The Pololu 4-Channel RC Servo Multiplexer can be used with standard hobby radio control systems and servo controllers to allow easy switching of servo control between two independent sources using a separate auxiliary channel as the input selector. This makes it ideal for applications in which you have two possible control sources and want to be able to switch between them on the fly. For example, you could connect two RC receivers to the same set of servos or electronic speed controls (ESCs) and allow the master transmitter to decide whether the master or slave transmitter is in control, thereby setting up your own buddy-system training setup. Another possible application would involve multiplexing between an RC receiver and a servo controller, which would allow you to switch between autonomous and manual control of a set of servos. The RC multiplexer (also known as a “mux”) is available preassembled with male header pins or as a partial kit that allows for greater application flexibility and more compact installations.
The RC multiplexer measures the width of incoming RC pulses on the channel labeled SEL and compares it to a user-configurable threshold (with ±64 µs of hysteresis) to decide whether the master (M1–M4) or slave (S1–S4) inputs to the mux should show up on the output channels (OUT1–OUT4). By default, the threshold is approximately 1700 µs and the slave inputs are only selected when the pulses on SEL are above this threshold. The multiplexer has a learning mode that allows you to change the threshold and activation direction. A yellow indicator LED provides feedback about the state of the RC mux.
When the RC signal on the SEL channel is lost or invalid, the optional FAILMODE jumper determines the output behavior. If the jumper is left off, the master inputs will be in control. If the jumper is connected, the output channels go low and stay low for as long as the signal on the SEL channel remains invalid. For many servos and ESCs, a constant low on the signal line will turn them off, which might be desirable if the control signals are known to be bad.
The multiplexer considers the RC signal on the SEL channel to be valid if it has a 10–330 Hz pulse rate and 0.5–2.5 ms pulse width. The other inputs (S1–S4 and M1–M4) are unrestricted.
The power supplied by the master RC device should be between 2.5 and 16 V, and it must be capable of supplying the current that the servos connected to the outputs draw. The power pins of the SEL, M1–M4, and OUT1–OUT4 channels are all connected to the same VM rail, and the mux draws its power from those pins. The power pins of the S1–S4 inputs are connected to each other on the VS rail but are not used by the board.
More information about using this product can be found in the user’s guide.
Included hardware
The Pololu 4-Channel RC Servo Multiplexer is available in two versions:
- The assembled version ships with the headers pins soldered in to every through-hole except the extra slave power connection pins, as shown in the left picture below. A shorting block is included for optional use with the FAILMODE jumper pins. The assembled version can be incorporated into an existing RC system without the need for any additional soldering. The header pin spacing is the same as on standard RC receivers, so the board works directly with standard hobby RC servos and servo cables.
- The partial kit version gives you the flexibility to choose different connections. It includes a shorting block and two 1×25-pin male headers. These strips can be broken into smaller strips and soldered to the board, or wires can be soldered directly to the board for the most compact installation.
Comparison to our RC switches
The RC multiplexer is essentially our Pololu RC Switch with digital output combined with a quad 2-input multiplexer. The LED behavior and configuration procedures are the same. However, the RC switches have a safe-start feature that is not enabled on the RC multiplexer. The RC switches have a GOOD output that is high when the signal is good, while the RC multiplexer has a GOOD output that is low when the signal is good (this signal can be accessed via the upper/octagonal pad of the FAILMODE jumper). The RC switches have an OUT output that indicates whether the switch is active; the RC multiplexer has the same signal, but it is not easily accessible.
