Resolved by rgordon!
Ok, the most awesome and rapid responses to my question regarding using my EZB with the sabertooth controller makes me a lot more confident that I may actually be able to do this... (whats in my head that is...)
I had envisioned using my EZB (v3) to control by robot and run programmed routines but ALSO have the ability for me to manually override at anytime with a conventional Futaba RC controller to interact with people as they approach.
Can EZB AND a conventional RC controller BOTH be wired to simultaneously share control with one having priority but the other running if the one with priority provides no input?
Sounds kind of complicated but it would make Halloween AWESOME! (My bot is the 'G-Bot' - a Lost in Space B9 robot that has until now been just a static display. This would be sooo cool if I can do it! )
Hopeful!
Is it possible ( without too much difficulty and considering im not a coder) to use something like this connected to my small notebook PC to manually control th G-Bot? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-USB-Dual-Shock-PC-Computer-Wired-Gamepad-Game-Controller-Joystick-/121100701093?pt=US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item1c322a0da5
This will work great... PS2 Robot controller
Ok, I'm connected and experimenting with controlling the G-Bot using the Sabertooth control in ARC v3. My Sabertooth 2x25 is in simplified serial mode (dip switches 1,3,and 6 up).
I have no idea what the values represent in the Sabertooth control configuration screen in ARC and cannot find a tutorial on it.
I'm reasonably sure the motors and controller are wired correctly. When I had my rc reciever connected to the Sabertooth I used channel 1 for the S1 and channel 2 for the S2. The joystick operated the motors perfectly (stick forward both motors forward, stick reverse, both motors reverse and the mixing was perfect). Now, with the Sabertooth in simple serial mode (dip switches as described above) I have the EZB connected via signal wire from D0 on the EZB to S1 on the Sabertooth (with common ground) and the G-Bot moves erratically. I cannot make any sense of how those values relate to what happens when I use the control arrows or the keyboard arrows...
Help please.
There was a thread by @Rich that helps explain how the Sabertooth settings work....
Sabertotth
Hope this helps....
OMG, that's it! It works! Thanks rgordon!
Is there a way to set the Sabertooth or EZB so the motion is gradual (maybe exponential vs linear)? The G-Bot will have a rather high center of gravity when fully assembled and the way the lower half is buzzing around in my garage it would've been on its side by now. As it is I think I could have driven it right through the garage door.
I could put a blade on it and use it for plowing snow in a few weeks