PC to Arduino wireless link (low latency)

Question

I want to build a robot car with an camera gimbal on top of it. This robot and gimbal should be controlled wireless by a gamepad and the head tracking of an Oculus Rift. As it is with the Oculus Rift, it has to have a low latency. Now I am searching a wireless solution to send the control bytes (about 5 bytes with max. 1000Hz) from a computer to an Arduino. The latency has to be as short as possible (1-3 ms). I already searched and I found these RF systems:

• RFM22B
• nRF24L01+ and nRF24LU1+
• RF Link 433Mhz

Is there a better solution? Or which of the RF systems above is the best for my case?

Answer 1

5 bytes (8 bits) at 1kbaud (1000 Hz) means that the payload is 40 bits and this with my simple maths implies a minimum latency of 40 milli seconds. Given that the payload will need to be packaged like this....

• Preamble to lock-in the receiver possibly as low as 24 bits)
• Header (address of the receiver possibly 8 bits)
• Payload ( 40 bits)
• Error check (16 bits)

Total number of bits is 88 bits and at 1kbaud this is a latency of 88 milli seconds just to receive and check the data is valid.

Going at 10kbaud means a latency of obviously 8.8 milli seconds.

This device can transmit at 115.2kbps and has an output power of +8dBm so is a more likely contender and here is the matching receiver module: -

I've not gone into looking at these in any technical detail but they do seem the sort of module to use. They are FM too so there's a couple of dB more resilience for the same transmit power/ distance compared to AM.

Answer 2

One of my co-worker suggested to use Bluetooth modules of the company u-blox, because they are low latency and also optimizable. I used two connectBlue OBS421I-26-0 and one connectBlue ACC-34. The ACC-34 is just a serial-to-USB adapter to connect the Bluetooth module with the stationary PC.