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Bluetooth for Homebrew Robots?

Posted by Cliff on from the robot-wars-from-your-laptop dept.

MacGod asks: "As an extra-curricular for my university, I am working some other engineers to try and design a RoboSoccer Project (please don't wipe out our server if possible), with the hopes of entering the RoboCup tournament in the near future. We are currently using some low-frequency Abacom RF communication modules, but would like to able to go to BlueTooth if possible. However, I have found it nearly impossible to locate any suitable BlueTooth modules. We'd really like something that could be put onto a breadboard, and that would come with sufficiently detailed instructions that we'd be able to implement it without being BlueTooth experts. Any suggestion on homebrew BlueTooth solutions, Slashdot?"

8 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Bluetooth modules for use with mobile robots by CaptainDrewle · · Score: 5, Informative

    Bluetooth modules for use with mobile robots

    1. Re:Bluetooth modules for use with mobile robots by deglr6328 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Most of the links on that page seem to be usb bluetooh or bare modules. If you're looking for turnkey RS-232 bluetooth units (as I was for a project at work), may I highly disrecommend Free2Move's serial port plug. I've been trying to get them to work for weeks and you'd think for nearly $400 for the pair they would at least answer ONE of my emails or pick up the phone for their "tech support" line. STAY AWAY!! I do know what you mean about these things being rare and rediculously expensive though. Maybe I'll try Brainboxes serial converter next.

      --
      - "Hear that?! The percolations are imminent! Cease your ingress!"
  2. Try froogle next time... by loucura! · · Score: 4, Informative

    Google's froogle feature is pretty cool, I found board-mountable bluetooth modules in less than 10 seconds (I had to resort by price).

    Here's a Site that sells the modules.

    --
    Black and grey are both shades of white.
  3. Bluetooth? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We are currently using some low-frequency Abacom RF communication modules, but would like to able to go to BlueTooth if possible.

    Why Bluetooth? A better question would have been, "We are currently using some low-frequency Abacom RF communication modules, but would like increased range, bandwidth, and fidelity. Does anyone have any recommendations for a wireless technology which will meet these needs?"

    Let the problem dictate the solution. It sounds like you're just itching to make use of Bluetooth because it's buzz-compliant.

  4. why bluetooth? by duber007 · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you're having trouble finding something to use, maybe it's not the way to go......like other posts state, the range and BW are limited.....I'm using a nice little device from Honeywell - ROC09352XMS which is a radio-on-a-chip device for my thesis... All you need is a microcontroller with an SCI interface (i.e. just about any PIC or 68HC11 device, which most people have some knowledge of), a power supply and an antennae - everything else is self contained - and it can range from 300-900Mhz, up to 19.2kBps.....at $26US a piece, not very expensive either.....

  5. Bluetooth Modules by c_oflynn · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hello,

    There do exsist small bluetooth modules, but not for what you want really. Bluetooth is fairly complex, and for small robots you'd be far better off designing your own protocol. And its more fun that way ;-)

    But if you are dying for bluetooth, Google is your friend:

    http://www.national.com/appinfo/wireless/LMX9820 .h tml

    http://www.wirelessfutures.co.uk/products/prod_p ro _wlsc.html

    I think there are others out there - I've heard of them before.

  6. CSR and Siemens by foog · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm doing some work with Bluetooth, using the CSR modules, "Casira" programmer, and the Bluecore programming tools. For simple stuff like headsets and RS232 links, you can run all the necessary code on the module.

    For stuff based on CSR silicon, if I were doing things over, I'd go with the Siemens dev kit for their Siemo or Siemo2 modules. Same tools, more or less, but you're working with modules right away that you can spec into a final product. I didn't find them until I was looking for prequalified modules based on CSR's chipset...

  7. Re:bluetooth distance by Locutus · · Score: 4, Informative

    just having a few products doesn't mean much. Try doing a little research and you'll find the Bluetooth spec support 3 classes/ranges:

    Class 1 = 100m
    Class 2 = 10m
    Class 3 = 2m

    with corresponding power demands. All of which are still close to 1/4 the power of 802.11 devices.

    LoB

    --
    "Anyone who stands out in the middle of a road looks like roadkill to me." --Linus