Radio Control Interfaces
There are two ways of interfacing a standard radio control receiver to the speed controllers:
- Analogue: via a Joystick interface board
This uses the radio control servos to mechanically turn potentiometers which feed the interface.
- Digital
via a Digital Radio Control Interface Board. These are further described below.
Digital Radio Control Interfaces
A standard radio control system gives out a chain of pulses whose width determines the required speed. A digital interface translates these pulses into a speed and direction signal suitable to drive (most of) the controllers made my 4QD.
4QD offer two interfaces:
- SMR: a single channel interface to drive a single controller. Often used for radio control of garden railways..
- DMR: a dual channel interface for a 'stereo' system (two controllers) offering a choice of sum and difference or independent (tank style) steering.
Suitable controllers
The interfaces may be used directly with the following controllers:
Some other controllers may be used, but the normal instructions do not cover these.
Features
The SMR and DMR interface boards utilise Surface-Mount Microprocessor technology and accept directly the signal from most standard radio control receivers. They output a signal directly suitable for driving the speed controller (VTX, NCC, Pro or 4QD series).
These units make the connection between the Radio-Control Receiver and Motor Controller and are extremely easy to setup.
- Proportional PWM Output or Switched output
- Reverse Driver
- Failsafe System
- Signal Validation and Rejection
- Sleep mode
- Surface-Mount RISC AVR Micro-controller technology.
- PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) Proportional or Switched Output/s.
- Reverse Driver/s.
- Zero Output Failsafe System.
- Versions available with Opto-Couplers
- Signal Validation and Rejection for Noise Immunisation.
- Low Power Consumption.
- Compact and Lightweight Design.
- Output 0-3v (speed) plus separate hi/lo direction signal to suit 4QD manufacture controllers.
Typical Applications include "Robot Wars", remote control of Golf Caddies, model Railways and just about anywhere powerful motor control via radio control is required. Multiple units can be used at once for "tank-style" steering of vehicles or multi-channel control of many different systems at once. The Dual-Channel Interface features a Channel mixer specifically designed for Robot Control.
The SMR and DMR interface boards are compact and micro-powered for almost transparent addition to existing systems. The boards require no additional power supply existing as simply an extension to the host motor controller. Performance and safety is optimised using advanced signal conditioning techniques combined with a Failsafe to maintain noise and error free operation.
Further Information
Operating Instructions
The operating instructions explaining wiring and features are available for
download in PDF format.
Links related to this page
Page Information
Document URL: www.4qd.co.uk/accs/rci.html
Page first published 21st October 2002
Last modified: Monday, 08-Jun-2009 09:35:28 BST
© 2002-2007 4QD