How are mobile phones transformed into remote controls?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how mobile phones can be transformed into remote controls for various devices, including robots and other applications. Participants explore different methods, software requirements, and practical implementations of this concept.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a simple method to control a device is to place a phone inside it and call that phone, requiring additional software on both phones.
  • Another participant mentions that many mobile phones have infrared (IR) capabilities, allowing them to function as remotes for TVs and similar devices.
  • There is a query about the specific software needed to implement such controls, indicating a desire for more detailed technical information.
  • A participant shares an anecdote about a friend's project where two phones were used to control a robot, detailing how one phone was integrated into the robot with a digital output board and how it communicated via DTMF tones.
  • The same participant describes the robot's capability to stream video back to the controlling phone, enhancing the remote control experience.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various methods and ideas for using mobile phones as remote controls, but there is no consensus on the best approach or specific software requirements. The discussion includes both practical examples and theoretical considerations without resolving the differences in opinion.

Contextual Notes

Some limitations include the lack of detailed information on the software needed for implementation and the dependence on specific hardware configurations for successful operation.

craze4physics
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how are phones made to work like remote? i have heard of many innovations like mobile operated robots mobile operatd water pumps... could'nt figur out how the circut is made?
 
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The most straightforward way would be to put a phone in the thing that you want to control. Then just call that phone, and control away. It would take a little extra software in both cell phones, but as you say, people are doing this already.
 
From the other side of it, many mobile phones have IR data transfer and can thereby be converted into TV remotes and the like.

If you want to mount the phone on something then you will need to use the phone as a modem and write the appropriate software on your device and at your controlling station.
 
any idea wat kind of software it needs? i need some more detailed replies nyways thanks berkeman and chayced
 
a friend of mine did this as his final year project (mech eng dit)
he had two phones and he built a robot.
one phone went into the robot. this phone had a small board attached to it with some digital outputs on it (switches) which were hooked up to the robot.
when he rang the phone the robot automatically answered, then he could use the keypad to control the robot, (i'm not sure if its called a dtmf contoller?)
the cool thing was that the robot also had a video camera on it that would feed into the phone so that john could leave the robot anywhere, dial it up and could then see where the robot was and manouver it around the room.
it was pretty cool one day as i was working on my own project the robot suddenly came to life and started to move around the room, it came over to where i was and "looked" at me before returning to its corner. john then sent me a text message stg like "hey james i see your working away on your project, I'm still in bed but i'll be in in the afternoon"
that was pretty cool!
 

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