I was recently introduced to MAKE which has now given me the courage to venture into a project I’ve been wanting to accomplish for awhile but I’ll be the first to admit I’m a little over my head and am looking for some guidance and advice on how to get started.

So here’s what I have. A remote control toy crane excavator with supplied remote. The crane is fully functional with controls for forward, backward, boom up and down, hoist up and down with clamshell opening on the down and closing on the up, and carrier (top portion) spins independently from the tracks.

I have another remote which is a wireless radio remote made for Terex truck cranes who manufacturers cranes for the construction industry. The remote has four spring loaded levers and several toggle switches for various functions of a truck crane. More than what is needed to control the functions of the R/C crane.

My goal is to have the Terex crane remote to control the R/C crane with realistic motions of a real crane. The two parts of the conversion of the project are the crane itself and then the remote. The first being easier than the second in my mind. The R/C crane functions with no speed controls, the R/C crane remote either turns the crane functions on or off. With no control over the speed at which it performs its operations controlling the R/C crane can be a very unrealistic process. Unless someone has a better idea I plan on addressing this by using electronics from other R/C components such as electronic speed controls and receivers which I have at my disposal. The far greater challenge is to get the Terex transmitter to talk to a R/C receiver I plan on installing in the R/C crane and then use the remote to perform its intended functions. Sounds simple but the Terex remote is a far more complex remote, it contains a transmitter that looks like a transmitter for a wireless laptop rather than what you would fine in a R/C vehicle. Then rest of the Terex electronics are way over my head. My first question is, can I use the existing electronics in the Terex remote but replace the transmitter to something more on par with the technology you would find in current R/C hobby industry? If so, any recommendation on where to start?

The Terex remote is manufactured by NBB controls. This model (Nano-L-A1) has been discontinued and I haven’t found much documentation on it.

Pics:

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Thanks

Mat
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