Micro Heli (Havoc Heli) controlled from PC

[Pr_Chaos]

Hello

Most of the micro heli's are being controlled by an infrared controller. I have an infrared port on my laptop and thus I'm curious if is there any way to control those copters from the laptop.
Basically all I need are the IR codes for all operations, maybe someone has them ? Or has done such thing already ?
Any ideas suggestions are welcome.

PS: As soon as I can connect my laptop to the copter amazing things can be done, for instance combination of different actions, more sensitive controls, etc.

[jeffs555]

Depending on the IRDA hardware in your laptop, you may or may not have access to the low level functions needed to control a havoc heli. Also, the infrared ports on laptops generally would not have enough power to control the heli from across a room. An external LED bank and driver controlled through the parallel port would be simple, but Windows and other PC operating systems are not real time so you may have timing problems even using the internal IRDA hardware.

There are several threads discussing the Havoc/Picooz protocol. Here is one of them and if you search you will find many more. http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=671147&highlight=picooz+protocol

[fprintf]

If you have Linux, you can probably use some existing drivers made for LIRC to control the output to the IR port. However, it is well known, as Jeffs555 indicates, that the IR ports on laptops and Palm devices are very low power and/or not made with a concentrated beam. Hence, the laptop makes a rather poor TV remote controller at typical viewing distances... I can imagine this problem might be amplified when trying to control a helicopter 15 feet away. Unlike radio waves, IR needs to be somewhat directed.

[andrewm1973]

Pr Chaos,

How PicooZ IR Works (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7260300&postcount=48)

But the "Amazing Things Will Be Done" part might be harder than you think.

The RX in the PicooZ is fairly limited. Although you can remove frame spacing from the protocol and use dithering to get slightly more resolution - that is about it.