Wouldn't it be easier to have the supply vehicle drive itself to the tank? On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 10:26 PM, Modena <[email protected]> wrote:
> > I don't think it is currently covered by the rules, but can I build > some kind of auto-pilot? Here's what I'm thinking: > > The servo cables out of the RX would plug into some custom circuit > wizardry box and by default it just passes through the servo > electrical interface for "normal" RC operation. > > When I press a certain button on my TX to switch auto-pilot on, this > engages the buggery box which then effectively cuts the circuit > between the RX and the servo's/ESC/etc (except the channel which > switches auto-pilot on/off) and a PIC or similar processor then > "drives" the tank in a series of semi-random/pre-programmed patterns, > maybe doing semi-random circles or whatever. > > The reason I might want this is to be able to drive a support vehicle > and a tank in the same battle. When the tank needs re-loading in the > middle of the field, I put my tank in auto-pilot, grab the control for > the SV and hoon on over - kill the auto-pilot on the tank, which means > it stops moving, re-load, put it back in auto-pilot, hoon the SV back > to base and then take over the tank again. With pre-programmed > patterns that only the operator knows, you could even predict where > the tank is going to move to next and place the SV accordingly. And > with carefully programmed synthetic "piloting" it could even look like > it's still under manual control, with traverse and elevate actions as > well as vehicular movement. > > Obviously the auto-pilot controlled movements would not want to be > very far reaching, we don't want a runaway 80kg monster on our hands - > it could still be hooked up that if RC reception drops out (either > because of range, or manually switching off the TX) the tank stops > dead (auto-pilot switches off) for safety. Switching auto-pilot on > would be a selective decision too, tress, obstacles etc, although > obstacle avoidance could be programmed in fairly easily with some > readily available automotive proximity sensors (think reverse parking > sensors). > > Currently obviously there's nothing stopping me driving an SV over to > my tank for reloading, but while I do that the tank is a sitting duck, > the auto-pilot is just to make it into a randomly moving target, > instead of stationary target practice. > > I recognise the fact that it's better to get another person to pilot > the SV, both for attack avoidance and because the more people involved > in the battle the merrier, but this is another option if an SV pilot > cannot be had for the day, and it's just cool, especially with > obstacle avoidance :) > > and no, I am not suggesting an auto-pilot controlled firing > mechanism :) > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
