How To Control Tank Tracks Without Skid Turns?

Controlling tank tracks without skid turns using a single joystick is definitely possible with the setup you have. You can achieve this by configuring the joystick to control the speed and direction of each track independently. Here's a step-by-step guide to set this up in ARC:

Step 1: Configure the Dual H-Bridge w/PWM

1. Wiring: Ensure your Arduino Uno is connected to the Dual H-Bridge as per the wiring diagram provided in the Dual H-Bridge w/PWM manual.
2. Add the Skill: Add the Dual H-Bridge w/PWM skill to your ARC project.
3. Settings: Configure the ports for the left and right motors in the Dual H-Bridge w/PWM settings.

Step 2: Configure the Joystick (XInput)

1. Add the Skill: Add the Joystick (XInput) skill to your ARC project.
2. Device Selection: Connect your joystick to the PC and select it from the device dropdown in the Joystick (XInput) skill.
3. Settings:
   • Go to the Left Stick Tab and enable the "Joystick #1 Controls Movement Panel" checkbox.
   • Set the Movement Control Deadband Value to a suitable value to avoid unintentional movements.

Step 3: Custom Movement Panel v2

1. Add the Skill: Add the Custom Movement Panel v2 skill to your ARC project.
2. Configure Scripts: You will need to write custom scripts for each movement direction. Here’s an example of how you can configure the scripts for tank track control:

Forward Movement

// Move both tracks forward
Servo.setPosition(D0, 180); // Left track forward
Servo.setPosition(D1, 180); // Right track forward

Reverse Movement

// Move both tracks backward
Servo.setPosition(D0, 0); // Left track backward
Servo.setPosition(D1, 0); // Right track backward

Left Turn

// Left track backward, right track forward
Servo.setPosition(D0, 0); // Left track backward
Servo.setPosition(D1, 180); // Right track forward

Right Turn

// Left track forward, right track backward
Servo.setPosition(D0, 180); // Left track forward
Servo.setPosition(D1, 0); // Right track backward

Step 4: Integrate Joystick with Custom Movement Panel

1. Button Mapping: In the Joystick (XInput) settings, map the joystick movements to the custom Movement Panel scripts.
   • For example, map the forward movement of the joystick to the forward script in the Custom Movement Panel.
   • Similarly, map the other joystick movements to the respective scripts.

Step 5: Testing and Calibration

1. Test the Setup: Connect your Arduino Uno to the PC and test the joystick controls.
2. Calibrate: Adjust the PWM values and deadband settings as needed to ensure smooth and responsive control.

Example Code for Joystick Integration

Here’s an example of how you can map the joystick movements to the custom Movement Panel scripts:

// Map joystick movements to custom  Movement Panel scripts
map = function(value, in_min, in_max, out_min, out_max) {
    return (value - in_min) * (out_max - out_min) / (in_max - in_min) + out_min;
}

while (true) {
    var x = getVar("$JoystickX1");
    var y = getVar("$JoystickY1");

    if (y > 0) {
        // Forward
        ControlCommand("Custom  Movement Panel v2", "Forward");
    } else if (y < 0) {
        // Reverse
        ControlCommand("Custom  Movement Panel v2", "Reverse");
    } else if (x > 0) {
        // Right Turn
        ControlCommand("Custom  Movement Panel v2", "Right");
    } else if (x < 0) {
        // Left Turn
        ControlCommand("Custom  Movement Panel v2", "Left");
    } else {
        // Stop
        ControlCommand("Custom  Movement Panel v2", "Stop");
    }

    sleep(100);
}

By following these steps, you should be able to control your tank tracks without skid turns using a single joystick. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

Absolutely all movement panels will do that.

Thank you for the information.

Here’s a list of movement panels: https://synthiam.com/Support/Get-Started/how-to-make-a-robot/Movement-Style

You can choose one that works with your type of motor. Whether hbridge or continuous rotation or motor controller etc