April 2012 – Imthiaz Blog

Qik 2s9v1 + Proximity Sensor + Gear motor with Arduino

April 17, 2012
Imthiaz
Electronics

For the past two days I have literally lost my patience with Qik 2s9v1 dual serial motor controller. I have referred so many website and I could not make this controller work. After hours of searching I found this library which was compatible with Arduino 1.0. Now I got a library which can used to communicate with the controller but the commands I send was not getting received. I posted in Pololu forum and I didn’t get a reply. Today I joined Sparkfun IRC chatroom and requested for help. @agmlego helped me in resolving the issue. I was using wrong baud rate for serial communication. Once that got the issue resolved I jumped into controlling the motor using a Proximity Sensor.

The mission was to change the motor rotation to reverse if any object is close by.

#include <CompactQik2s9v1.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
/*
Important Note:
The rxPin goes to the Qik's "TX" pin
The txPin goes to the Qik's "RX" pin
*/
#define rxPin 2
#define txPin 3
#define rstPin 4

#define sensorIR A0
float sensorValue, inches;

SoftwareSerial mySerial =  SoftwareSerial(rxPin, txPin);
CompactQik2s9v1 motor = CompactQik2s9v1(&mySerial,rstPin);

void setup()  {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  mySerial.begin(38400);
  motor.begin();
  motor.stopBothMotors();
}

void loop() {
  inches = 0;
  for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++){
    sensorValue = analogRead(sensorIR);
    inches = inches + ( 4192.936 * pow(sensorValue,-0.935) - 3.937);
    delay(100);
  }
  inches = inches / 5;
  if(inches < 8.0){
    motor.motor0Reverse(127);
    motor.motor1Reverse(127);
  }else{
    motor.motor0Forward(127);
    motor.motor1Forward(127);
  }
  Serial.print("Inches: ");
  Serial.println(inches);
}

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#include <CompactQik2s9v1.h>

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

/*

Important Note:

The rxPin goes to the Qik's "TX" pin

The txPin goes to the Qik's "RX" pin

*/

#define rxPin 2

#define txPin 3

#define rstPin 4

#define sensorIR A0

float sensorValue, inches;

SoftwareSerial mySerial = SoftwareSerial(rxPin, txPin);

CompactQik2s9v1 motor = CompactQik2s9v1(&mySerial,rstPin);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

mySerial.begin(38400);

motor.begin();

motor.stopBothMotors();

}

void loop() {

inches = 0;

for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++){

sensorValue = analogRead(sensorIR);

inches = inches + ( 4192.936 * pow(sensorValue,-0.935) - 3.937);

delay(100);

}

inches = inches / 5;

if(inches < 8.0){

motor.motor0Reverse(127);

motor.motor1Reverse(127);

}else{

motor.motor0Forward(127);

motor.motor1Forward(127);

}

Serial.print("Inches: ");

Serial.println(inches);

}

I am really happy with the progress, I hope these reference bellow helps 😉

Reference: Qik Dual Serial Motor Controller, Infrared Proximity Sensor, Micro Metal Gear motor, CompactQik2s9v1, Long Range Infrared

PS: If anyone needs help with the connection please feel free to contact me.

EasyDriver + Stepper Motor with Arduino

April 10, 2012
Imthiaz
Electronics

Today was a busy shopping day in Deira, Dubai. Finally found a location where I can buy electronic stuffs like resistors, capacitors, LED etc. The things I bought today was

Regulated Power Supply
Soldering Station

Once I was home, I started to solder the EasyDriver Stepper Motor Driver.

Basically I soldered few male header so I can fix the EasyDriver board easily to a bread board. Then connected the Stepper Motor to the driver board and needed connection to Arduino board.

#define DIR_PIN 2
#define STEP_PIN 3

int rotation=0;
int direction = 1;
int ledYellowPin =  8;
int ledRedPin =  9;

void setup() {
  pinMode(DIR_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(STEP_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ledYellowPin, OUTPUT);     
  pinMode(ledRedPin, OUTPUT);     
} 

void loop(){ 
  rotation++;
  if(rotation==10){
    direction = direction * -1;
    rotation = 0;
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);
    delay(1000);
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);
    delay(1000);
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);
    delay(1000);
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);
    delay(1000);
  }
  if(direction>0){
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);
  }else{
    digitalWrite(ledYellowPin,LOW);
    digitalWrite(ledRedPin,  HIGH);
  }
  rotateDeg(direction * 360, 1.0);
}

void rotateDeg(float deg, float speed){
  int dir = (deg > 0)? HIGH:LOW;
  digitalWrite(DIR_PIN,dir); 
  int steps = abs(deg)*(1/0.225);
  float usDelay = (1/speed) * 70;
  for(int i=0; i < steps; i++){
    digitalWrite(STEP_PIN, HIGH);
    delayMicroseconds(usDelay); 
    digitalWrite(STEP_PIN, LOW);
    delayMicroseconds(usDelay);
  }
}

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#define DIR_PIN 2

#define STEP_PIN 3

int rotation=0;

int direction = 1;

int ledYellowPin = 8;

int ledRedPin = 9;

void setup() {

pinMode(DIR_PIN, OUTPUT);

pinMode(STEP_PIN, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledYellowPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledRedPin, OUTPUT);

}

void loop(){

rotation++;

if(rotation==10){

direction = direction * -1;

rotation = 0;

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, LOW);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, LOW);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);

delay(1000);

}

if(direction>0){

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin, HIGH);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, LOW);

}else{

digitalWrite(ledYellowPin,LOW);

digitalWrite(ledRedPin, HIGH);

}

rotateDeg(direction * 360, 1.0);

}

void rotateDeg(float deg, float speed){

int dir = (deg > 0)? HIGH:LOW;

digitalWrite(DIR_PIN,dir);

int steps = abs(deg)*(1/0.225);

float usDelay = (1/speed) * 70;

for(int i=0; i < steps; i++){

digitalWrite(STEP_PIN, HIGH);

delayMicroseconds(usDelay);

digitalWrite(STEP_PIN, LOW);

delayMicroseconds(usDelay);

}

Reference: Use The EasyDriver Stepper Motor Driver + Arduino, Blink

Liquid Crystal Display with Ardunio

April 9, 2012
Imthiaz
Electronics

The learning process with Arduino continues… Last week I had ordered bunch of goodies from Sparkfun, and today morning I received them. I tried to assemble few circuits, but I understood I need to get a decent soldering station to continue my experiments. But I was able to make Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) to work. But I had to hold it in a position for it to work.

/*
 http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal
 */

// include the library code:
#include <liquidcrystal .h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: 
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  // Print a message to the LCD.
  lcd.print("imthi.com");
  delay(1000);
}

void loop() {
  // scroll 13 positions (string length) to the left 
  // to move it offscreen left:
  for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 13; positionCounter++) {
    // scroll one position left:
    lcd.scrollDisplayLeft(); 
    // wait a bit:
    delay(250);
  }

  // scroll 29 positions (string length + display length) to the right
  // to move it offscreen right:
  for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 29; positionCounter++) {
    // scroll one position right:
    lcd.scrollDisplayRight(); 
    // wait a bit:
    delay(250);
  }
  
    // scroll 16 positions (display length + string length) to the left
    // to move it back to center:
  for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 16; positionCounter++) {
    // scroll one position left:
    lcd.scrollDisplayLeft(); 
    // wait a bit:
    delay(250);
  }
  // delay at the end of the full loop:
  delay(1000);

}

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/*

http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal

*/

// include the library code:

#include <liquidcrystal .h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins

LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

void setup() {

// set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:

lcd.begin(16, 2);

// Print a message to the LCD.

lcd.print("imthi.com");

delay(1000);

}

void loop() {

// scroll 13 positions (string length) to the left

// to move it offscreen left:

for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 13; positionCounter++) {

// scroll one position left:

lcd.scrollDisplayLeft();

// wait a bit:

delay(250);

}

// scroll 29 positions (string length + display length) to the right

// to move it offscreen right:

for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 29; positionCounter++) {

// scroll one position right:

lcd.scrollDisplayRight();

// wait a bit:

delay(250);

}

// scroll 16 positions (display length + string length) to the left

// to move it back to center:

for (int positionCounter = 0; positionCounter < 16; positionCounter++) {

// scroll one position left:

lcd.scrollDisplayLeft();

// wait a bit:

delay(250);

}

// delay at the end of the full loop:

delay(1000);

}

Reference : SparkFun Inventor’s Kit for Arduino, LCD Add-On for SIK, How to use the LCD with the SparkFun Inventor’s Kit.

Temperature Sensor with Arduino & LED

April 3, 2012
Imthiaz
Electronics

This is a mini project using Arduino. This uses a temperature sensor and Arduino Uno.

int pin = 2;
int temperaturePin=0;

void setup() { 
  Serial.begin(9600);
  for(pin = 2; pin < = 9; pin += 1){
    pinMode(pin,OUTPUT);
  }
} 
  
void loop() {
  float temperature = getVoltage(temperaturePin);
  temperature = (temperature - .5) * 100;
  
  int toLit = map(temperature,20,80,2,9);
  lightsToLit(2,toLit);
  delay(250);
} 

void lightsToLit(int start,int end){
  for(pin = 2; pin <= 9; pin += 1){
    digitalWrite(pin,LOW);
  }
  for(pin = start; pin <= end; pin += 1){
    digitalWrite(pin,HIGH);
  }
}

float getVoltage(int pin){
 return (analogRead(pin) * .004882814);
}

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int pin = 2;

int temperaturePin=0;

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

for(pin = 2; pin < = 9; pin += 1){

pinMode(pin,OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

float temperature = getVoltage(temperaturePin);

temperature = (temperature - .5) * 100;

int toLit = map(temperature,20,80,2,9);

lightsToLit(2,toLit);

delay(250);

}

void lightsToLit(int start,int end){

for(pin = 2; pin <= 9; pin += 1){

digitalWrite(pin,LOW);

}

for(pin = start; pin <= end; pin += 1){

digitalWrite(pin,HIGH);

}

float getVoltage(int pin){

return (analogRead(pin) * .004882814);

}

Reference: SparkFun Inventor’s Kit Sample Project – 02, SparkFun Inventor’s Kit Sample Project – 10