Can i control my rcx with a smartphone (has an ir blaster)

[AI toothbrush]

I have an android smartphone with an ir blaster and the rcx uses ir so can I control it with my smartphone? If I have to use some specific tools or need to do something complicated so it'll work I can.

[kieran]

If you can send ir then yes, easy way would be to get one of the old remotes and learn the codes using your phone 

[Toastie]

As @kieran said: When your smartphone knows how to learn IR codes sent @2400 baud, 1 stop, 8 data, odd parity, 1 stop bit, then yes.

The LEGO remote has a rather limited range of codes it generates (ABC motor ports full fwd/bwd), messages 1 - 3, starting program slots 1 - 5, stop active program and "beep".

When that is enough for controlling the RCX in addition to the protocol constraints then yes, it will work.

Best
Thorsten 

[Duq]

Long time ago I got started on controlling PF from an Android phone with IR. Got the PoC working but never took the time to take it any further.

Here is someone who has done some reverse engineering on the remote control signals: https://ofalcao.pt/blog/2017/decoding-rcx-ir-command-protocol

Should be possible to write an Android program for that...

[Toastie]

@Duq I saw that on as well. Very nice analysis and even more so a nice write-up.

It appears though that a lot of reengineering efforts and "RCX research" was done earlier - in the years after the RCX system was released. This here is from 2001; I always refer to this page (well, saved the page as PDF, just in case it disappears ...): http://www.mientki.ruhosting.nl/data_www/lego_knex/lego_electronica/ir_tower/ir_tower.html This page is still there; many of the links may not work anymore though. It is really a very nice resource for also making your own IR hardware. The notes on the LEGO IR (RCX/Scout/Spybot) serial protocol are really helpful.

@BrickTronic provided this link http://www.robotika.sk/mains.php?page=/projects/lego/tower/index.php for a "correct" circuit diagram of the serial IR tower electronics - this page is not in English but has nice further information. Also the links provided are helpful.

Best
Thorsten

 

[Duq]

This is PF but have you come across this guy? http://www.hackvandedam.nl/blog/?page_id=547

[Toastie]

Nice! Never seen. Bookmarked - man, so nice stuff out there ... Thanks for the link!

Best
Thorsten