LukeZ
New member
Hi Guys,
Thought I'd share a simple project to add sound to RC models. There are various products in existence already that do this, but either they don't do it very well (see Taigen) or else they are outrageously expensive, see the Benedini TBS Mini (approximately $150) or the Beier USM-RC-2 (even more).
This project uses a Teensy 3.2 to do all the heavy lifting, and it plugs into a simple carrier board that provides an amp (LM48310, same as on the PJRC Prop Shield), LDO, SD card slot, and various connections for speaker, volume and other things typical of RC models. There is also space for a flash chip but so far the software doesn't use it. I was afraid I would have problems playing multiple sounds simultaneously from the SD card but so far it hasn't been an issue and we play up to 6 WAVs at once.
Basically the hardware is quite simple, the firmware gives us the magic. To get the most functionality it is actually better to control the device via serial commands, and it was designed specifically for use with our Open Panzer Tank Control Board (TCB). However there are also 5 RC inputs on the board that presently allows control of the engine and some other auxiliary sounds as well as the volume from standard RC gear.
Configuration is pretty simple, just put your sounds on the SD card with the appropriate names as listed in the documentation.
All software and hardware is open source. The GitHub page has the firmware as well as links to the Eagle files, bill-of-materials, and bare boards from OSH Park, as well as instructions for use.
Here is a thread over on the Open Panzer forums with some minor discussion (mostly a monologue) about development: Open Source Sound using Teensy 3.2 and PJRC Audio Library
What is needed now are more sound sets, which some beta-testers are working on.
At least in the RC tank community I believe there would be quite a demand for this sort of product since there are no other good options presently available and tankers always want sound. I'd be interested to have it manufactured by somebody and let them keep the profits (if there were any). We got our first product (the TCB) to market this way via HobbyKing but that experience has been frustrating to say the least and I would probably not want to use them again even if they were interested, which I don't believe they are.
Thought I'd share a simple project to add sound to RC models. There are various products in existence already that do this, but either they don't do it very well (see Taigen) or else they are outrageously expensive, see the Benedini TBS Mini (approximately $150) or the Beier USM-RC-2 (even more).
This project uses a Teensy 3.2 to do all the heavy lifting, and it plugs into a simple carrier board that provides an amp (LM48310, same as on the PJRC Prop Shield), LDO, SD card slot, and various connections for speaker, volume and other things typical of RC models. There is also space for a flash chip but so far the software doesn't use it. I was afraid I would have problems playing multiple sounds simultaneously from the SD card but so far it hasn't been an issue and we play up to 6 WAVs at once.
Basically the hardware is quite simple, the firmware gives us the magic. To get the most functionality it is actually better to control the device via serial commands, and it was designed specifically for use with our Open Panzer Tank Control Board (TCB). However there are also 5 RC inputs on the board that presently allows control of the engine and some other auxiliary sounds as well as the volume from standard RC gear.
Configuration is pretty simple, just put your sounds on the SD card with the appropriate names as listed in the documentation.
All software and hardware is open source. The GitHub page has the firmware as well as links to the Eagle files, bill-of-materials, and bare boards from OSH Park, as well as instructions for use.
Here is a thread over on the Open Panzer forums with some minor discussion (mostly a monologue) about development: Open Source Sound using Teensy 3.2 and PJRC Audio Library
What is needed now are more sound sets, which some beta-testers are working on.
At least in the RC tank community I believe there would be quite a demand for this sort of product since there are no other good options presently available and tankers always want sound. I'd be interested to have it manufactured by somebody and let them keep the profits (if there were any). We got our first product (the TCB) to market this way via HobbyKing but that experience has been frustrating to say the least and I would probably not want to use them again even if they were interested, which I don't believe they are.