PRO
mstephens_42
USA
Asked
— Edited
Resolved by JustinRatliff!
We are looking to find out if the EZ-Robot platform can be used to read and act on data streams from a laboratory grade light meter and a LIDAR. Basically, we expect a string of data from the light meter that would have to be parsed and acted upon.
I envision that we would need to write a routine in C or Visual basic that would poll the meter and receive the string, parse and communicate that information. I have not done this before in EZ builder. Can I run ARC with specific "canned" modules running while also running a C or VB routine that would do a function that is too advanced for scripting?
Does anyone have some examples of code we could review where an external program is called and run from EZ-B?
Yes, ARC can run scripts while an application is communicating with ARC. It is very multi-threaded. There are many examples in the SDK of how to communicate with ARC from an external application.
The application can process what it needs to process and then send this data to an ARC variable. ARC can be running a script that will look for a change in the variable and act on that change to the variable. This can be running in a loop so that when the variable changes again, an action can be performed.
2) a light meter will most likely connect to the ADC ports. So that's really easy as well. Simply view the data with http://www.ez-robot.com/Tutorials/Help.aspx?id=30 (there are a few adc ports so you can choose one that you like). Also scripting you can simply receive the ADC value with 10 bit adc using the script commands
What would you want to run an external program for? It can most likely be done in ARC, otherwise use the SDK - which you can download from the Software section
Or if your equipment already connects to a PC via a serial port, ARC now has a serial interface to connect to PC serial ports, so with the standard ARC software with a few clicks you should be able to interface with it rather than making something with the SDK.
If you get stuck if you can post links to the devices you have, we can take a look at the manuals online (assuming they have some) and help you further.
http://www.getsurreal.com/product/xv-lidar-controller-v1-2
This would be a great new sensor control for DJ to add!
Also, we want to write the data from robot to a csv file for reviewing data in excel after running a test. Does ARC have any easy way to do that?
FileWrite( filename, contents )
Appends text to the specified file. This does not append a new line.
Example: FileWrite(c:\temp\mylog.txt, My Variable: + $x)
Example: FileWrite(c:\temp\mylog.txt, servo Position: GetServo(d2))
FileWriteLine( filename, contents )
Appends text as a new line to the specified file.
Example: FileWriteLine(c:\temp\mylog.txt, My Variable: + $x)
Example: FileWriteLine(c:\temp\mylog.txt, servo Position: GetServo(d2))
If you need to have separate code fore something else, it is also easy to communicate with ARC using the sdk.
This is the solution you are looking for and I would think your solution could be up and running really quickly.
I just got the same Lidar and Teensy controller from getsurreal.com as well so I am a little bit behind you in making progress ... please can you share information with the community as you sort out the answers?
Cheers
Chris
My plan was to also to link the teensy to EZB4. I have not made any progress on this yet but I realise that the arduino code will need to be modified to simplify the output and send it to the EZB4 presumably by UART and a new power supply will need to provided to the teensy. I don't think any of this is hard (except for finding the time to do it!). Of course the hard thing will be to do something useful with the data when it comes into EZB4. Potentially we could do something like the radar map associated with the ultrasonic device?
I bought the lidar, motor, teensy and enclosure for the lidar from getsurreal.com. I was very impressed with the build which was very professional. I got it working quite quickly.
My other project is to use an arduino board to collect a whole bunch of sensor information which will then have to use i2c to send summary results back to the EZB4 given that the UART will be connected to the teensy ... so much to do and so little time given work and kids!
Cheers
Chris
EZ-B has 3 UARTS. The dedicated one (uart0 in software) and 4 of the digital ports:
D5 (TX) and D6 (RX) can be used as UART1
with 5kB Receive buffer
D18 (TX) and D19 (RX) can be used as UART2
with 5kB Receive buffer
Alan
(C)
May 18
2014 EZ
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Robot Inc. All rights reserved. The information in this document is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, however specifications are subject to change without prior notice.
\Rev 0.5
Digital I/O
Ports
24
Multi-Use
Digital I/O ports: D0-D23
Software configurable for
servos,
transmit serial
,
output 3.3
/GND
,
PWM, and more.
Input Max 5 VDC TTL Logic
.
Output Max 3.3 VDC TTL Logic
Special functions:
-
D5 can control Dynamixel servos
-
D5 (TX) and D6 (RX) can be used as UART1
with 5kB Receive buffer
-
D18 (TX) and D19 (RX) can be used as UART2
with 5kB Receive buffer
Had it backwards... right now.
Posting would be so useful for me and potentially others in the community who are following in your footsteps.
I like the idea of an intern working on the code - I wish I had the luxury of that!
Can you say more of your plans for how you will use the data when it comes into the EZB4?
Cheers
Chris