Controlling HDC2450 via RC or some other joystick

Hi,
I would like to extend the teleoperation range of my robot. I am using the HDC2450 Controller in Serial Mode with the Roborun PC Utility with a Logitech F310 gamepad for the remote control. I have one external sensor providing a DIN for my HDC2450 so when I get some input from the Sensor the Robot is stopping. Everything is installed on the robot, the laptop with RoborunPC is directly connected via serial interface with the HDC2450 and the Sensor and also Bluetooth dongle for the Gamepad is connected on the Laptop. My problem is the limited range of the Gamepad, so now I would like to extend the range of the teleoperation (around 200m with Non-line-of-sight).

I thought to use some RC controller. In the documentation I was not able to find exact instruction how to do it. My friend has a Spektrum dx6i rc radio and I want to try with his RC first (later I would buy some RC). Still I would need to keep the serial connection with the DIN from the Sensor. Can anybody help how can I setup this configuration, extending the range of the operation while keeping the serial connection with the Sensor DIN? Also if you have some tips maybe to use some better gamepad/joystick to extend the range. Can you suggest what RC to use?

Thanks and sorry for lot of questions.

Regards!

The RC range is something you will have to take up with the manufacturer of the remote you will want to use. Set up the RC pulse input as "pulse width", and motor command.

If the controller is connected to the laptop and you want to control the robot via the pulse, go to the "run" tab and then click on the "mute" checkbox left of the sliders. This will mute the serial command and go to the next available priority.

Here is a link to our 3rd party vendors that you may want to try out or talk to for the RC remotes.

dev.roboteq.com/dev1/index.php/products/3rd-party-accessories

thx for your inputs. the problem is that the laptop is on the robot and during the operational mode I do not have access to turn on/off the mute option. Additional problem is how can I configure the DIN from the Sensor working with the RC controller? With the USB Gamepad and the Roborun+ PC it was very easy just setting the action for the digital input. I suppose if I use the RC controller this configuration would not work.

So to better figure this out, what is the method of operation? What commands the motors as first your preferred method, and then which becomes secondary?

As for this sensor, I'm having a little trouble understanding. If you are wired in on a digital input, it is wired so that when the digital output is either high or low (dependent on use), then there is an action that triggers.

Example: If a switch is wired on digital input 1 and 5V, the digital input is set for active when high (sees the 5V), and then triggers an action. This is done in the configuration tab. If you want to work a script to operate how the digital inputs work, it can be done there as well.

With the default set up, the RS232 priority is default. This means as long as the serial is being used via the laptop, then the motor will respond to the serial commands. If the laptop is not being used to issue commands, then you can preset the mute button in the run tab and then do your operations.

Also, if left in the configuration tab, you can also send rc or analog commands as well without having to mute the serial.

Remember, the controller is going to accept the commands by priority. So if left in the run tab and you are sending in the motor commands via analog and pulse, whichever has the highest priority will have control.

OK I will try to explain. Currently the situation is as following, ROBOT on the robot I have LAPTOP1-(serial)-HDC2450; HDC2450-(DINpin21)-Sensor; LAPTOP1-USB-Gamepad dongle on the Laptop1 I run the original software Roborun+ PC and everything is configured and works. So I am remote controlling the robot via the gamepad and have just the gamepad in the hands everything else is on the ROBOT so I do not have any access to the Roborun+ PC utility until I go to the ROBOT. Regarding the sensor, I have setup via the Roborun+ PC for the sensor on DIN pin 21 and it is set to trigger high, so when the sensor triggers high the robot stops. This was also no problem and it works.
My problem is now I would like to extend the range of the remote controller (200m) and have the same functionality like before. As far as I saw there is no USB Joystick providing this range if there would be a Gamepad with this range it would be perfect I could just configure the joystick via the Roborun+ PC and everything would be OK. Because I could not find a USB Joystick I thought to use a RC controller. Now I am not sure how can I setup everything so I can remote control the ROBOT via the RC controller and if I get some high input from the Sensor the robot stops for few seconds and again I can start the remote control operation via the RC. I would prefer to setup everything via the Roborun+ PC because it was very easy. I hope this clarify the situation. Thank you very much for your kind support!
Regards!

You'd wire up an rc connection on the pulse input line; gnd, +5V, and pulse input pin. You'd set up the priority for both the RC and the gamepad analog input. If you set up the pulse as the second priority, then the pulse will take command over the analog. Even with that in mind, if you power down the remote, then you can then control the robot via the gamepad if it is in range.