Talk:MicroTrac Controller v17.10

Wireless Communication Options

• Arduino's official wifi shield is discontinued
• Could use xbee radio w/ shield
• Arduino MKR WAN 1300 link
  • new board for arduino, comes out in november

Latency

some digi cards have reported latency issues. might need to change xbee card.

• https://www.digi.com/support/forum/5998/can-get-predictable-consistent-latency-using-xbee-pro-module
• https://www.digi.com/support/forum/7695/variable-latency-and-hanging-on-of-xbee-pro-2
• https://www.digi.com/support/forum/3033/xbee-s2-zigbee-latency-problem
  • "I would try with routers and sending a unicast to each of them instead of a broadcast. Also, maybe ZigBee is not the best option here if speed is relevant (ZigBee migth add up to seconds due to Mesh network routing), XBee Series 1 (802.15.4) are faster than ZigBee and the configuration is similar if you want to deploy a star network."

• might try using GPIO pins on xbee radio to avoid using serial communication
  • need to use 330 ohm resistor + 3.3V zener diode to drop from 5V to 3.3V for each pin

Remote Control Arduino Examples

• http://www.instructables.com/id/Control-the-relays-via-GPRS-SMS/
• http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Wireless-Serial-Communication/

Xbee Examples

• http://www.ardumotive.com/how-to-use-xbee-modules-as-transmitter--receiver-en.html

Control

• Relay Board Controlled
  • left side forward
  • left side reverse
  • right side forward
  • right side reverse
  • main arm up
  • main arm down
  • bucket up
  • bucket down
  • engine start
  • engine kill
  • auxillary
  • auxillary

• choke - linear actuator?

• trottle potentiometer - linear actuator?

Actuators

• https://www.servocity.com/100-mm-stroke-4-lb-thrust-light-duty-linear-servo
• https://www.hobbyzone.com/radio-related/servo-related/servos/linear/SPMSH2040T.html

Input Devices and Switches

• joysticks
  • https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9426
  • https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9032
• switches
  • https://www.grainger.com/product/HONEYWELL-Toggle-Switch-24D449
    • https://www.grainger.com/product/APM-HEXSEAL-Toggle-Switch-Boot-1UDJ7

Relay Boards

Relay Module

• https://smile.amazon.com/SainSmart-101-70-102-8-Channel-Relay-Module/dp/B0057OC5WK/

Wire Connections

Trailer Connections

• 4-way Knockout mounted connector grainger
  • these would look nice on a box. no dimensions listed online. hole size?

Radio Coax Cable Connections

see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMA_connector#Reverse_polarity

wire routing

• putting two 18 gauge wires into one relay module terminal block is tricky.
  • could have switch wire and trailer plug wire meet at a crimp connector then have one wire go to relay module

GPS Module

http://www.doctormonk.com/2012/05/sparkfun-venus-gps-and-arduino.html

Three pins on GPS module GRND, 3.3V, TX

Compass and Logic Level Converter

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/hmc6343-3-axis-compass-hookup-guide

need a converter to communicate between 3.3v compass and 5v arduino pins

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/bi-directional-logic-level-converter-hookup-guide

USB on/off switch

how to splice in an on/off switch to a usb cable

• http://www.instructables.com/id/OnOff-switch-for-a-USB-Powered-Device/