Creating Model Sized JoyRider

stowaway · Feb 4, 2012

Can anyone suggest how I should go about making a model sized Joy Rider.

I am plannign to just make the frame out of wood, and create it all about 30cms..

however, Im not sure what I can use for the grommets (or the swivel parts.. and how should I attach a Pot there...)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

BartS · Feb 5, 2012

I have a model which can be used as a 2 dof simforce style. take a look at my thread it will give you some ideas how I have done things.
http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/3dof-arduino-sabertooth-4-x-24v-wheelchair-motors-t3425.html

Depends how you wish to drive your model, my approach I am trying to simulate as close to possible my real world configuration.
That is not to use servos but motors and gearboxes, I managed to pick up some motors and gearboxes at maplin.co.uk but i think I also saw them on ebay. I then got some pots and used a spare gear from my motor gearbox pack and used this to glue on to the pots with precision super glue ver tough stuff. I then mounted the pot gear to the gearbox of the motors, please see my pics on my thread.
I also used model RC aircraft parts as gromets, arms, ball joints, rods etc, your local model shop should be able to help.

Hope this helps

stowaway · Feb 5, 2012

hi,
yeah i was trying to simulate a joy rider but I might go a different way.

have you programmed the ardunio code yet? This is 1 of the ways I am going.. Are you going to use the USO or create an interface?
Will you share you code

stowaway · Feb 5, 2012

i found ur code bits in the thread lnik u send already

do you have a youtube vid of the working model?

BartS · Feb 6, 2012

No video yet, I did have it going in 2dof in a video but never posted it, not much to see in my opinion.
The motors just changed direction after reaching designated pot limits.

I don't know about sharing the code as it has taken me so long to put together so far and it is programmed for my 4 motors and would be useless in any other setup, some revisions would have to be made. That bridge will be crossed when I come to it.
I am thinking about selling a preprogramed unit possibly on a custom designed board.

I may help you with som code troubles and questions if you have any.

I use uso btw but nothing is finalised.

eaorobbie · Feb 7, 2012

come on guys we suppose to share thing like this not sell them.

Heres my first code without pid, thats where it gets tricky when time frees i will complete it.

/*  MonsterMoto Shield For X-sim v2
  date: 12/30/11
  original code by: Jim Lindblom
  Modifed to x-sim by: Robbie Lindsay
  Lincense: CC-SA 3.0.
  */

#define BRAKEVCC 0
#define CW   1
#define CCW  2
#define BRAKEGND 3
#define CS_THRESHOLD 20

/*  VNH2SP30 pin definitions
xxx[0] controls '1' outputs
xxx[1] controls '2' outputs */
int inApin[2] = {7, 4}; // INA: Clockwise input
int inBpin[2] = {8, 9}; // INB: Counter-clockwise input
int pwmpin[2] = {5, 6}; // PWM input
int cspin[2] = {2, 3}; // CS: Current sense ANALOG input
int enpin[2] = {0, 1}; // EN: Status of switches output (Analog pin)

int statpin = 13;
int whichway = 0;
char kind_of_data;
int LeftP = 127;

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);

  pinMode(statpin, OUTPUT);

  // Initialize digital pins as outputs
  for (int i=0; i<2; i++)
  {
    pinMode(inApin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(inBpin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(pwmpin, OUTPUT);
  }
  // Initialize braked
  for (int i=0; i<2; i++)
  {
    digitalWrite(inApin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(inBpin, LOW);
  }
  // motorGo(0, CW, 1023);
  // motorGo(1, CCW, 1023);
}

void loop(){

   // Read Serial Data from Xsim in Lxxx,Rxxx

  while (Serial.available() > 0){
      kind_of_data = Serial.read();

      if (kind_of_data == 'L') Read_LeftP();
      Serial.println(kind_of_data);
    //if (kind_of_data == 'R') Read_RightP();
  delay(1);
}


  int sensorValue = analogRead(4);
  sensorValue = map(sensorValue, 348, 644, 0, 255);
  if (sensorValue < 0){sensorValue = 0;}
  if (sensorValue > 255){sensorValue = 255;}
  Serial.println(sensorValue, DEC);
  Serial.println(LeftP);

  delay(1);
  if (sensorValue > LeftP){
  whichway = CCW;
  }
  if (sensorValue < LeftP){
  whichway = CW;
  }
  if (sensorValue >= (LeftP - 20) && sensorValue <= (LeftP + 20)){
  whichway = BRAKEGND;
  }
motorGo(0, whichway, 60);
//motorGo(1, CW, 1023);
  delay(1);

// motorGo(0, CCW, 1023);
  //motorGo(1, CW, 1023);
  delay(1);

  if ((analogRead(cspin[0]) < CS_THRESHOLD) && (analogRead(cspin[1]) < CS_THRESHOLD))
    digitalWrite(statpin, HIGH);

}



void motorOff(int motor)
{
  // Initialize braked
  for (int i=0; i<2; i++)
  {
    digitalWrite(inApin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(inBpin, LOW);
  }
  analogWrite(pwmpin[motor], 0);
}

/* motorGo() will set a motor going in a specific direction
the motor will continue going in that direction, at that speed
until told to do otherwise.

motor: this should be either 0 or 1, will selet which of the two
motors to be controlled

direct: Should be between 0 and 3, with the following result
0: Brake to VCC
1: Clockwise
2: CounterClockwise
3: Brake to GND

pwm: should be a value between ? and 1023, higher the number, the faster
it'll go
*/
void motorGo(uint8_t motor, uint8_t direct, uint8_t pwm)
{
  if (motor <= 1)
  {
    if (direct <=4)
    {
      // Set inA[motor]
      if (direct <=1)
        digitalWrite(inApin[motor], HIGH);
      else
        digitalWrite(inApin[motor], LOW);

      // Set inB[motor]
      if ((direct==0)||(direct==2))
        digitalWrite(inBpin[motor], HIGH);
      else
        digitalWrite(inBpin[motor], LOW);

      analogWrite(pwmpin[motor], pwm);
    }
  }
}
void Read_LeftP(){
  //read each byte of position
  delay(1);
  int LeftP100 = Serial.read();
  delay(1);
  int LeftP10 = Serial.read();
  delay(1);
  int LeftP1 = Serial.read();

  // now turn 3 digits in one whole number
  // first add in the zeros
  LeftP100=((LeftP100)-48)*100;
  Serial.println(LeftP100);
  LeftP10=((LeftP10)-48)*10;
  Serial.println(LeftP10);
  LeftP1=((LeftP1)-48)*1;
  Serial.println(LeftP1);

  // test whether theres 1 digit
  if (LeftP10 < 0 && LeftP1 < 0 ){
    LeftP100 = LeftP100/100;
    LeftP10=0;
    LeftP1=0;
  }

  // test whether theres 2 digits
  if (LeftP1 < 0){
    LeftP100 = LeftP100/10;
    LeftP10 = LeftP10/10;
    LeftP1 = 0;
  }
  {
  // Ok lets add it all up to one whole number
  LeftP = LeftP100+LeftP10+LeftP1;
  }
}

Click to expand...

stowaway · Feb 7, 2012

Thanks very much for that.

bsft · Feb 7, 2012

Thanks for that Eaorobbie!
At least someone still shares, unlike OTHERS, whom are full of advice, but yet to produce a project!

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Creating Model Sized JoyRider

stowaway New Member

BartS Member

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BartS Member

eaorobbie Well-Known Member SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

stowaway New Member

bsft