Virtually all joysticks consist of two variable resistors (pots)
configured as a basic voltage divider (+V on one side, GND on the other
and the sweep voltage read from the center). As such, there are a
couple basic ways to replace the joystick and control it via R/C:
Servo-Based: Remove the pots from the joystick framework, attach an arm
to each pot shaft, and drive each arm from a servo.
Electronics: Disconnect the three wires from each joystick pot and
insert an electronic circuit that accepts a servo signal as input and
generates an analog voltage in the desired range as output. One such
circuit would include a small microprocessor (to interpret the servo
signal) and a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) to generate the output
signal. Another approach (courtesy of Joe Sommer) uses the PWM output
from the micro-processor to drive an opto-isolator that switches the
voltage fast enough between V+ and GND that the ESC reads the desired
average voltage. We use that approach quite successfully as the
throttle replacement for scooter motor controllers.
Not coincidentally, the next version of the C6C (more channels, more
features, easier to configure) will have two such circuits on the board
to allow it to drive a pair of scooter motor controllers (or any pair of
analog pots) directly.
Frank P.
On 12/29/2010 7:32 AM, neroc wrote:>
Pete and I were talking about controlling the pots without a joystick
some time ago, I would be very interested to see how this is done .I
imagine the operation depends on the type of controller or can any
wheelchair controller be `de joysticked` ?
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