RS232 and RC Control

Is it possible to control the motor controller with the RS-232 and the RC mode with a single cable?

I would like to switch back a forth between RC and RS-232
control mode. I customized the RC cable to add the Rs232 data lines. I have the code working to do this, but when I am in RC mode the motor controller reports NO CNTRL.


The RS232 control works as expected and the data logging work when in RC mode, but I have not control input.
If I unplugged the Rs232 cable from the computer the RC starts working.

It is possible to do this but extra hardware is required as one of the input pins is shared between the RC and RS232. Also, several of the MCU resources (RAM area, GPIO) are shared internally.

See schematics and operation at dev.roboteq.com/dev1/download/RS232-RCSwitchoperation.pdf

In summary:
- A dual throw relay is used to route the input pin to either the RC radio or RS232 port.
- When the relay is activated, a capacitor is used to cause a controller reset.
- Relay is activated by a 3rd RC channel.

Cosma

I ended up using a third channel on to flip a double pole double throw relay. Instead of using the circuit to reset the controller, I use the RS-232 mode to switch between modes.
NOTE: You can not switch from RC mode to RS232 mode unless all the RC inputs are disconnected. This means you have to disconnect all RC inputs into the Motor Controller not just channel 1.

Unfortunately, I could not find a RC switched DPDT-relay. I modified a "R/C Dual Ended Switch" from www.teamdelta.com/products/prod2.htm

Roboteq should consider selling a box/adapter that adds this functionality to the controller.

You shouldn't need to have all RC inputs disconnected. Please explain how you reached that conclusion.

Here is our normal operating procedure. The default mode is RS232 mode. At first we had this setup:
MC.CH1 = RS232
MC.CH2 = RC.CH2
Then the relay would switch MC.CH1 = RC.CH1.
The software would have the following procedure:
(Already in RS232 mode running normally)So, now the relay looks like this:
RS232:
MC.CH1 = RS232
MC.CH2 = N/C
RC:
MC.CH1 = RC.CH1
MC.CH2 = RC.CH2
The relay is controlled with a third RC channel. I am using a Fubata PCM RC control system.

There is no reasons why a signal on CH2 would prevent "returns" to be recongnized on CH1. We will look into this.

One potential problem with your scheme is that you are using the radio to flip the relay and the RS232 to send the command for switching mode.

If you are in RS232 and flip the relay before the reset command is sent, then the controller will be stuck in RS232.

The scheme we published puts the switching command entirely in the hands of the radio. This allows you to force an RC override in case of emergency.

We'll try to look at ways that we could modify the controller software to make the switching possible with even less hardware. One possibility would be - while in RS232 mode - to detect RC pulses on CH2 and if they are present activate output C to drive a small relay.