InPut Devices
In the past I had attempted to make a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the machine-making group project but had not gone very far. This week I wanted to try making a GUI using MatLab which I had used in the past to follow a course from Coursera named “Machine Learning” but had never used to work with Arduino.
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The assignments for the first week were:
I.Write an application that interfaces with an input and/or output device that you made, comparing as many tool options as possible.
Highlighted necessary tools:
>> None
Using the FabKit I made for the ‘Output Devices {add link}’ week [#13] I could create a GUI using the ‘ArduinoIO package’ (can be found by simply typing ‘ArduinoIO package’ in Google and selecting the first link) which allows for serial communication between MatLab and the Arduino IDE. (You need to make and account and obtain a copy of MatLab before being able to do this) Because the download did not work for me I had to find another site from where I could download the package [ Namly => http://ctms.engin.umich.edu/CTMS/index.php?aux=Activities_IOpack ]
This is the tutorial video I followed to install and use MatLab with the Arduino IDE
=> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2k_dQRpmfc
This is the tutorial video I followed to create a GUI using Matlab for the Arduino IDE
=> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udIyzonx9-A
After unzipping the .zip file we just downloaded, to install the ArduinoIO package we need to start MatLab and select the folder where the ArduinoIO folder is situated
Then we type the command in the command window:
>> install _arduino
[This will output a ‘warning’ window but still works]
Since I had no board with an output or input device which could be suitable for a GUI I decided to make a very simple proximity sensor using a 950nM infraRed-LED [LD 274] {Datasheet} {Add link => http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/45387/SIEMENS/LD274.html } and a 950nm InfraRed PhotoDiode [BPW 41] {Datasheet} {add link => http://www.micropik.com/PDF/bpw41.pdf } which I bought at a local store [Namely Radio Rotor {add link}]. (This was before I deduced, without confirmation, that the ‘IR Trans’ box in the shelf of components might refer to ‘IR Transistor’ rather than ‘Transmitter’, since there is another box named ‘IR Led’, having two boxes for the same thing seemed strange to me, maybe I am on to something here).
Inspired by this schematic {add link => http://www.instructables.com/file/FHOUP4JHZ13G89E/ } I used the simple schematic seen below to connect the sensors:
I had problems milling this board, the biggest issue was millig the holes, as the holes for the LED in the ‘fab’ standard library given to us on the ‘Electronics Design’ {Add link} week [#6] are too small for the Roland-Modela, and end up ripping off during the milling process or while soldering. [It was my first time millig holes with a design I had produced, I am thinking of designing my own library for through-hole components for Eagle, this will take some time and I will add it as a extra to the downloads on this page once I am done]