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Question Can't communicate with Arduino...

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by Lebois, Dec 12, 2018.

  1. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Hi all !

    I am trying to retrieve the data sent from Simtools to the Arduino with the simple following code :

    Code:
    /*
    Use this code to check what Simtools send to the Arduino
    */
    
    int incomingByte = 0;
    
    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(9600);
    }
    
    void loop() {
      incomingByte = Serial.read();
    
      // say what you got:
      Serial.print("I received: ");
      Serial.println(incomingByte, DEC);
    }
    But the only answer that I get is : I received: -1

    I want to know the exact data sent from Simtools because I would like to use stepper motors to build a 2Dof sim rig.

    Here is the configuration :
    Capture.JPG
    Capture2.JPG
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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  3. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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  4. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Set DOF 1 for Axis 1a to 100% (your only using 4% of the output)
    Your sending the value as a Chr (binary) to the Arduino.(a chr can be a value of 0 to 255)
    (for testing set it to 8 bit output)
    Then you need to convert it back into a value in the ard.
    int_output = atoi(char_input);

    Let me know how it goes.
    yobuddy
  5. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Thanks for your reply !

    So I will test the following code tonight :
    Code:
    /*
    Use this code to check what Simtools send to the Arduino
    */
    
      int char_input ;
      int int_output ;
     
    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(115200);
    }
    
    void loop() {
      char_input = Serial.read();
      int_output = atoi(char_input);
      // say what you got:
      Serial.print("I received: ");
      Serial.println(int_output);
    }
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    I tried the following code, but it appears that no serial data goes to the Arduino...

    Code:
    /*
    Use this code to check what Simtools send to the Arduino
    */
    
      int char_input ;
      int int_output ;
     
    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(115200);
    }
    
    void loop() {
      if (Serial.available() > 0) {
      char_input = Serial.read();
      int_output = atoi(char_input);
      //say what you got:
      Serial.print("I received: ");
      Serial.println(int_output);
    }
    delay(500);
    Serial.println("nothing in last 500ms");
    }

    Attached Files:

  7. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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    Please remove the "P" from the output line and try again buddy.
    Make it simple with just "<Axis1a>" for the output.
    Chat soon,
    yobuddy
    • Like Like x 1
  8. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    I tried to remove the P, but it doesn't changed the problem.

    Now here is what I tried : if Serial.available()>0, light one led. And it works ! The Simtools send datas to arduino, the problem is that it probably doesn't managed to send it back to the computer...

    By the way, this seems to only work with the arduino nano, not with the Leonardo...
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2018
  9. yobuddy

    yobuddy Well-Known Member Staff Member Moderator SimAxe Beta Tester SimTools Developer Gold Contributor

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  10. pmvcda

    pmvcda aka FlyPT

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    In your last picture, the Arduino serial monitor is open.
    You have to close it.
    You can't use the COM port simultaneously in the Arduino serial monitor and SimTools.
    Might not be this, but it shows it open in your pictures and it must be closed.
  11. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Yes good advice, I will try this code. I will have to wait for the Uno to arrive... I started to read the code, far more complex than what I am used to...

    That's what I feared... So how can you read the data sent ? Maybe I will try to put an lcd panel on the arduino :)
  12. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Hi again ! I make a code that allows to display pitch data on a LCD. Now the problem is that numbers are quite strange.. It goes from 0 to 255 but in a strange way.
    0% is 0 or 253 (when the cursor comes back and forth to the same position),
    50% is 0 or 255
    100% is 255
    -100% is 0
    -50% is 255
    Then we fo from 0% to 50% by 2 or by 3 (it change everytime...), the same goes for -100% to -50% etc

    Here is the code. And then the settings. Axe limiting is 100%.

    Code:
    //********************************************************************************************
    // Simtools Data to LCD code
    // Simtools output : P<Axis1a>C. Inspired by Sirnoname
    // By Aurélien Leca
    //********************************************************************************************
    int buffer           =  0 ;    // It takes the value of the serial data
    int buffercount      = -1 ;    // To count where we are in the serial datas
    int commandbuffer[5] = {0};    // To stock the serial datas in the good order.
    
    #include <LiquidCrystal.h> // includes the LiquidCrystal Library
    
    LiquidCrystal lcd(3, 5, 10,11,12,13); // Creates an LC object. Parameters: (rs, enable, d4, d5, d6, d7)
    
    void setup() {
      lcd.begin(16,2); // Initializes the interface to the LCD screen, and specifies the dimensions (width and height) of the display }
      Serial.begin(115200);
    }
    
    void loop() {
    SerialWorker();
    }
    
    void SerialWorker(){
     
        while(Serial.available())
        {
            if(buffercount==-1)
            {
                buffer = Serial.read();
                if(buffer != 'P'){buffercount=-1;}else{buffercount=0;} // "P" is the marquer. If we read P, the next data is pitch
            }
            else   //  if(buffercount>=0)
            {
                buffer = Serial.read();
                commandbuffer[buffercount]=buffer;   // The first value next to "P" is saved in commandbuffer in the place "buffercount"
                buffercount++;
                if(buffercount > 2)
                {
                    if(commandbuffer[2]=='C'){    // If the third data is "C", then commandbuffer is full, we can use it
                    
                      lcd.print( commandbuffer[1]);
                      delay(100);
                      lcd.clear();
                    }
                    buffercount=-1;   // Re-initialize buffercount.
                }
            }
        }
    }

    Attached Files:

  13. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    If you want 0 to 255 output use 8 bit output not 10 as you have it set now which is outputting 0 to 1023.
    • Informative Informative x 1
  14. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    That makes sense, but when I use 8 bit range output, nothing appears on the LCD...
  15. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    The sketch appears to read 10 bit input but you're only printing the second byte to the lcd. That explains why the lcd shows 0 to 255 four times when moving the slider from far left to far right.
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2018
  16. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Hm... First byte is P, second byte is the pitch value, so it's normal to only print the first one isn't ?
  17. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    With 8 bit output P is first, value is second, and C is third, so with 8 bit yes. But with 10bit output (and up thru 16 bit) P is first, value hi is second, value low is third, and C is forth. To get the 10 bit value you have to multiply value hi by 256 then add value low to that.

    (value hi * 256) + value low
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2018
  18. Lebois

    Lebois (maybe I am wrong, but who knows...)

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    Thanks it works ! Here is the final code :

    Code:
    //********************************************************************************************
    // Simtools Data to LCD code
    // Simtools output : P<Axis1a>C. Inspired by Sirnoname
    // By Aurélien Leca
    //********************************************************************************************
    int buffer           =  0 ;    // It takes the value of the serial data
    int buffercount      = -1 ;    // To count where we are in the serial datas
    int commandbuffer[5] = {0};    // To stock the serial datas in the good order.
    
    #include <LiquidCrystal.h> // includes the LiquidCrystal Library
    
    LiquidCrystal lcd(3,5,10,11,12,13); // Creates an LC object. Parameters: (rs, enable, d4, d5, d6, d7)
    
    void setup() {
      lcd.begin(16,2); // Initializes the interface to the LCD screen, and specifies the dimensions (width and height) of the display }
      Serial.begin(115200);
    }
    
    void loop() {
     // commandbuffer[1]=123;
     // lcd.print(commandbuffer[1]);
      //delay(1000);
        //lcd.clear();
    SerialWorker();
     
    }
    
    void SerialWorker(){
     
        while(Serial.available())
        {
            if(buffercount==-1)
            {
                buffer = Serial.read();
                if(buffer != 'P'){buffercount=-1;}else{buffercount=0;} // "P" is the marquer. If we read P, the next data is pitch
            }
            else   //  if(buffercount>=0)
            {
                buffer = Serial.read();
                commandbuffer[buffercount]=buffer;   // The first value next to "P" is saved in commandbuffer in the place "buffercount"
                buffercount++;
                if(buffercount > 2)
                {
                    if(commandbuffer[2]=='C'){    // If the third data is "C", then commandbuffer is full, we can use it
                    
                      lcd.print( (commandbuffer[0])*256+commandbuffer[1]);
                      delay(100);
                      lcd.clear();
                    }
                    buffercount=-1;   // Re-initialize buffercount.
                }
            }
        }
    }
  19. BasicXS

    BasicXS New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    New to this and really struggling to get this simple code to work.

    I have a Arduino Uno connected with a 16x2 LCD, I can print test strings to it at various portions of the code but cannot get anything from SimTools to read. Setup exactly as shown above, nothing coming through.

    I have latest Windows 10 PC, It does when I turn on Output Testing on SimTools lock the comm port so I cannot program the arduino. I do not have the serial monitor opened (wont let me when SimTools has the port anyways).

    Really stumped as to why, seems like it should be straightforward...any help would be appreciated.