Arc Pro Hand Controller Interface

[RobCab]

Does anyone know how the interface between the wireless hand controller and Arc Pro works, protocols etc. IS is Wireless, bluetooth etc?

I want to be able to send commands to the Arc Pro that simulate a hand throttle position. Is there a way I can interface an ESP32 microcontroller wirelessly to the Arc Pro to achieve this.

 

[woodcote]

The ARC Pro / ARC Air throttles are 2.4GHz wireless. Hornby have not released the protocols to the public. The ARC controllers were developed in conjunction with Slot.it, whose oXigen-compatible SCP controllers use a similar system. With a change of firmware, ARC Pro controllers will control oXigen cars and the SCP oXigen-compatible controller will work with the ARC Pro and ARC Air powerbases. You could always email Scalextric Customer Services to request the information you're after.

[RobCab]

Thank you

[Dr_C]

Hi Robcab,

 

As mentioned by woodcote the protocol has not been released by Hornby.

 

The ARC PRO controllers use a nRF51822 microcontroller in conjunction with a Nordic proprietary 2.4GHz protocol known as Enhanced Shockburst (ESB).

 

The project you propose would be quite complex to implement. The ESP32 doesnt have an ESB mode. So you would need to use  an ESP32 in conjunction with an nRF24L01+. This would provide WiFi via the ESP32 and ESB via the nRF device. As I mention this would be quite an advanced project, and depending what you wish to achieve there may well be easier options.

 

I hope this information is interesting and helpful.

 

c