So yesterday I bought a new (cheap) RC car with a plan in mind. I am planning on controlling the car from my computer.
There are several ways to do this project depending on the type of communication I want to use. But I'm not sure how. Here are some of my ideas to do this:

1) I was thinking of connecting a PIC microcontroller serially to my computer. This microcontroller is in turn connected to the microcontroller of the joystick/radio transmitter of the car. So the command from the computer will be processed my PIC microcontroller which would receive this command and transmit a certain command from one of it pins to a specific pin on the joystick's microcontroller. For example, when I press W on the keyboard, the microcontroller receives this, and sends a voltage to a certain pin on the joystick's microcontroller( this pin was initially connected in the board for the forward command of the car.)
This sounds quite complex, but I think its better to use this then infrared, since radio has a better range. So I have some questions:
-What best PIC microcontroller should I use? Any simple one? I have only four output commands(forward, backward, right, left)
-should I use C for the coding of the microcontroller or PIC assembly?
-does the type of microcontroller on the joystick affect what PIC microcontroller I should use?
-should I have a special program(VB,Java) on the computer to send the commands to the microcontroller? Or when its connected serially it directly takes the pressed command?

2) I was thinking of connecting the PIC microcontroller to the microcontroller on the car instead. But that means there will be a cable connected from the laptop to the car, and the project would not be wirelessly.


So which project is better and easier to accomplish?

And if anyone can help me with the coding of the PIC microcontroller I would be more than thankful(ready made code?)

Thanks !
Would be cool to have a feedback loop. I would even say a computer-controlled RC car would be useless without a feedback loop, because the result of the input is not perfectly predictable.
That would be a feedback loop:
- Signal is sent to the car
- Positions change on the car servos
- Signals are sent back from the car to the computer. Speed, accelerometer measurements.
- It would be really nice if we can measure the position of the car, although I have no idea how.
- Signals are processed by computer, correction is calculated and incorporated in the next set of sent signals (go back to the start of the loop)

I know that makes it like 100 times more complicated, but I would really like to see that :-)

In any case, Jad already did a computer-controlled tank so he surely can answer lots of these questions.
jadf24 wroteFor example, when I press W on the keyboard, the microcontroller receives this, and sends a voltage to a certain pin on the joystick's microcontroller( this pin was initially connected in the board for the forward command of the car.)
The controls of the joysticks are potentiometers so I'd say remove them and find a way to control the voltage from the computer. I suck at electronics, so I don't have the complete answer, but I'm sure there's a simple way to do this.
jadf24 wrote-What best PIC microcontroller should I use? Any simple one? I have only four output commands(forward, backward, right, left)
Its not about the best pic you should be using , its your requirements what i mean speed , size of the code and many more , what you need to know is google any pic device and start reading their datasheet , i suggest you post this in a pic forums rather than here ...
Im going to be a bit rude :)
Do you have any background in electronics ?! What do you know about electronics ? because what you are planning to do would be a "bit" complex if this is the first thing you set out to do.
I would be more than glad to help you, their is also a guy here on lebgeeks that i also promised to help with a similar project.
J4D wroteIm going to be a bit rude :)
Do you have any background in electronics ?! What do you know about electronics ? because what you are planning to do would be a "bit" complex if this is the first thing you set out to do.
I would be more than glad to help you, their is also a guy here on lebgeeks that i also promised to help with a similar project.
Don't worry I didn't find you rude.
Okay well basically I'm still in Grade 12 'terminal' therefore, yes, my knowledge in electronics is sort of basic.
However, I have a friend whose an electrical engineer (in his 3rd year)
He's assisting me a lot and he's getting me advice from his professor.
The plan is almost complete, we're getting the parts soon and it won't take more than a day to assemble and code
However, much help is needed.
Anyone interested in coding this project? Its very basic so I don't think it would be time-consuming to any programmer.
And you're help would be more than appreciated !
But the thing is I'm learning ! I know too much for someone who hasn't yet majored in computer/electrical engineering.
Nothing is complex. You just have to divide it into simplified parts ;)