Overview:
The BB-8 control system is designed for the Joe’s Drive system (MK3).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/
and are available here: https://shop.printed-droid.com/produkt-kategorie/bb-8-electronics/
It corresponds to the standard code and the usual wiring and the most important wires can either be connected via a terminal, alternatively there are also soldering points for JST plugs or simple 2.54 pitch headers.
Both Adafruit AudioFX (mini) soundboards are usable.
David Wolf made a diagram, covering the fuses etc. It’s in the attachements below.
The sketches in the attachements are from the BB8 Joe’s Drive Facebookgroup
https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/
The latest remote, domeboard & mainbord revisions allows the usage of Adafruit Feather 32u4 RFM69HCW
(433 or 900MHz) or a Wemos LOLIN32 LITE (Wemos untested – sketch adjustment needed!).
Feather 32u4 Bluefruit should also be possible, sketch adjustment needed!
On the mainbord the pins for the Adafruit are highlited in the picture below (will mark them on the pcb in the next revision):
The red terminals are 5.08mm pitch, the black terminals 3.5mm pitch.
The needed fuses are Mini blade fuses.
This means RX to TX and vice versa.However, connect RX to RX and TX to TX according to the labeling.
BOM:
Standard Remote:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adafruit Feather 32u4 RFM69HCW 433 or 900MHz -depending on your country (Adafruit 3077 or 3076) https://www.adafruit.com/product/3077 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3076 Look at the antenna options: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-32u4-radio-with-rfm69hcw-module/antenna-options Alternative Wemos Lolin32 Lite – you need to modify the code!!! |
| 1 | 0.96″ OLED SSD1306 Display I2C 128 x 64 |
| 6 | Tactile Push Button 6x6mm ~8mm height (included in the kit) |
| 2 | SK12D07 3pin ON-OFF switch (included in the kit) |
| 2 | Analog 2-axis Thumb Joystick with Select Button (Adafruit 512) https://www.adafruit.com/product/512 |
| 2 | Mini 2-Axis Analog Thumbstick (Adafruit 2765) https://www.adafruit.com/product/2765 |
4D Remote:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adafruit Feather 32u4 RFM69HCW 433 or 900MHz -depending on your country (Adafruit 3077 or 3076) https://www.adafruit.com/product/3077 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3076 Look at the antenna options: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-32u4-radio-with-rfm69hcw-module/antenna-options Alternative Wemos Lolin32 Lite – you need to modify the code!!! |
| 1 | 0.96″ OLED SSD1306 Display I2C 128 x 64 |
| 6 (8) | Tactile Push Button 6x6mm ~8mm height (included in the kit) |
| 2 | SK12D07 3pin ON-OFF switch (included in the kit) |
| 2 | 4D Joysticks JH-D400B-M4 10K 4D Controller |
| various | some 2.54mm headers or solder joystick direct to the board |
Controller (Main) board:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mega2560 Pro (mini) |
| 1 | Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board (Adafruit 2220) https://www.adafruit.com/product/2220 or Adafruit Audio FX Sound Board Mini (Adafruit 2341) https://www.adafruit.com/product/2341 |
| 1 | Adafruit Feather 32u4 RFM69HCW 433 or 900MHz -depending on your country (Adafruit 3077 or 3076) https://www.adafruit.com/product/3077 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3076 Look at the antenna options: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-32u4-radio-with-rfm69hcw-module/antenna-options Alternative Wemos Lolin32 Lite – you need to modify the code!!! |
| 1 | Stepdown 5V/3A (cheap MP1584EN) |
| 1 | 2 Pin Terminal 5.08mm pitch |
| ~11 | 2/3/4 Pin terminal (3.5mm pitch) or 2/3/4 Pin XH connector terminal (2.54mm pitch) or 2/3/4 pin 2.54mm pin header Look at the board what you need |
| various | Resistors soldered on board |
Dome (Light) Controller:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Adafruit Feather 32u4 RFM69HCW 433 or 900MHz -depending on your country (Adafruit 3077 or 3076) https://www.adafruit.com/product/3077 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3076 Look at the antenna options: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather-32u4-radio-with-rfm69hcw-module/antenna-options Alternative Wemos Lolin32 Lite – you need to modify the code!!! |
| 5 | 3 Pin terminal (3.5mm pitch) or 3 Pin XH connector terminal (2.54mm pitch) or 3 pin 2.54mm pin header |
| 1 | SK12D07 3pin ON-OFF switch (included in the kit) |
Power Board:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 9 | 2 Pin Terminals 5.08mm pitch |
| 5 | Fuse holders (included in kit) |
| 5 | Fuses |
| 1 | Power connector (XT60/XT30/Deans) |
Gyro Board:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arduino Pro Mini 5V 16Hz |
| 1 | MPU6050 Gyro (any cheap gyro will work) |
| 1 | 4 Pin terminal (3.5mm pitch) or 2x 2 Pin or 4 Pin XH connector terminal (2.54mm pitch) or 4 pin 2.54mm pin header |
Led Boards:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 3 | 3 Pin terminal (3.5mm pitch) or 2x 2 Pin or 3 Pin XH connector terminal (2.54mm pitch) or 3 pin 2.54mm pin header |
| 2 | Single Neopixel |
Other electronics:
| Quantity: | Component: |
|---|---|
| 3 | uFL SMT Antenna Connector (Adafruit 1661) https://www.adafruit.com/product/1661 |
| 3 | SMA to uFL/u.FL/IPX/IPEX RF Adapter Cable (Adafruit 851) https://www.adafruit.com/product/851 |
| 3 | Great Scott Gadgets ANT700 – 300MHz to 1100MHz Telescope Antenna (Adafruit 3585) https://www.adafruit.com/product/3585 Also any other antenna with the same connector will work (check if its compatible with your used frequency!) for example: Goupchn 433MHz 2dBi WiFi Antenna 50 Ohm with SMA Male Connector 2 Pack Omni-Directional Antenna |
| 3 | BTS7960B DC 43A Stepper Motor Driver |
| 1 | L298N DC Stepper Motor Driver Module Dual H Bridge Control Board |
| 1 | 50K-Ohm Linear-Taper Potentiometer https://www.digikey.de/en/products/detail/cts-electrocomponents/450T328F503A1A1/4733113 or similar |
| 1 | Infinite Spin Pot The Bourns 6630S0D-C28-A103 is discontinued Please use: Bourns 6639S-2-103 https://www.mouser.de/ProductDetail/652-6639S-2-103 |
| 2 | Servos JX Servo PDI-HV2060MG 60KG High Torque 180° Digital Servo |
| 2 (Main Drive) | 165 RPM Motor https://www.servocity.com/165-rpm-hd-premium-planetary-gear-motor or 6mm 12v 160 RPM geared motor https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003646485473.html? If the link is not working or the seller does not ship to your country search Aliexpress for 36mm Motor 36gp-555 (Please check the Joe’s Drive FB Group for more infos about possible motors https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/permalink/3524793454456553/) |
| 1 (Side 2 Side) | 45 RPM Motor https://www.servocity.com/45-rpm-hd-premium-planetary-gear-motor or 6mm 12v 58 RPM geared motor https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003646485473.html? If the link is not working or the seller does not ship to your country search Aliexpress for 36mm Motor 36gp-555 (Please check the Joe’s Drive FB Group for more infos about possible motors https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/permalink/3524793454456553/) |
| 1 (SINGLE MOTOR VERSION) | 612 RPM Motor (Flywheel Spin) https://www.servocity.com/612-rpm-hd-premium-planetary-gear-motor or 6mm 12v 571 RPM geared motor https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005003646485473.html? If the link is not working or the seller does not ship to your country search Aliexpress for 36mm Motor 36gp-555 (Please check the Joe’s Drive FB Group for more infos about possible motors https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/permalink/3524793454456553/) |
| 1 | 100 RPM Motor (Dome Spin) https://www.robotshop.com/en/12v-100rpm-583-oz-in-brushed-dc-motor.html or Greartisan DC 12V 100RPM Geared Motor Eccentric Output Shaft 37mm Diameter https://amzn.to/41M3RFv (Please check the Joe’s Drive FB Group for more infos about possible motors https://www.facebook.com/groups/JoesDrive/permalink/3524793454456553/) |
You will also need an amplifier, speakers, lots of wires, connectors, voltage converters etc.
Pinouts:
Standard Remote:
| Feather Pin / Lolin32 Pin | Component |
|---|---|
| 5 / 5 | Right Middle Button |
| 6 / 18 | Right Top Button |
| 9 / 4 | Right Bottom Button |
| 10 /25 | Left Top Button |
| 11 / 26 | Left Middle Button |
| 12 / 27 | Left Bottom Button |
| 13 / 14 | Left Stick Push Button |
| A0 / 32 | Left Stick vertical |
| A1 / 33 | Left Sick horizontal |
| A2 / 36 | Rear Stick left (top view) – Dome Rotate |
| A3 / 39 | Rear Stick right (top view) – Flywheel |
| A4 / 34 | Right Sick horizontal |
| A5 / 35 | Right Stick vertical |
| TX / 17 | Motor Switch |
| RX / 16 | Right Stick Push Button |
| SDA / 23 | SDA Display |
| SCL / 19 | SCL Display |
| EN / EN | Power Switch |
4D Remote:
| Feather Pin / Lolin32 Pin | Component |
|---|---|
| 5 / 5 | Right Middle Button |
| 6 / 18 | Right Top Button |
| 9 / 4 | Right Bottom Button |
| 10 /25 | Left Top Button |
| 11 / 26 | Left Middle Button |
| 12 / 27 | Left Bottom Button |
| 13 / 14 | Left Stick Push Button |
| A0 / 32 | Left Stick Y (Dome) |
| A1 / 33 | Left Sick X (Dome) |
| A2 / 36 | Dome Rotate S (4D Joystick) |
| A3 / 39 | Flywheel S (4D Joystick) |
| A4 / 34 | Right Stick X (Drive) |
| A5 / 35 | Right Stick Y (Drive) |
| TX / 17 | Motor Switch |
| RX / 16 | Right Stick Push Button |
| SDA / 23 | SDA Display |
| SCL / 19 | SCL Display |
| EN / EN | Power Switch |
Mainboard:
Adjust the MP1584 to 5V!
| Mega2560 | Feather Pin / Lolin32 Pin |
|---|---|
| D18 | 0 / 16 |
| D19 | 1 / 17 |
| Mega2560 | Adafruit Soundboard |
|---|---|
| A4 | Audio R |
| D14 | RX Pin |
| D15 | TX Pin |
| D35 | ACT Pin |
| D37 | RST Pin |
| Mega2560 | Terminal/Pin Signals |
|---|---|
| A0 | Side2Side Pot |
| A4 | Dome Spin Pot |
| A5 | Voltage Divider |
| D4 | Servo 2 |
| D5 | Servo 1 |
| D6 | Side 2 Side Motor (Terminal Pin 1) |
| D7 | Side 2 Side Motor (Terminal Pin 2) |
| D8 | Flywheel Motor (Terminal Pin 1) |
| D9 | Flywheel Motor (Terminal Pin 2) |
| D10 | Dome Spin Motor (IN4) |
| D11 | Dome Spin Motor (IN3) |
| D12 | Main Drive Motor (Terminal Pin 2) |
| D13 | Main Drive Motor (Terminal Pin 1) |
| D16 (TX) | Gyro RX |
| D17 (RX) | Gyro TX |
| D29 | Main Drive Motor/Flywheelmotor (Terminal Pins 3&4) |
| D33 | Side 2 Side Motor (Terminal Pins 3&4) |
Dome Controller:
| Component (Lightboard) | Feather Pin / Lolin32 Pin |
|---|---|
| Eye | 11 / 16 |
| PSI | 10 / 17 |
| Holo Projector | 3 / 5 |
| Small Logics | 5 / 32 |
| Large Logics | 6 / 33 |
Power Board:
No Pinout needed 🙂
Gyro Board:
| Component | Component Pin | Arduino Pin |
|---|---|---|
| MPU6050 | SCL | A5 |
| SDA | A4 |
Button functions on a traditional remote
(source Joe’s Drive FB Group)
Pinout 4D Joystick
BB8 4D v2 Remote ISSUE!
Solved with current revisions!
Unfortunately there is a small tracing error on the first 4D Remote PCB (version v2).
The 4D Stick Buttons can replace the other buttons, but they themselves do not have the original function.
The selector jumpers should therefore be ignored.
Please solder 2 wires on the bottom of the board.
B1 on the left to pin 13 on the Adafruit.
B1 on the right to pin RX on the Adafruit.
This restores the original function. A new board has already been ordered (version V2.1).
Version 2.1 has an extra button that can replace the stick buttons if you want to reroute the stick button.
Otherwise, the solder jumper next to A1/B1 must be soldered to restore the original function.
If you have one of the protoboards and want the “corrected” version, please write to me 
Instrucions for fixing V2:
