Micro RC Transmitter: Operating Manual For SW Version 2.0x

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Micro

RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

4 + 1 channel joystick type




2 + 1 channel car style type

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Table of Contents

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 4

SYSTEM OVERVIEW 4

CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT 6

COMMISSIONING 7
RECEIVER COMPATIBILITY 7
ANTENNA INSTALLATION 8
NRF24L01+ 9
NRF24L01+PA+LNA (ONLY SUPPORTED FROM BOARD VERSION 1.1) 9
BATTERIES 10

OPERATION 10
GENERAL 10
2.4GHZ RADIO MODE 11
LEGO „POWER FUNCTIONS“ INFRARED MODE 12
MECCANO INFRARED MODE 13
SERVO DIRECTION REVERSING (CHANNEL REVERSING) 14
SERVO TRAVEL LIMITATION (CHANNEL % - & +) 15
PONG GAME MODE (NEW IN V2.0) 16
RADIO TESTER MODE (NEW IN V1.9) 17
PARAMETER FACTORY RESET 17

SOFTWARE-UPDATES AND DOCUMENTATION 18


GENERAL 18
DOCUMENTATION 18
CONNECTING THE ISP 18
SOFTWARE UPLOAD WITH ARDUINO IDE 19

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Safety regulations



This system is not suitable for the control of large and dangerous models.

The product must not be used until this manual has been fully read and understood. Likewise,
you must agree with all the restrictions mentioned in this chapter.

This is a prototype system and is left to the user's own responsibility for use, free
development and customization. TheDIYGuy999 assumes no liability whatsoever for any
damage or consequential damage resulting from the use of this system.

To increase security against interferences, you should define your own "pipe" addresses.
Please refer to the chapter "Software upload with Arduino IDE".

The radio antenna must not be covered with metallic objects.

The IR transmitter requires visual contact with the vehicle.

The remote control may only be used in dry locations.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Technical specifications
Radio: 2.4GHz, 2 channels, 10 vehicle ID’s (Range depends on antenna
type)
Infrared: LEGO „Power Functions“ („Red“ & „Blue“ x 4 addresses)
MECCANO (channel „A“, „B“, „C“ and „D“)
Analogue channels: 4 (Joysticks) or 2 (Steering wheel and throttle handle)
1 (Potentiometer-connector on the right side)
Digital channels: 2 (Mode 1 & 2 push buttons, integrated in joysticks )
1 (pulse button, together with „Back“ button)
Back channel: Yes (to report vehicle battery charge status, etc.)
Batteries: 4xAA (alcalines or NiMh rechargeables)
Display: 0.96“ OLED, 128 x 64 pixels
Auto calibrating: Yes, after power-on, automatic zero-point calibration of all
joysticks is performed
Configuration menu: Yes, direction reversal and travel limit for all 4 joystick channels,
stored in the EEPROM
Open Source: Yes (Software & Hardware):
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/RC_Transmitter
Included games: PONG

System overview

Joysticks Communi-
cation LED

Radio / IR
& + button
Vehicle ID
& - button Back /
pulse
button
Battery &
channel LED OLED
Display
Main
switch Menu & select
button

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x


Indicator IR transmitter

LED for IR Battery
LED
signal compartment

Radio
antenna



Analog header for potentiometer. Used for: MRSC (Micro RC
ICSP program-
Stability Control), PID adjustment for self balancing robot
ming header
(depending on the receiver configuration)

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Channel assignment

LEGO IR LEGO IR
Channel 3: „Red“ „Blue“ Channel 2:
Throttle MECCANO IR MECCANO IR Elevator
„C“ „B“

Channel 1:
Aileron /
Steering

Channel 4:
Rudder

MECCANO IR MECCANO IR
„D“ „A“

Software &
hardware
version


Pulse
Additional digital channels: channel
• „Mode 1“ on / off: clicking with left joystick
• „Mode 2“ on / off: clicking with right joystick
„Pulse“, E.g. For horn etc. On, as long as the button is pressed (when the menu is closed)

The two "mode" channels are - depending on the programming of the receiver - used to limit
maximum speed and acceleration.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Commissioning
Receiver compatibility
This remote control works only in combination with the Micro RC 2.4GHz receiver from
TheDIYGuy999. For details, see separate operating instructions.



Also compatible are "Power Functions" infrared receivers from LEGO



and MECCANO infrared receivers.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Antenna installation
Two different types of antennas can be operated in the intended slot.

NOTE: Never insert or remove the antenna module during the transmitter is powered up.
Insert the antenna in the correct row of pins! Otherwise, the electronics may be damaged.

Antenna
slot

Board-
version

NRF24L01+
PA+LNA

NRF24L01+

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

NRF24L01+
This antenna has a range of about 10m and is very compact. It is especially suitable for the
control of small indoor models.

NRF24L01+PA+LNA (Only supported from board version 1.1)


This antenna has an additional power amplifier and a range of > 100m. In this case, also use
this antenna type in your vehicle. Otherwise, the range improvement is only slight.

Always mount the


antenna

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Batteries
Use 4 AA Alcalines or rechargeable NiMh batteries. Note: the remote control does not
work with incorrect battery polarity, but will not be damaged.

Operation
General
• Always observe the safety regulations mentioned at the beginning of this manual.
• Never drive with exhausted transmitter batteries. Otherwise the vehicle can get out of
control.
• Do not touch the joysticks during the splash screen is displayed, because their
automatic zero point calibration is executed during this time.
• Depending on the vehicle configuration, the battery status is displayed in radio mode
on the right-hand side of the screen. Please note, to prevent a deep discharge of the
vehicle battery.
• Depending on the receiver version, the drive motor is deactivated after the battery has
been exhausted, and "Low battery" is displayed in the lower right corner. To re-enable
the vehicle, switch the transmitter off and on. Afterwards, only drive short distances
with small speed. Then immediately replace the battery!
• If either the battery of the remote control or of the vehicle is exhausted, the red LED
changes from the vehicle ID number blink code to permanent lighting.
• Do not force the joysticks against their end stops.
• If the signal delay is too big, the next radio channel is automatically selected.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

2.4GHz radio mode

1. Switch on the main switch, wait until the green communication LED is on.
2. Switch vehicle / receiver on according to separate instructions
3. Select the vehicle number according to the pre - programmed number in the
receiver to be controlled by means of the "Vehicle ID & -“ button. The active ID
is also indicated by the left LED by means of flashing code.
4. As soon as the ID is correctly selected and the remote transmitter
communicates with the receiver, the green communication LED flickers and the
vehicle data are displayed on the right half of the display as far as available.

Right: Vehicle data


Left: Transmitter data
• MCU voltage
• MCU voltage
• Battery voltage
• Battery voltage
• Battery state
• Mode 1 on or off
Vehicle ID • Radio channel
• Mode 2 on or off

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

LEGO „Power Functions“ infrared mode

1. Switch on the main switch, wait until the green communication LED is on.
2. Press the "Radio / IR & +" button several times until the screen below appears. The
green communication LED changes to flashing and the LED on the front flashes.
3. Turn on the LEGO receiver
4. Select the LEGO channel according to the position of the orange sliding switch on the
IR receiver by means of the "Vehicle ID & - button". The LEGO channel is also indicated
by the left LED by means of flashing code.

Left: Transmitter data


LEGO-
• MCU voltage
channel
• Battery voltage

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

MECCANO infrared mode

1. Switch on the main switch, wait until the green communication LED is on.
2. Press the "Radio / IR & +" button several times until the screen below appears. The
green communication LED changes to flashing.
3. Each MECCANO IR receiver supports only 1 channel from "A" to "D". Select this as
desired with the sliding switch. Depending on the setting, the receiver then responds
to a different joystick according to the channel assignment.
4. Turn on the MECCANO IR receiver

Left: Transmitter data


• MCU voltage
• Battery voltage

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Advanced settings

Note: The following settings are stored separately for each vehicle ID in the EEPROM of the
transmitter. Therefore, it is important that the corresponding vehicle ID is selected before
opening the settings menu. These settings are active only in the radio mode.

Servo direction reversing (Channel Reversing)


If the direction of rotation of a servo is wrong - e.g. the steering turns in the wrong direction -
this can be corrected as follows:

1. Press the “Menu & Select” button
2. Press the key above until the desired parameter is marked with the arrow on the left
side. If the above button is pressed after the channel 4 has been reached, the travel
limit setting is reached. See the following page
3. With the "Vehicle ID & -“ button, the reversal is deactivated (display "0")
4. Pressing the "Radio / IR & +" button activates the reversal (display "1").
5. The "Back button" is used to change the screen back and the settings are stored
permanently in the EEPROM.

Vehicle ID, to
which the
setting applies

„>“ = marked „1“ = reversal


parameter active

Servo channel (Visualization



number joystick left,
right, Direction
of actuation)

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Servo travel limitation (Channel % - & +)
If a standard software is to be used on the receiver, in certain cases the servo travel has to be
limited.
For example, a wheel hits in the wheel arch. The function can also be used to trim the straight
line (center position).
1. Menu Navigation and saving the settings see previous page
2. The "Vehicle ID & -“button is used to reduce the value
3. Use the "Radio / IR & +" button to increase the value

The travel limit can be adjusted for both end positions from 20% to 100%.
+/- 100% corresponds to +/- 45 ° of the servo, measured from its center position.

Vehicle ID, to
which the
- Limit setting applies

+ Limit

Servo channel „>“ = selected


number
parameter





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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

PONG game mode (new in V2.0)

If you press and hold the “Back” button during switching on the main switch, the transmitter
boots in PONG game mode. This function is useful, if you crashed your RC car ;-)

• The left paddle is controlled by the CPU
• The right paddle is controlled by the player (using the right joystick or the steering
wheel on a 2 channel transmitter)
• The idea is to catch the ball with the paddle
• The game is over, as soon as the difference between the CPU and the player points is
>= 10

CPU Player
points points
CPU
paddle Player
paddle



Ball Back

button


Press the "Back" button again to restart the game after "Game Over" is displayed

To switch back into the transmitter mode, switch the transmitter off and back on.




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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Radio tester mode (new in V1.9)
If you press and hold the “Menu” button during switching on the main switch, the transmitter
boots as a receiver into the radio tester mode.

The following screen is then displayed and visualizes analog channels of your other
transmitter.
Please note, that you have to select the same vehicle ID as on your transmitter under test.

Selected
Vehicle ID

Vehicle ID
button

Menu
button

Left Potentio-
Right
joystick meter
joystick
position position
position


To switch back into the transmitter mode, switch the transmitter off and back on.







Parameter factory reset


If you press and hold the “Menu” and the “Back” button during switching on the main switch,
a factory reset of all menu parameters is executed.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Software-updates and documentation
General
Software updates fix bugs and add new features. You can also implement your own ideas by
adapting the software.

Documentation
The complete documentation, the software and the Eagle PCB layout files ara available on
GitHub: https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/RC_Transmitter
TheDIYGuy999 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheDIYGuy999/videos

Connecting the ISP


To load the software, the transmitter must be connected to a 3.3V / 8MHz Arduino Pro Micro:

Arduino Pro Micro 3.3V / 8MHz Transmitter
GND GND
10 RESET
16 MOSI
14 MISO
15 SCK

During uploading, the transmitter is supplied with power by the battery via the main switch

Pro Micro
3.3V / 8MHz

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

Software upload with Arduino IDE

Note: Uploading the program will destroy the settings stored in the EEPROM. Please note
them in advance! Do not confuse the Pro Mini and Pro Micro boards!

1. Select Pro Micro 3.3V / 8MHz as Board (install first, if necessary). „Programmer“ MUST
be set to „Arduino as ISP“.


2. Port: select your Pro Micro’s USB port
3. Open the following Sketch in Arduino IDE and upload it via USB to the 3.3V / 8MHz Pro
Micro


4. Download “RC_Transmitter.ino” from GitHub
5. Download and install all the mentioned libraries. Restart Arduino IDE


6. Open “RC_Transmitter.ino” in Arduino IDE.

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Micro RC Transmitter
Operating Manual for SW Version 2.0x

7. Select your transmitter configuration and board version in the transmitterConfig.h


8. Select Pro Mini 3.3V / 8MHz as board


9. Connect all cables as explained above
10. USB Port is still your Pro Micro’s port
11. Switch the transmitter on
12. Select “Upload Using Programmer”


13. The software is now compiled an then uploaded
14. If finished, remove all cables
15. Use the new function :-)

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