Wireless RC Robot with Arduino and XBees

Contributors: bboyho

Experiment 3: Wirelessly Controlling a Robot

Introduction

Now that we are able to wirelessly move our robot forward, we will want additional commands for turning and driving in reverse.

Parts Needed

You will need the following parts from the required materials:

• 2x XBees (Configured to Series 1 Firmware)
• 1x Cerberus Cable (or 1x micro-B USB and 1x mini-B USB Cable)
• 1x Assembled Shadow Chassis w/ RedBot Mainboard
• 4x AA Batteries
• 1x Assembled Wireless Joystick
• 1x LiPo Battery

3.1: Full Remote Control w/ the SAMD21

For this part of the experiment, we will repeat the steps in 2.1 to transmit commands for turning or driving in reverse.

Hardware Hookup

Reconnect the controller to your computer via USB cable.

Open the Sketch

Copy and paste the following code into the Arduino IDE. Remember to select the SAMD21 DEV Breakout for the controller, select the COM port that it enumerated on, flip the Wireless Joystick's switch to the ON position, and hit upload.

language:c
/* 3_1_Full_Remote_Control_SAMD21.ino
   Full Remote Control SAMD21 Example
   Written by: Ho Yun Bobby Chan
   Date: 2/15/19
   SparkFun Electronics

   license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   Do whatever you'd like with this code, use it for any purpose.
   Please attribute and keep this license.

   This is example code for the Wireless Joystick with SAMD21. Any character entered through the
   Serial Monitor or when a condition statement is satisfied will be sent to the hardware UART pins.
   Assuming that you have a pair of XBees Series 1 modules (or Series 3 modules configured with 802.15.4 protocol) on the
   same channel, a character will be transmitted wirelessly between the XBees. The receiving
   XBee will then pass the character to the an ATmega328P microcontroller to move the robot forward.

   Pressing down on D2 (if you soldered the joystick on the right or a button) will check
   the joystick on the left. A character will be transmitted when moving the joystick.

       up = forward
       right = forward turn right
       down = reverse
       left = forward turn left
       center = coast

   When D2 is not being pressed, a character will be sent to stop the motors.

   The RedBot will need to be programmed to read those values.

   Note: You may need to connect A5 to the XBee Series 3's reset pin on the Wireless Joystick
   for certain XBee Series 3 modules. For more details, check out the xbee3_RESET() function.
*/

#define FORWARD_REVERSE_JOYSTICK A3   // Pin used for left joystick's y-component
#define TURN_JOYSTICK A2   // Pin used for left joystick x-component

int prev_buttonACCELERATE_State;    //value to store the previous state of the button press
int current_buttonACCELERATE_State; //value to store the current state of the button press
#define ACCELERATE_BUTTON 2 // Pin used for right trigger

// We'll store the the analog joystick values here
int16_t forward_reverse_Stick_value;
int16_t turnStick_value;

char c_data;//send values through the serial monitor for debugging

//LED to check if the LED is initialized.
const int status_LED = 13;

//needed for certain XBee Series 3 modules
#define xbee_reset A5

void setup() {

  SerialUSB.begin(9600);// Initialize Serial Monitor for DEBUGGING

  //Uncomment this if you want to wait until the serial monitor is open.
  //while (!SerialUSB); //Wait for Serial Monitor to Open

  SerialUSB.println("Wireless Joystick Controller Initializing");
  Serial1.begin(9600); // Start serial communication with XBee at 9600 baud

  xbee3_RESET();//in case XBee3 has issues initializing, hardware reset

  pinMode(ACCELERATE_BUTTON, INPUT_PULLUP); // Enable pullup resistor for accelerate button D2

  //Status LED to see if the Controller is initializing
  pinMode(status_LED, OUTPUT);
  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH);//set Status LED on
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(status_LED, LOW); //set Status LED off
    delay(50);
  }
  SerialUSB.println("Wireless Joystick Controller's XBee Ready to Communicate");
  delay(10);
}//end setup

void loop() {

  //initialize variables to read buttons
  current_buttonACCELERATE_State = digitalRead(ACCELERATE_BUTTON);
  /***button1state
    - LOW or 0 means pressed
    - HIGH or 1 means not pressed
   ****/
  //Store values read joystick
  forward_reverse_Stick_value = analogRead(FORWARD_REVERSE_JOYSTICK);
  turnStick_value = analogRead(TURN_JOYSTICK);

  //send commands via serial monitor for testing here
  if (SerialUSB.available()) {
    c_data = SerialUSB.read();//take character from serial monitor and store in variable

    Serial1.print(c_data);//send to XBee

    //echo back what was sent to serial monitor
    SerialUSB.println("Sending Character Here, ");
    SerialUSB.println(c_data);

  }

  if (current_buttonACCELERATE_State == LOW) {
    SerialUSB.println("Accelerate Button has been pressed!");

    if (forward_reverse_Stick_value > 1000) {
      SerialUSB.println("Forward");
      Serial1.print('A');//transmit to RedBot via XBees on the same channel
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      //delayMicroseconds(500);//add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance
    }
    else if ( turnStick_value < 20) {
     SerialUSB.println("Turn Right");
      Serial1.print('B');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      //delayMicroseconds(500);//add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance
    }
    else if (forward_reverse_Stick_value < 20) {

      SerialUSB.println("Reverse");
      Serial1.print('C');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      //delayMicroseconds(500);//add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance
    }
    else if (turnStick_value > 1000) {
      SerialUSB.println("Turn Left");
      Serial1.print('D');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      //delayMicroseconds(500);//add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance

    }
    else {
      SerialUSB.println("Coast");
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      Serial1.print('J');
    }

    //Debug left analog joystick here
    //Boundaries vary depending on the joystick's read value
    //You may need to adjust the values in the condition statements to calibrate
    //Additional condition statements will need to be written for pivoting
    //and turning in reverse
    SerialUSB.print("forward_reverse_Stick_value  = "); //~1023 up, ~7-9 down
    SerialUSB.println(forward_reverse_Stick_value);
    SerialUSB.println("turnStick_value = "); //~1023 left, ~5-6 right
    SerialUSB.println(turnStick_value);

  }
  else {//current_buttonACCELERATE_State == HIGH
    //if not sending a command to drive, automatically have the robot stop moving
      SerialUSB.println("Stop");
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      Serial1.print('K');

  }
  prev_buttonACCELERATE_State = current_buttonACCELERATE_State; //save current state

  delay(100); //add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance
  digitalWrite(status_LED, LOW); //turn OFF Status LED
}//end loop

void xbee3_RESET() {

  //HARDWARE RESET
  /*
    - XBee Series 3 Hardware Reference Manual
    - Pg 31 Power Supply Design recommends decoupling capacitor between Vcc and GND.
      Tested with 10uF capacitor and without. This was not necessary.
    - Pg 60 Brown Out Detection. This is REQUIRED. Add a jumper between the XBee's Reset and A5
    https://www.digi.com/resources/documentation/digidocs/pdfs/90001543.pdf

    - Power cycle XBee Series 3 by grounding RESET Pin to avoid dicontinuities in ramp up and brown out detection
    https://www.silabs.com/community/mcu/32-bit/knowledge-base.entry.html/2017/06/14/rmu_e203_avdd_ramp-j176

    - Minimum Time to Force Reset:
    - EFM32 devices = 50ns; EFM32PG/JG: Pearl and Jade Gecko =100ns
    https://www.silabs.com/community/mcu/32-bit/knowledge-base.entry.html/2016/07/22/minimum_reset_holdt-PglD
  */
  pinMode(xbee_reset, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(xbee_reset, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(1);
  digitalWrite(xbee_reset, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(1);
  digitalWrite(xbee_reset, HIGH);

  /*
    //SOFTWARE RESET
    //Software reset does not work with XBee Series 3... Needs a hardware reset
    delay(500);//wait until XBee Series 3 to start up after hardware reset
    Serial1.write("+++"); //Enter Command Mode
    delay(500);//short delay as the XBee gets into command mode
    Serial1.write("ATFR");//AT command for software reset
    Serial1.write("\r");//carriage return
    Serial1.write("\n");//new line
  */
}

Code to Note

To add more commands, we simply add more if() statements to check the position of the joystick on the right, down, and left positions. If the joystick is in any of those position, send a command to move the RedBot forward toward the right, reverse, and forward toward the left, respectively. If the joystick is in the center, we'll send a command to have the RedBot coast a bit. Otherwise, we'll continually send a command to have the RedBot stop when we are not pressing on D2.

3.2 Full Robot Control w/ the ATmega328P

For this part of the experiment, we will repeat the steps in 2.2 to receive the commands before moving the robot. Instead of just driving forward, the robot can now turn, and reverse.

Hardware Hookup

Reconnect the Redbot to your computer via USB cable.

Open the Sketch

Copy and paste the following code into the Arduino IDE. Remember, we will need to select Arduino/Genuino Uno for the RedBot mainboard, select the corresponding COM port that it enumerated on, and flip the POWER switch to the ON position. Once these settings are adjusted, you can hit the upload button.

language:c
/* 3_2_Full_Robot_Control_ATmega328P.ino
   Full Robot Control ATmega328P Example
   Written by: Ho Yun Bobby Chan
   Date: 2/15/19
   SparkFun Electronics

   license: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
   Do whatever you'd like with this code, use it for any purpose.
   Please attribute and keep this license.

   The first step to controlling the RedBot remotely is to first drive it
   from the Serial Monitor in a tethered setup. This is example code
   for the RedBot Mainboard with ATmega328P. After uploading this sketch,
   keep the RedBot tethered to your computer with the USB cable. Flip the
   switches to the respective sides: MOTOR => RUN and POWER => ON. You
   will also need to have UART flipped to the XBee_SW_Serial side.

   Assuming that you have a pair of XBees 1s (or 3 configured with
   802.15.4 protocol) on the same channel, a character will be
   transmitted wirelessly between the XBees. Any charactered received
   from the XBee connected to the software serial defined pins will
   be passed to the Serial Monitor. For troubleshooting, any character
   sent through the Serial Monitor will be echoed back. Try testing the
   controller to see if the robot will move forward or sending the following
   character through the Serial Monitor.

       A = forward
       B = forward turn right
       C = reverse
       D = forward turn left
       J = coast
       K = stop

  If your motors are not moving forward when you send the forward command,
  simply flip the wiring. You can adjust the code but that would require
  adjusting more than one line of code. This does not account for motor
  intensity like the example that is used with the Wireless Joystick Example
  and RedBot Experiment 9.

  WARNING: Make sure to flip the switch to the XBEE_SW_SERIAL when
  you are uploading to the RedBot Mainboard. You will have issues uploading
  code and possibly brick your XBee.
*/

#include <RedBot.h>  //include RedBot library
RedBotMotors motors; //make instance of RedBot

char c_data;  // variable for holding incoming data from XBee to Arduino

// We'll use RedBot SoftwareSerial to communicate with the XBee:
// For Atmega328P's
// XBee's DOUT (TX) is connected to pin 14 (Arduino's Software RX)
// XBee's DIN (RX) is connected to pin 15 (Arduino's Software TX)
#include <RedBotSoftwareSerial.h>
RedBotSoftwareSerial RedBotXBee; //make instance of Software Serial, pins     defined already in modified Software Serial Library

//LED to check if the LED is initialized.
const int status_LED = 13;

void setup() {
  // Set up both ports at 9600 baud. This value is most important
  // for the XBee. Make sure the baud rate matches the config
  // setting of your XBee.
  RedBotXBee.begin(9600);// Initialize SW for XBee for receiving serial
  Serial.begin(9600);// Initialize HW for Serial Monitor for DEBUGGING

  //Status LED to see if the RedBot is initializing
  pinMode(status_LED, OUTPUT);
  for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
    digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH);//set Status LED on
    delay(50);
    digitalWrite(status_LED, LOW); //set Status LED off
    delay(50);
  }

  Serial.println("RedBot Initialized!");
}//end setup

void loop() {

  if (RedBotXBee.available() || Serial.available()) {
    if (RedBotXBee.available()) {
      c_data = RedBotXBee.read();//store received value from XBee into variable
    }

    else if (Serial.available()) {
      c_data = Serial.read();//store received value from Serial Monitor into variable
    }

    Serial.println("Character Received, ");
    Serial.write(c_data);//send it out to serial monitor
    Serial.println();
    digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
    //delayMicroseconds(500);//add short delay for LED for feedback, this can be commented out if it is affecting performance

    if (c_data == 'A') {
      Serial.println("Drive Forward");
      RedBotXBee.write('A');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED

      motors.drive(255); //forward
    }
    else if (c_data == 'B') {
      Serial.println("Turn Right");
      RedBotXBee.write('B');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED

      motors.leftMotor(-200); // Turn on left motor power (motorPower = )
      motors.rightMotor(100); // Turn on right motor power (motorPower = )
    }
    else if (c_data == 'C') {
      Serial.println("Reverse");
      RedBotXBee.write('C');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED

      motors.drive(-255); //reverse
    }
    else if (c_data == 'D') {
      Serial.println("Turn Left");
      RedBotXBee.write('D');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED

      motors.leftMotor(-100); // Turn on left motor power (motorPower = )
      motors.rightMotor(200); // Turn on right motor power (motorPower = )
    }
    else if (c_data == 'J') {
      Serial.println("Coast");
      RedBotXBee.write('J');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      motors.coast();
    }
    else if (c_data == 'K') {
      Serial.println("Stop");
      RedBotXBee.write('K');
      digitalWrite(status_LED, HIGH); //turn ON Status LED
      motors.stop();
    }

  }

  //delay(100); // short pause so we are not constantly receiving characters
  digitalWrite(status_LED, LOW); //turn OFF Status LED
}//end loop

Code to Note

Similar to 3.1, we'll add additional if() statements to move the RedBot if the character matches what was sent. We'll adjust the motor power and direction for each condition when we receive the command to forward toward the right, reverse, forward toward the left, coast, or stop.

What You Should See

Disconnect the controller and robot from your computer. Press on D2 and move the joystick around. You should see the RedBot move toward the direction relative to the position of the joystick!