[TriEmbed] Hackable toy for the robotic experimenter

[Ken Boone]

I have found RC toys a great source of inexpensive parts for creating
robots and devices.

My latest find is the Thunder Tumbler RC car.  For just $9.99 you get two
removable motor/gear trains with nice wheels, a four cell battery holder,
three additional wheels, two reversible motor drivers and a radio frequency
remote/receiver with four channels.

The remote control has a separate joystick for the right and left wheel
that controls each wheel either forward or backwards at full speed.  The
TXM 8A978S receiver/controller integrated circuit chip (IC) in the car has
four digital logic (on/off) outputs controlling the two motors.

The following signals where measured. Signals where near zero volts or
approximately 4 volts dc when logic high.

When the right joystick is forward pin 6 on the IC is logic high.
When the right joystick is back pin 7 on the IC is logic high.
When the left joystick is forward pin 11 on the IC is logic high.
When the left joystick is back pin 10 on the IC is logic high.
When the turbo button is pressed both pin 6 and pin 11 on the IC are logic
high.

You could cut the circuit traces from the IC to the motor driver circuits
and use the IC outputs to remotely control four relays or connect to four
microprocessor inputs.There is 8 combinations of the four outputs that
could be decoded by the microprocessor as 8 different commands. Additional
circuitry is needed protect the IC outputs and to drive relays since each
IC output is only rated to source 4ma.


Four microprocessor outputs could be connected to the disconnected motor
driver circuits on the controller board to control the car motors.  Then
you could have a robotic car with 8 possible remote commands.

I purchased this car at Walgreen's but I have seen it at several other
places.

Happy new year and keep up the hacking!

Ken Boone
KensRobots.com
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