I think I'll be buying at least one of these, Python Programmable InfraRed USB Adapter Adafruit pIRkey - a Python Programmable InfraRed USB Adapter ID: 3364 - $8.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique fun DIY electronics and kits A lot cheaper than the FLIRC I bought.
I have stuff I want from Adafruit, just have to wait a bit to buy it. I wavering a bit on that pIRkey. Its a little bit more involved to program it than I initially thought. It's circuit python, not full python. I'll have to read up on it bit more then decide. Price isn't bad so I may buy one anyway to see how it works out.
I need a couple of those red rover chassis so I can use the extra motors I have kicking around. And a few other bits & bytes I want to make the shipping worth while. I have enough extra stuff from my rover project to make two two wheel drive rovers. I have spare Pi Zero's, spare motors and wheels, and spare Explorer pHats. Just need the chassis and one more caster. Those I'll give away to some of my grandkids once I get them running. That I know is doable, I did it already. Then got greedy and wanted four wheel drive. That part didn't work out as planned.
Ordered my stuff from Adafruit to do my two 2 wheel drive rovers. Didn't order a PiRKEY, showed as coming soon. I think they are reflashing them with an update or something. I had a budget and likely wouldn't have ordered one anyway. No el cheapo shipping option though? I haven't ordered from them in a while but I thought there was a snail mail it will get there when it gets there option? Had to go with the 18 dollar DHL option. On the plus side I should have it by Friday. I'll find out when it comes if I get dinged for GST / duty etc. I picked the I'll handle it option. There was a prepaid option but I decided to play the lottery on it.
I should have everything I need to build two identical 2 wheel drive rovers. I have most of the parts now. I'm going to take my 6600 MAH battery pack and turn it into 3 2200 MAH battery packs. Its three cells under all the shrink wrap. It will save me having to gut my power packs to get the batteries. I was contemplating doing that to get the batteries and powerboost modules. I got them dirt cheap on sale. I'll use them for something else now. I have cables with JST jacks on them to make my own battery packs from that one pack. The big pack seemed like a good idea at the time but the weight of the three cells proved to be an issue.
Once I get these two running I'll revisit my 4 wheel rover that isn't working as planed and tinker with that. The only thing I robbed from it is the battery pack, and I'll have 1 cell left over from the three pack to use with it. I think I'll end up switching from the explorer pHat to some other motor driver. I may even wire up my own from some motor driver chips.
Also ordered the audio amp breakout board to make the Google AIY stereo. That's way down the list of things to do though.
I got dinged for duty. Just got an automated phone call from DHL advising I could pay it online if I wanted. I did that to make things easier. =( Next time I'll just pre pay it. Package is in Ontario so I should have it by Friday. =)
Last edited by caperjack; 30 May 2018 at 12:58.
If summer ever shows up? Yeah, it should keep me busy for a while. The software setup is the painful part. Getting the control part nailed down. I'm going to try my Bluetooth controller first. If that works OK I'll go buy another one. It was only 14 bucks or so. Once I get one rover all setup I'll just clone the SD card, and save the image for when one of the rovers doesn't work anymore because it was shut down incorrectly etc. I'm still mulling over whether I'll just keep them here for the grand kids to play with when they are here, or actually give them one to keep. I have way more grand kids than I have rovers so I may just keep them here. And setup some type of obstacle course or something. Lots of time to sort that out though.
