Nunchuk controller for Spine with telemetry display

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Nunchuk controller for Spine with telemetry display

Albert

Latest updates:

VESC data is now perfectly read from NodeMCU and transmitted to the Nunchuk. Now we can see all data in the display. Constantin, your code help us a lot!! Thank you very much.
Wifi testing: we performed several testing. We have it working at a distance of 10m without any communication problem . Eventhough, if connection is lost during (250ms without UDP packages, 5 frames missing) power of the board is disabled. So hopefully, we won't have dangerous issues over the board.
Test of the Nunchuk: time response should be now fast enough (Nunchuk data is sent every 50ms to the NodeMCU).
Test of the Nunchuk: mechanical response is a little problem we have: the nunchuck has only 60-70% of the mechanical movement linked to electric movement, so when you have not reached the mechanical end, the value read is already 100%. We still don't know if it's a generic problem of all nunchuks, or only from ours... Pending to investigate. But as a summary, you have short finger movement to control the power...
The display has the battery menu finished, the speed menu ready ( but speed still not correctly calculated...), the A and the Ah in a preliminar version. Pending to define other user needs to be included, if needed.
Code cleanup is still pending, but as soon as I have something "shareable" I will share with you!

Here I uploaded two video of the Nunchuk in opertion!!! I hope you like them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4GgplddAk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q-uFRIlFsY

Albert

List of material used:

Lipo USB charger (without protection): https://es.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-5V-Mini-MICRO-USB-1A-TP4056-Lithium-Battery-Charging-Charger-Module-New-Dropshipping/32386134477.html
(Planned to be changed by: https://es.aliexpress.com/store/product/1PC-MINI-USB-1A-Lithium-Battery-Charging-Board-Charger-Module-With-Protection-TP4056/1735233_32665641291.html)
Lipo battery: http://www.dx.com/es/p/3-7v-100mah-lipo-battery-for-quadcopter-drone-cheerson-cx10-cx-10-cx10a-cx11-415276?tc=EUR&gclid=Cj0KEQiAl4TGBRDhgvmikdHPsdABEiQAtBcc8Ot23xn6znj19YDX_kYF6lzId9shHogjnBDCc1mjn3QaAlQA8P8HAQ#.WMFVaFU1-Uk
(Planned to be changed by a bigger one: http://www.banggood.com/Giant-Power-3_7V-200mAh-25C-Li-Po-Battery-For-RC-Model-p-89101.html)
ESP12e module: http://www.prometec.net/producto/esp8266-esp12e/
Wii remote: https://www.amazon.com/Wii-Nunchuck-Black-Bulk-Packing/dp/B01IO5A534/ref=pd_sbs_63_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9T02FA22XWKCDK84MV6F
LCD: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13003
Some SMD resistors to setup minimum ESP pins.

ConstantinColac

Albert You guys did an amazing job! Can't wait to see the source code and implement it

SunePedersen

That is so cool. Lets have a skype to hear more about how we can push things forward together..

ConstantinColac

I found a picture of Sune's prototype of the custom nunchuck. He was actually developing something at the same time as you guys. We are planning to share that code as well at some point.

Anyway here's a picture that show's Sune's creativity

image img-20170116-115535.jpeg

Albert

Hi!!!

I've commited first initial working version for the Nunchuk here:
- https://github.com/spineNunchuk/spineWifiNunchuk

And the modified version of the core-software for the NodeMCU here:
-https://github.com/spineNunchuk/core-software

For sure, they can be improved!! Feel free to comment and suggest! And currently no ObjectOriented, sorry...

Today I've performed some testing in the road, I've found three major issues:
- The remaping of the value reading from Nunchuck to have better resolution is generating a "notable" jump in the acceleartion (arround the 90% to the 100%), which is too hard, and makes you inestable over the spine (I fall down once...).
- The brake is too hard... But it's nice to see more than -30A regenerating in the screen!!
- The speed calculation is not working... I'm getting very high values, over 100km/h. Does anybody can have a look at the calculation? What I'm missing? I read the rpm from the rotor, then applied the gear ratio of 16/76, and then converting rpm to km/h.

@Sune, we can have a skype, if you want!! the only issue is to find the time for it, at least for me .

SunePedersen

Sure, well im available day and night :-) When would it suit you thursday or friday?

Albert

Goood! Tomorrow from 20:00h is fine!!! You can contact me at skype: albert_sanz

SunePedersen

Added you on skype :-)

Albert

Hi everybody! Here a video of the latest version of the Nunchuk:
https://youtu.be/2XCbVzdaMMs

Features added and uploaded to the github:
- Distance reporting
- Wh used and Wh charged
- Low pass filter for acceleration and brake

Some km done with the spine and nunchuk without issues, so far

ConstantinColac

Amazing video and great work!

Albert Some km done with the spine and nunchuk without issues, so far

Glad to hear there were no more incidents.

What is the rate at which are you sending the data from the motor controller to the nunchuk controller?

Any specific reason you chose this specific rate?

Albert

ConstantinColac What is the rate at which are you sending the data from the motor controller to the nunchuk controller?

This is the summary of several rates I've used:
- Reading VESC data in NodeMCU core-sotfware: every 500ms
- Sending VESC data to the Nunchuk controller from core-sotfware: every 50ms (transmit rate it's much faster than read rate because it's used to request to the Nunchuk controller the buttons information).
- Reading Nunchuk data in Nunchuk controller ESP12: every 10ms (it will be sent to NodeMCU every 50ms, so we have 5 samples LowPass filtering before to send info).
- Refreshing LCD screen information in Nunchuk controller ESP12: every 200ms (5FPS are perfect for user info reading, higher FPS have a big impact on CPU load performance).

ConstantinColac Any specific reason you chose this specific rate?

The values I've selected are to have a good fast enough response of the controller movements and LCD information without having issues in the CPU load performance in NoceMCU neither ESP12.

I hope it's clear enough!!

ConstantinColac

Albert Thanks for the descriptive explanation. I have never worked with an LCD screen. Awesome work!

Robin Here: http://forum.faradaymotion.com/d/12-nunchuk-controller-for-spine-with-telemetry-display/3

Robin

Awesome guys! BOM for this controller? Would like to have one aswell!

SunePedersen

Great work Albert!

Robin

ConstantinColac Damn, I am blind