but borrowed from another • project
> http://www.free2move.se/prod_spp.htm
>
> Wired into...
>
> 2) Max 233 serial buffer chip - not strictly necessary, but prevents the • RCX
> from frying
> http://dbserv.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm?qv_pk=1798
>
> Note, I adapted the following technique from hacking my cybie! Details at:
> http://www.aibohack.com/icybie/sic_rs232.htm
>
> Wired into...
>
> 3) A variation on the following hack to get RS232 on the RCX
http://oase.uci.kun.nl/~mientki/Lego_Knex/Lego_electronica/IR_tower/IR_tower
> .htm
>
> Or more properly from Peter Balch's original:
> http://www.abs-robotics.com/other/hardwire.htm
>
> My variant involved cutting the ground link for the IR • transmitter/receiver
> and rewiring to a switch (turn IR on and off). Further dodgy solder
> connections to the surface mounted Processor:
>
>
http://www.geocities.com/swatson001/research/images/pin_arrangement_large.gi
> f
>
> TX RX and GND are the critical pins, just like for the Cybie thing above.
>
> Got this from:
> http://www.geocities.com/swatson001/research/rcx_internals.html
>
> But more info from:
> http://www.renesas.com/eng/products/mpumcu/8bit/h8300/3297/index.html
>
> 4) I use a Mac OS X with the D-Link USB Bluetooth adapter, paired with the
> free2move device and set up an outgoing serial port using the Mac • Bluetooth
> configuration software. This virtual port is then visible to the Robolab
> software. This is the least scalable, transferable bit of the system, but
> should be doable on a Windows PC; I just don't have that kit available • yet.
>
> Lots of good general RCX info from:
http://www.daimi.aau.dk/dArk/Vaerktoejer.dir/RCX.vejledning.dir/Vejledning.h
> tml
>
> And
> http://graphics.stanford.edu/~kekoa/rcx/
>
> OK, here are the specs for the various sources of BT module items that you • will
> need:
>
> Bluetooth-2-serial devices:
>
> Free2Move - these are the ones we would recommend, but the others are • equivalent
> F2M01C1-000 Standard Serial Port Plug (With plastic housing) 200 EUR/unit
> F2M03C1-001 Class 1 Bluetooth module with Wireless UART firmware 60 • EUR/unit
> F2M03C2-001 Class 2 Bluetooth module with Wireless UART firmware 60 • EUR/unit
> First is for the PC, the second and third are for embedding, the latter • has a
> longer range, but higher power requirement.
>
> TDK - Intelligent Serial module and serial adaptor board for embedding
> TRBLU20-001A0-02 Intelligent Serial Module £79.00
> TRBLU20-00200-01 Serial Adaptor Mother Board With Starter Guide £90.00
> Must be purchased from: http://www.tdksystems.com/bism/wheretobuy
>
> Brainboxes - BL-521 RS232 Bluetooth Convertor £128-95 (£151.52 inc VAT)
> Must be ordered from the following url: • http://www.serial-cards.co.uk/bl-521.htm
>
> We have to receive some more bluetooth kit before we can go wireless with • the
> camera, but are going to use the CMU-cam (which has a serial link and java • based
> software) with two BT modules when they arrive. Here is the kit spec:
>
> CMUCam Vision System $109 + $43.57 P&P = $152.57 (~£103)
> Details at: http://www.robotstore.com/catalog/display.asp?pid=381
>
> There are a couple of other bluetooth modules available now - some in OEM
> format, which are good for TINI interfacing - one from TDK and one from
> Brainboxes; there are probably others too, but you probably want the BT - • RS232
> adapters, and look for ones with low power requirements. The 100-200 metre • range
> devices overcome the shielding of the RCX casing much better, but take a • lot
> more umph from the batteries; I am told this, but haven't verified it. • They all
> range from £30 (for bulk) to £80 (for singles).
>
> You will need to hook a pc with hyperterminal to the RCX bluetooth modules • to do
> the pairing, before hooking up to the RCX. When we redo the broken one, it • will
> be with a stereo jack socket so that we can plug in the Bluetooth device
> externally.
>
> Most basic PC modules can deal with up to 7 external devices, but some can • only
> handle 1 Bluetooth device at a time. With a proper piconet device for
> interacting with the BT modules, this can be higher. One we are hoping to • use is
> the Sony Ericsson Blipnet device. Details are here:
>
> http://www.ericsson.com/about/blipnet/
> They sell these but can also be bought from:
> http://www.blueunplugged.com/shop/detail.asp?productGroupID=191&deptID=13
>
> Dr. Mike Reddy, RoCCoTO Project Scientist
> --
> Email: mreddy@glam.ac.uk
> Snail: Centre for Astronomy and Science Education (CASE), University of
> Glamorgan, 4 Forest Grove, Trefforest, Pontypridd, RCT. CF37 1DL
> Tel: +44 (0)1443 482240 Fax: +44 (0)1443 654114
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: replacement for IR-communication
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| (...) Yes it is expensive, but we weren't paying 8-P However, if you consider that we needed to run up to 8 Mindstorms robots in a 5m square sandpit, each with wireless video and control from separate computers, IR is right out. And RF modems, etc (...) (21 years ago, 5-Apr-04, to lugnet.robotics)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: replacement for IR-communication
|
| We have done this. That is retro-fitted an RCX with a bluetooth module. It involves hardware hacking the RCX, which will "void the warranty". Don't do it unless you can afford to completely break your RCX, and can afford a spare! Can I ask, are you (...) (21 years ago, 7-Oct-03, to lugnet.robotics)
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