Does the Vex EDR have the ability to be controlled from a computer. Perhaps some of the software has a gui with a forward/rev button or something? Can one be programmed if such a system doesn’t already exist?
I was hoping that some USB/serial/something could be attached to my desktop and connected to the/a transmitter to allow me to control the vex from my puter and eventually through the net?
Does such a system exist or be developed?
Cent
It can be done several ways but all require that you program the controller. (At least all that I can think of.)
For the ‘serial port’ connection, I’d recommend a Bluetooth or ZigBee module just so that you are not tethered. I think the VEXnet should also work, but I have no experience with it either way.
Ed
Any Version of EasyC, has in the Down loader Program, an On-Line Window, which will let you control all 8 of the Motor/Servo Ports. Plus Outputs on the last 6 of the I/O Ports.
I have a Reversed Engineered version of the Vex Controller Code called, Vex On-Line Controller Code v2.x (Available Source Version 0.81 Beta). And a Reversed Engineered version of the Down Loader On-Line Window Program called, ** Vex Serial Port Reader 0.80ß (VEX On-Line Code Version)**.
Shua also has a Linux Based Web Server that can control the Vex On-Line Code, see AOC Labs VEX Wiki.
Remember that Forward and Backward are a Relative Concept, depending on how the Motors are mounted, and how many Intermediate Gears are Used.
You will need to Build you Chassis, mount you Wheels, and Gears or Chains, and then Motors, then Determine Which Direction the Motor needs to Turn to move Forward or Backward.
Then you can assign the Motors to the Vex Controller Motor Channels, and determine which direction each one needs to Rotate.
Then you can assign them to a Button for Forward or Backward.
If you buy the new VEXnet Controller you will have Bi-Directional Serial Communication with the Vex Controller. Or use a 3rd Part product like the BlueSMiRF Gold, Bluetooth adapter for the Vex Controller and a RS-232 or USB Bluetooth adapter for the Computer.
Most definitely, and it is mostly done, depending on your requirements…
I have been playing around with internet control in vb.net. The way my design works is a computer connects to a robot over serial (bluetooth wireless) or wired if the computer is onboard. Then that computer is connected over wireless G to my network. From there the robot has software onboard that awaits data coming over a tcp/ip port and then forwards the data to the serial port. When I want to control it I simply have to get the computers ip and whatever port its on and then send data to the ip/port from my application which would intern make the robot do stuff.
Another way I played with was having the computer check a free webs site every minute or so, it would read the website and if a specific code was on the text only page the robots autonomous function would activate. Obviously this isn’t instant but it could be done anywhere that has an internet connection!
You could set up remote desktop on a computer that is connected to the robot with the easy c online window open. Then you would just have to connect to that desktop but this is sort of ghetto, the ways that I described above are far superior.
I found another way you could go about doing this as well, its pretty much the same thing as what I posted before except you don’t need a computer on the robot. I remembered that Sparkfun sold a wireless G module that has a serial interface built into it.
All you would have to do is follow the directions and configure the module over serial. Then you just connect the vex serial port to this module and you should be able to send data over a tcp/ip port to the module and it will send it out the serial port to the vex. I don’t own one so I don’t know exactly how to configure it so do it at your own risk. BTW this is a 3.3v module so you with need a converter to use the 5v vex logic with this.
[http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8745
I use my own software to send data over a tcp/ip port but you don’t need custom software a simple program like teraterm or putty can do it without a problem.
Hope this helps!](http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8745)
Well after being away many years ( building and programming of course) I’ve succeeded in connecting several robots to the internet using the Vex platform. I’m running 2 as online battlebots and 2 as moon rovers beside Shackleton crater.
These are the user interface I created to drive these things around.
Am I allowed to post a link here?
I mean a link to my website? I don’t want to get in trouble.
Yeah its fine as long as your not advertising it, like selling stuff off of it its chill
Here’s a close-up of ‘Explorer 1’ - Discovery class rover. I made it on the body of the original Vexplorer. Controller, motor, cam was upgraded.
Next is ‘Kilo-Red’ - Cruiser class Battlebot. simpler to make. I use an arduino product to report the score back to the server. It used to have a 2-6kilo solenoids on a catapult. It proved to be too hard to manage. I would lose half the flipping power because the bot’s suspension would absorb it - gone. It’s another Vexplorer with a Halloween mask on.
I’ve made a few changes and the site is currently free to use. Come and check it out and let me know how the vex interface works.
Forgot link… centauri-odyssey.com
Not cool to troll dok
Im not hes promoting a website that has nothing to do with this forum
The answers and advice I got from this tech forum after I posted my question is exactly why my website works.
Why are you here? Please remove your post.
and I’ll remove mine.
