Connecting a standard R/C to a LEGO model

[avishorp]

Hi

Is there a way to connect regular R/C (like the one used to fly planes and helicopters) to a LEGO model? It requires some electronic circuit to control motors and servos from a receiver output (PWM).

Avishay

[JunkstyleGio]

There probably is. But I don't think it would work; the technicsets aren't strong enough to handle the forces!

[Blakbird]

Hi

Is there a way to connect regular R/C (like the one used to fly planes and helicopters) to a LEGO model? It requires some electronic circuit to control motors and servos from a receiver output (PWM).

You need to be a lot more specific. What do you want to attach to a LEGO model? An R/C vehicle has a battery pack, a speed controller, a radio receiver, some servos, and a motor. Which of these things do you want to use with LEGO?

In any case, there is always a way. It depends on how hard you want to work. The guys over at Inanimate Reason do some of this kind of stuff like attaching R/C servos and wheels to Technic.

[Sariel]

Forget about flying though. RC models that can fly are in vast majority extremely lightweight. I own a microheli that weights just 20 grams total - this is equal to a small handful of bricks and less than almost every single LEGO motor. Anything built with LEGO pieces will be way too heavy, not to mention that it will probably have aerodynamic properties of a sack of potatoes :)

[suewolf]

The Second Edition of "Extreme NXT" has a few pages about controlling R/C servos with Mindstorms NXT. It's available from Amazon.com

[avishorp]

Let me clarify my question.

I have a LEGO model that contains several 9V Mindstorm motors. I want to be able to control their speed using an R/C transmitter. The element that usually connects the output of the receiver to the motor is an electronic speed controller (ESC). Common ESCs that are used in R/C airplanes, cars etc. are very large and mostly incompatible with the LEGO motor voltage.

What I'm actually looking for is an ESC that is suitable to drive LEGO motors, and it should also be reversible.

Thanks,

Avishay

[Blakbird]

Let me clarify my question.

I have a LEGO model that contains several 9V Mindstorm motors. I want to be able to control their speed using an R/C transmitter. The element that usually connects the output of the receiver to the motor is an electronic speed controller (ESC). Common ESCs that are used in R/C airplanes, cars etc. are very large and mostly incompatible with the LEGO motor voltage.

What I'm actually looking for is an ESC that is suitable to drive LEGO motors, and it should also be reversible.

OK, that makes more sense. A brushed ESC modulates the speed of a DC motor by simply varying the voltage. As long as you are using a 9V battery to power your ESC, and as long as you are using a reversible ESC (usually from a car, not an airplane), this should work just fine with Mindstorms motors. Just make sure you tap into the positive and negative wires of the motor. If you actually wanted to measure rotation like a servo, that would be a lot more complicated. You can get ESC's in almost any size; they don't have to be large. I'd recommend a 10 Amp ESC for use with LEGO motors.

[cybermaster7]

Here is my soultion.

(this is my first video post)

It is control by Vex robotic rc system (www.vexrobotics.com), 6 channel radio, 4 analog (variable speed, forward and reverse) and 2 digital channels (single speed only, forward and reverse). You will also need the singal splitter and 6 motor controller 29 (converted PWM singal to drive the lego motors). I have to sacrifice 3 lego techinic connector wires and attatched the bec connectors (the little red connector, www.maxxprod.com), so it would be easier to switch to a differnt motors. The signal splitter take 7.2 or 9.6 volt battery. Range of the rc system is few hundred feet. I came up with the sytem few years ago, but just never have the time to buy all the parts to make it work till now.

You might able to make it work by connecting the motor controller 29 to regular rc esc, there fore using regualr rc controller rather than the vex rc system. I did not have tiem to try that yet.