I found this great tutorial on the SparkFun website that shows how to interface your radio with an Arduino. As stated on the website, the output from the receiver is just a PWM (pulse width modulation) signal. The Arduino sketch given on the website uses the Arduino pins as input, decodes the PWM signal, and displays the stick x and y co-ordinates as well as switch position in the serial monitor. I just tried this out and it works great, it can be used to add an RC feature to just about any Arduino projects. I just need to buy myself a motor driver and I am going to build an Arduino robot. Anyway, to try this out you will need:
1. An Arduino/ clone (I used the genuine Arduino Uno R3) along with its USB A-B cable
2. Tx and Rx of your choice
3. Male to female jumper wires
Hook up the signal pins from your receiver to the Arduino pins 5,6 and 7 (if you are using the same sketch as me). The connections may not be the same for you, so just to clarify: pin 7 -> aileron, pin 6 -> elevator, pin 5 -> whichever channel has a two position switch on your transmitter. Power your receiver by connecting the + and - pins of the BATT channel to the 5V and GND pins of the Arduino respectively. Upload the second sketch on this page:
https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/348 and open the serial monitor. Watch the output change as you move the right stick and flip the 2 position switch. The uses of this technique are limited only by your imagination (and your access to parts/ programming skills
).
DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for any damage you cause.
All credit goes to SparkFun Electronics, just posting my experience following their instructions.