SparkFun

Wireless Joystick Breakout Board for XBee

Name: Wireless Joystick Breakout Board for XBee
Brand: SparkFun
SKU: SF-DEV-14008
Price: 34.4 AUD
Availability: InStock

· MPN: DEV-14008

Breakouts Wireless & Connectivity Robotics Game Controllers

$34.40 |

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This breakout board makes it easier to build a custom wireless controller for XBee-based projects, without relying on a standard hobby RC transmitter. It is ...

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This breakout board makes it easier to build a custom wireless controller for XBee-based projects, without relying on a standard hobby RC transmitter. It is designed for makers who want to choose their own control layout for robots, vehicles and other radio-controlled builds.

The board includes an onboard SAMD21 and provides sockets for your own XBee module and lithium-ion battery. It can be assembled in different configurations, including dual joysticks for tank-style steering or a single joystick layout with four 12mm momentary pushbuttons.

Power management is built in with an MCP73831 LiPo charge IC and a MAX17043 fuel gauge. SparkFun provides a Hookup Guide with assembly instructions, plus a tank-steering motor controller tutorial to help you get started.

Please note that assembly is required, so basic soldering knowledge is needed. This kit is not supported on Windows 7/8 due to driver support limitations. XBee board, LiPo battery, buttons, switches and joysticks are not included.

Features:

XBee project control: Provides a custom wireless control platform for XBee-based projects.
Onboard SAMD21: Equipped with the increasingly popular SAMD21 onboard.
Configurable layout: Can be assembled into the configuration you want.
Dual joystick option: Supports a dual joystick configuration for better RC steering robots, such as tanks.
Single joystick option: Supports a single joystick configuration with four 12mm momentary pushbuttons.
Battery support: Includes a socket for your own lithium-ion battery.
LiPo charging: Built-in LiPo charge IC (MCP73831).
Fuel gauge: Built-in fuel gauge (MAX17043).

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

breakout: A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
LiPo: A LiPo (lithium polymer) battery is a rechargeable lithium battery widely used in portable projects because it is light and compact. LiPo cells need correct charging circuitry and careful handling to stay safe, so equipment that supports LiPo generally includes charging or protection hardware suited to that battery type.
MCP73831: A lithium battery charger chip used to safely charge a single-cell LiPo battery. It matters because it lets the board recharge a battery from USB or another input without needing a separate charger module.
SAMD21: The SAMD21 is a Microchip (formerly Atmel) 32-bit Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller used in many Arduino-compatible boards. The exact chip affects which libraries, clock speeds and peripheral features are available, so software needs to support the SAMD21 specifically.