Though remote battles would be technically interesting they would be counterproductive to my main reason to being part of this sport, the up close and in-your-face camaraderie with like minded people.
My interest in PC based control systems comes from my interest in developing police and bomb disposal ROV's. Steve Tyng On Sep 11, 12:47 am, "Paul Hilton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > So, with all this "Mad Scientist" talk, it would seem that a true remote > battle is even closer to happening. Imagine a battlefield that none of the > tankers have seen. The only images available are what each tank can > produce, one gunsight, one wide angle. Hits are registered by on-site > scorekeepers...... Wow. > > Paul H. > > --- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Tyng" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "R/C Tank Combat" <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:55 PM > Subject: [TANKS] Re: For those mad scientists on the list > > > A little more searching found this wireless USB server which > > reportedly supports USB video. > > >http://www.silexamerica.com/sx-2000wg.html > > > Steve > > > On Sep 10, 5:44 pm, "Doug Conn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> No, I haven't, but that's a great idea. The Keyspan server won't support > >> USB > >> webcams, but you'd think it would work for servo controllers and the > >> like. I > >> used the Pololu serial servo controller in both vehicles and it's always > >> worked like a champ. I bet their USB version would be just as good. > > >> - Doug > > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: [email protected] > >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> On Behalf Of Steve Tyng > >> Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 4:38 PM > >> To: R/C Tank Combat > >> Subject: [TANKS] Re: For those mad scientists on the list > > >> Doug, > > >> Have you played around with USB servers (http://www.keyspan.com/ > >> products/us4a/) accessed over wilan? > > >> I could see USB servo controllers (http://www.pololu.com/catalog/ > >> product/390) and possibly cameras remotely controlled and/or accessed > >> this way. > > >> Steve > > >> On Sep 10, 10:41 am, "Doug Conn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > Didn't Linksys stop making the NSLU2 ? > > >> > I tried using a webcam server for my tank, but it didn't work very > >> > well. > >> To > >> > ensure an uninterrupted video stream, the server would buffer 5-10 > >> > seconds > >> > of video before it started streaming. That would introduce the > >> corresponding > >> > amount of latency, so I wouldn't see an event in my video until 5-10 > >> seconds > >> > after it actually happened ! Not good for running a real-time tank. I > >> > hope > >> > that the webcam server you found avoids that. > > >> > I ended up writing my own video streaming software using the MJPEG > >> > format. > >> > That's a highfalutin way of saying it sent one JPEG image after > >> > another. > >> > When I converted to Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio, I just used > >> > their > >> > webcam service. It does not have significant latency. The more I use > >> MSRDS, > >> > the more I like it. It's made for distributed asynchronous processing, > >> > and > >> > they've built it in a really clever way. You don't need to manipulate > >> > your > >> > own threads and synchronization primitives. Plus, I used the skills I > >> > learned building my tank to enter the RoboChamps competition > >> > (www.robochamps.com). I submitted one challenge so far, but it hasn't > >> > been > >> > judged yet. The competition is great fun. I recommend it. > > >> > - Doug > > >> > -----Original Message----- > >> > From: [email protected] > >> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> > On Behalf Of SteveH > >> > Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:02 AM > >> > To: R/C Tank Combat > >> > Subject: [TANKS] Re: For those mad scientists on the list > > >> > Yaah, I got a Gumstix too. While they're really neat and tiny, the > >> > hardware expandability is problematic (combining USB and serial and > >> > Ethernet is difficult), and the software is pretty immature for a > >> > system designed for user modification. For example, the stock firmware > >> > won't support either function of their Ethernet/SD card stick without > >> > reconfiguring the system from a serial port (that you can't attach > >> > with the Ethernet/SD stick in place), and in the case of the SD card I/ > >> > O, it required rebuilding the kernel and reflashing the CPU. This > >> > problem has remained there over several code releases, too. I'd > >> > expected better from them; they've a way to go yet. > > >> > I've since switched to the Linksys NLSU2, a cigarette-pack-sized $100 > >> > single-board Linux network appliance that's been hacked to install > >> > OpenEmbedded Linux. This system, while not originally designed for > >> > user modification, supports USB, Ethernet, serial I/O, and has lotsa > >> > prebuilt packages that are easy to install and work right off the bat. > >> > In an hour out of the box, I've got a Webcam server running, and have > >> > the I/O capability needed to use the "Slug" as a robot controller. > >> > This is now my baseline embedded controller. I recommend it highly. > >> > (Linksys, when asked about all the folks repurposing their gadgets, > >> > say in effect that they don't actually support this stuff, but > >> > certainly don't mind. I like their attitude.) > > >> > -- Steve H > > >> > On Sep 9, 12:25 pm, Aahz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > Doug Conn wrote: > >> > > > I looked at Phidget boards for RocketMan and Bad Kitty. I think > >> > > > they > >> are > >> > > > kind of expensive for the functionality you get. I like the > >> > > > Velleman > >> > K8055 > >> > > > board. It's very basic and very cheap. When I outgrow that, I've > >> > > > been > >> > > > thinking about one of these: > > >> > > >http://www.labjack.com/labjack_u3.php?prodId=53 > > >> > > I bought and experimented with a Gumstix for computerized control > >> > > system for both tanks and robots. If anyone wanted one used I could > >> > > make > >> > > you a good deal ;)http://www.gumstix.com/ > > >> > > Aahz. > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
