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Communicating from roborealm to arduino
Raj from Fiji  [9 posts]
12 year
Hi Everyone
I have started with a new project called vision based mobile robot for obstacle avoidance and path following. I am very new to roborealm and it would be grateful if someone could advise me on how to communicate from RR to arduino. For eg, if i want to use the obstacle avoidance tutorial and line following, how can i read the values in arduino and control my motors respectively which will be generated by VB script in roborealm.  I am more concerned about reading data from RR to arduino.
I am using 2 motor controllers (simple H) from robot power and its a differential drive system.

Your guidance will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
Aryan
spacehermit from United States  [28 posts] 12 year
Ok, so the trick with having roborealm communicate to the arduino is by sending a variable [ArduinoCommand] from the vbscript module to the serial module where the arduino is... Best way to send multiple variables to the arduino at one time - is to send a string like 111 180 90 1, where the arduino reads serial data and creates a string until it hits the comma (,) then it turns that string into an integer the first set of three being for the case statement that determines what the arduino does and what string of integers it returns.
Pretty simple right. well here you go.

-spacehermit



//this one is more advanced then what you'll  be needing..
//it reads in a string of integers.
//-spacehermit@gmail.com

#include <avr/io.h>
#include <avr/interrupt.h>

#include <WString.h>             //provides easy string handling
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <Servo.h>               //provides the standard servo functions


//int OCR2APin = 11;  //PWM Changeable Pin
//int OCR2BPin = 10;

//int analogpin = 0;
volatile int pwm;
//volatile int duty = 127 ;
//volatile int duty2 = 127 ;

volatile int duty = 0 ;
volatile int duty2 = 0 ;

String writeString = String(45);  //stores the entire string up to a comma


String readString = String(45);  //stores the entire string up to a comma
String parce0 = String(4);       //first part of the string up to a space
String parce1 = String(4);       //second part of the string up to a space
String parce2 = String(4);       //third part of the string up to a space
String parce3 = String(4);       //fourth part of the string up to a space
String parce4 = String(4);       //fifth part of the string up to a space
String parce5 = String(4);       //sixth part of the string up to a space
String parce6 = String(4);       //seventh part of the string up to a space
String parce7 = String(4);       //eighth part of the string up to a space
String parce8 = String(4);       //nineth part of the string up to a space
String parce9 = String(4);       //tenth part of the string up to a space

int pos = 0;                      //stores the length of the string

int spc1 = 0;                     //position of first space in string
int spc2 = 0;                     //position of second space in string
int spc3 = 0;                     //position of third space in string
int spc4 = 0;                     //position of fourth space in string
int spc5 = 0;                     //position of fifth space in string
int spc6 = 0;                     //position of sixth space in string
int spc7 = 0;                     //position of seventh space in string
int spc8 = 0;                     //position of eighth space in string
int spc9 = 0;                     //position of nineth space in string


    //Note that Character Arrays always have a length + 1 for the "\0" at the end
    //So these Character Arrays will only hold a 3 digit number
char CAparce0[4];                 //character array of the first part of the string
char CAparce1[4];                 //character array of the second part of the string
char CAparce2[4];                 //character array of the third part of the string
char CAparce3[4];                 //character array of the fourth part of the string
char CAparce4[4];                 //character array of the fifth part of the string
char CAparce5[4];                 //character array of the sixth part of the string
char CAparce6[4];                 //character array of the seventh part of the string
char CAparce7[4];                 //character array of the eighth part of the string
char CAparce8[4];                 //character array of the nineth part of the string
char CAparce9[4];                 //character array of the tenth part of the string


//need to setup a variable to tell whether this board is the front or rear control board


                  // create servo object to control a servo
Servo FLPS;       //Front Left Ping Servo
Servo FRPS;       //Front Right Ping Servo
//Servo RLPS;       //Rear Left Ping Servo
//Servo RRPA;       //Rear Right Ping Servo
Servo FCHS;       //Front Camera Horizontal Servo
Servo FCVS;       //Front Camera Vertical Servo
//Servo RCHS;       //Rear Camera Horizontal Servo
//Servo RCVS;       //Rear Camera Vertical Servo

int DrivePWMOn = 0;
//Servo WDHPPV;
//Servo WDVPPV;
                  //Set Pins For Pings
const int FLPP = 3;  //Front Left Ping Pin
const int FRPP = 7;  //Front Right Ping Pin
//const int RLPP = 3;  //Rear Left Ping Pin
//const int RRPP = 11;  //Rear Right Ping Pin

//const int GunRelayPin = 9;  //Sets Gun Relay Pin

//const int WDHPP = 9;  //Wheelchair Drive Horizontal PWM Pin
//const int WDVPP = 10;  //Wheelchair Drive Vertical PWM Pin


int FLPDD = 4;      //Front Left Ping Danger Distance
int FRPDD = 4;      //Front Right Ping Danger Distance
//int RLPDD = 4;      //Rear Left Ping Danger Distance
//int RRPDD = 4;      //Rear Right Ping Danger Distance


int WDHPV = 100;  //Wheelchair Drive Horizontal PWM Value - Default
int WDVPV = 100;  //Wheelchair Drive Vertical PWM Value - Default

int WDHPVC = 100; //Wheelchair Drive Horizontal PWM Value - Center
int WDHPVH = 180; //Wheelchair Drive Horizontal PWM Value - High
int WDHPVL = 5; //Wheelchair Drive Horizontal PWM Value - Low

int WDVPVC = 100; //Wheelchair Drive Vertical PWM Value - Center
int WDVPVH = 180; //Wheelchair Drive Vertical PWM Value - High
int WDVPVL = 5; //Wheelchair Drive Vertical PWM Value - Low

int FLPSV = 90;  //Front Left Ping Servo Value - Default
int FRPSV = 90;  //Front Right Ping Servo Value - Default
//int RLPSV = 90;  //Rear Left Ping Servo Value - Default
//int RRPSV = 90;  //Rear Right Ping Servo Value - Default
int FCHSV = 90;  //Front Camera Horizontal Servo Value - Default
int FCVSV = 90;  //Front Camera Vertical Servo Value - Default
//int RCHSV = 90;  //Rear Camera Horizontal Servo Value - Default
//int RCVSV = 90;  //Rear Camera Vertical Servo Value - Default


int ArduinoDriveStatus = 1; //Will be passed back and forth to RR clear todrive
int RRDriveStatus = 1;      //Will tell the Arduino what kind of drive command is sent

int ObjectDetected = 0;     //This value will change based on which pings see what
int FLPObjectDetected = 0;
int FRPObjectDetected = 0;
//int RLPObjectDetected = 0;
//int RRPObjectDetected = 0;

int DriveCommand = 0;       //for if statement to execute driving action

long FLPInches = 0;         //global variable that stores distance to object
long FRPInches = 0;         //global variable that stores distance to object
//long RLPInches = 0;         //global variable that stores distance to object
//long RRPInches = 0;         //global variable that stores distance to object

int Relay = 4;


void setup()
{

    Serial.begin(115200);

    FLPS.attach(2);   //Front Left Ping Servo Pin
    FRPS.attach(8);   //Front Right Ping Servo Pin
//    RLPS.attach(2);   //Rear Left Ping Servo Pin
//    RRPS.attach(8);   //Rear Right Ping Servo Pin

    FCHS.attach(12);  //Front Camera Horivontal Servo Pin
    FCVS.attach(13);  //Front Camera Vertical Servo Pin
//    RCHS.attach(12);  //Rear Camera Horivontal Servo Pin
//    RCVS.attach(13);  //Rear Camera Vertical Servo Pin



  pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(11, OUTPUT);
  TCCR2A = _BV(COM2A1) | _BV(COM2B1) | _BV(WGM21) | _BV(WGM20);
  TCCR2B = _BV(CS22);
//  OCR2A = 180;
//  OCR2B = 50;

// pinMode ( OCR2APin, OUTPUT);
//  pinMode ( OCR2BPin, OUTPUT);
//  pinMode (10, OUTPUT);  //PWM Changeable Pin
//  pinMode (9, OUTPUT);  //PWM Changeable Pin
  // set dutycycle == 0
  
  OCR2A = duty ;
  OCR2B = duty2 ;

//  TCCR2B &= 0xF0 ; // preserve 4 msb bits
  //TCCR2B |= _BV(CS21) | _BV(CS20);  // prescale = 8
//  TCCR2B |= _BV(CS21) ;  //prescale = 8 ==> ~ 8k frequency
  
  // SET MODE 3 ( waveform Generation, fast pwm ) page 117
//  TCCR2A |= _BV(WGM21) | _BV(WGM20);
  //TCCR2A |= ( 1 << WGM21 | 1 <<WGM20);
  // SET COMPARE OUTPUT, FAST PWM MODE
  // CLEAR OC2 ON COMPARE MATCH, non-inverting mode
//  TCCR2A |= _BV( COM2A1);

  // TIMER/COUNTER INTERRUPT MASK REGISTER (TIMSK)
  // SET OUTPUT COMPARE MATCH
  //  bit_on ( TIMSK2, OCIE2A) ;
//  TIMSK2 |= _BV( OCIE2A);
  
  // START FAST PWM MODE
  //bit_on( SREG, SREG_I);
//  SREG |= _BV( SREG_I);

//WDHPPV.attach(9);
//WDVPPV.attach(10);

//pinMode(WDHPP, OUTPUT);   // sets the pin as output
//pinMode(WDVPP, OUTPUT);   // sets the pin as output

  pinMode(Relay, OUTPUT);     //Set Pin4 as output

}


void loop()
{

        //while loop makes the string readString
        //expect a string like "111 5 90 180 180 1 1 4 4 55,"

        while (Serial.available()) {
        //delay(10);  
          if (Serial.available() >0) {
            char c = Serial.read();  //gets one byte from serial buffer

        //if it's a comma then don't add to string and skip ahead
            if (c == ',') { goto parce;}  
              //only happens till there is a comma
              readString = readString + c;  //puts the char at end of the string
          } //end of serial available if statement

        } //end of serial available while statement


     parce:  
      if (readString.length() >0) {
      
        pos = readString.length();                 //capture string length
        spc1 = readString.indexOf(' ');            //position of the first space
        spc2 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc1 + 1);  //position of the second space
        spc3 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc2 + 1);  //position of the third space
        spc4 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc3 + 1);  //position of the fourth space
        spc5 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc4 + 1);  //position of the fifth space
        spc6 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc5 + 1);  //position of the sixth space
        spc7 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc6 + 1);  //position of the seventh space
        spc8 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc7 + 1);  //position of the eighth space
        spc9 = readString.indexOf(' ', spc8 + 1);  //position of the nineth space


        parce0 = readString.substring(0, spc1);      //first part of string
        parce1 = readString.substring(spc1+1, spc2); //second part of string
        parce2 = readString.substring(spc2+1, spc3); //third part of string
        parce3 = readString.substring(spc3+1, spc4); //fourth part of string
        parce4 = readString.substring(spc4+1, spc5); //fifth part of string
        parce5 = readString.substring(spc5+1, spc6); //sixth part of string
        parce6 = readString.substring(spc6+1, spc7); //seventh part of string
        parce7 = readString.substring(spc7+1, spc8); //eigth part of string
        parce8 = readString.substring(spc8+1, spc9); //ninth part of string
        parce9 = readString.substring(spc9+1, pos);  //tenth part of string


        readString="";  //empties the readString for the next command


        parce0.toCharArray(CAparce0, 4);  //turns first part of string into char array
        parce1.toCharArray(CAparce1, 4);  //turns second part of string into char array
        parce2.toCharArray(CAparce2, 4);  //turns third part of string into char array
        parce3.toCharArray(CAparce3, 4);  //turns fourth part of string into char array
        parce4.toCharArray(CAparce4, 4);  //turns fifth part of string into char array
        parce5.toCharArray(CAparce5, 4);  //turns sixth part of string into char array
        parce6.toCharArray(CAparce6, 4);  //turns seventh part of string into char array
        parce7.toCharArray(CAparce7, 4);  //turns eighth part of string into char array
        parce8.toCharArray(CAparce8, 4);  //turns nineth part of string into char array
        parce9.toCharArray(CAparce9, 4);  //turns tenth part of string into char array


        int kommand, value1, value2, value3, value4, value5, value6, value7, value8, value9;

//will be the integer values of parsed string

        kommand = atoi(CAparce0);         //turns the first char array into an integer
        value1 = atoi(CAparce1);          //turns the second character array into an integer


        value2 = atoi(CAparce2);          //turns the third character array into an integer
        value3 = atoi(CAparce3);          //turns the fourth character array into an integer
        value4 = atoi(CAparce4);          //turns the fifth character array into an integer
        value5 = atoi(CAparce5);          //turns the sixth character array into an integer
        value6 = atoi(CAparce6);          //turns the seventh character array into an integer
        value7 = atoi(CAparce7);          //turns the eighth character array into an integer
        value8 = atoi(CAparce8);          //turns the nineth character array into an integer
        value9 = atoi(CAparce9);          //turns the tenth character array into an integer

        parce0 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce1 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce2 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce3 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce4 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce5 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce6 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce7 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce8 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        parce9 = "";                       //clears the parced segment
        pos = 0;                           //clears the string length count
        spc1 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the first space
        spc2 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the second space
        spc3 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the third space
        spc4 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the fourth space
        spc5 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the fifth space
        spc6 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the sixth space
        spc7 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the seventh space
        spc8 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the eighth space
        spc9 = 0;                          //clears the pointer to the nineth space



        int i;                             //simple counter variable for this for loop
        for (i = 0; i < 4; i = i + 1) {
        CAparce0[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character first array
        CAparce1[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character second array
        CAparce2[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character third array
        CAparce3[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character fourth array
        CAparce4[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character fifth array
        CAparce5[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character sixth array
        CAparce6[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character seventh array
        CAparce7[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character eighth array
        CAparce8[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character nineth array
        CAparce9[i] = '0';                 //puts zeros in the the character tenth array
        }  //end for loop


    switch (kommand)
    {
//Usual String of Variables when driving
//kommand WDHPV WDVPV FLPSV FRSPV FLDD FRDD ArduinoDriveStatus RRDriveStatus ObjectDetected,

/*
ObjectDetected
0  = no objects detected
1  = FLPS
2  =        FRPS
3  = FLPS & FRPS
4  = FLPS & FRPS & RLPS
5  = FLPS & FRPS & RLPS & RRPS
6  = FLPS & FRPS        & RRPS
7  = FLPS        & RLPS
8  = FLPS        & RLPS & RRPS
9  = FLPS               & RRPS
10 =        FRPS & RLPS      
11 =        FRPS & RLPS & RRPS
12 =        FRPS        & RRPS
13 =               RLPS
14 =               RLPS & RRPS
15 =                      RRPS
*/

      case 1:  //Normal Drive Command From RoboRealm
          
          WDHPV = value1;
          WDVPV = value2;
          FLPSV = value3;
          FRPSV = value4;
          FLPDD = value5;
          FRPDD = value6;
          ArduinoDriveStatus = value7;
          RRDriveStatus = value8;
          ObjectDetected = value9;

          DriveCommand = 1; //will execute if statements necessary for driving action
          
          kommand = 0; //resets case statement for next time


      break;
      case 7:
            digitalWrite(Relay, HIGH);   //Turn on relay

          //reset the commands  
            kommand = 0;
                        
      break;
      case 9:
          digitalWrite(Relay, LOW);    //Turn off relay

          //reset the commands  
            kommand = 0;
          

      break;
      case 100:  //initialization and reset variables
          duty = value1;
          duty2 = value2;
          OCR2A = duty ;
          OCR2B = duty2 ;
           WDHPV = value1;
           WDVPV = value2;
//           DrivePWMOn = 1;
            
            if(DrivePWMOn == 1)
  {

          analogWrite(9, WDVPV);
          analogWrite(10, WDHPV);
  }


//WDHPPV.write(WDHPV);
//WDVPPV.write(WDVPV);
  writeString = "PWM values ";
  writeString = writeString + WDHPV;
  writeString = writeString + " ";
  writeString = writeString + WDVPV;


  Serial.print(writeString);
  Serial.println();

  writeString="";  //empties the writeString for the next response


           value1 = 0;
           value2 = 0;
           value3 = 0;
           value4 = 0;
           value5 = 0;
           value6 = 0;
           value7 = 0;
           value8 = 0;
           value9 = 0;
           kommand = 0;




      break;                




    } //end of switch statement







  } //end of parce's if statement





//Code that keeps getting exectuted when DriveCommand == 1
if(DriveCommand == 1)
  {
    if((WDVPV > WDVPVC) & (WDHPV == WDHPVC)) //Robot is told to move forward
     {
        //move front ping servos into position and start pinging
        FLPS.write(FLPSV);
        FRPS.write(FRPSV);

        //Function to execute forward Ping Sensors
        PingBothFront();


        //Check to see if any objects within danger distance
        if((FLPInches < FLPDD) & (FLPInches != 0))
          {
            FLPObjectDetected = 1;
          }
        else
          {
            FLPObjectDetected = 0;
          }

        if((FRPInches < FRPDD) & (FRPInches != 0))
          {
            FRPObjectDetected = 1;
          }
        else
          {
            FRPObjectDetected = 0;
          }

        //change ArduinoDriveStatus to reflect if there is an object detected
        if((FRPObjectDetected == 1) || (FRPObjectDetected == 1))
          {
            ArduinoDriveStatus = 2;
          }
        else
          {
            ArduinoDriveStatus = 1;
          }


     } //end of if (WDVPV > WDPVC) & (WDHPV == WDHPC)

        //make more of these and what not
        //Set WDHPV and WDVPV only if no objects detected in path
        if((ArduinoDriveStatus != 2) || (ArduinoDriveStatus != 6) || (ArduinoDriveStatus !=

7))
          {
         //  analogWrite(WDVPP, WDVPV);
          // analogWrite(WDHPP, WDHPV);
          }

/*
if(RRDriveStatus == 9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

if(ObjectDetected ==

*/
  } //end of if DriveCommand == 1












} //end of void loop



long PingBothFront()
{
  // establish variables for duration of the ping,
  // and the distance result in inches and centimeters:
  long durationFLP, inchesFLP;
  long durationFRP, inchesFRP;

  // The PING))) is triggered by a HIGH pulse of 2 or more microseconds.
  // Give a short LOW pulse beforehand to ensure a clean HIGH pulse:
  pinMode(FLPP, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(FRPP, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(FLPP, LOW);
  digitalWrite(FRPP, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(FLPP, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(FRPP, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(FLPP, LOW);
  digitalWrite(FRPP, LOW);

  // The same pin is used to read the signal from the PING))): a HIGH
  // pulse whose duration is the time (in microseconds) from the sending
  // of the ping to the reception of its echo off of an object.
  pinMode(FLPP, INPUT);
  pinMode(FRPP, INPUT);
  durationFLP = pulseIn(FLPP, HIGH);
  durationFRP = pulseIn(FRPP, HIGH);

  // convert the time into a distance
  inchesFLP = microsecondsToInches(durationFLP);
  inchesFRP = microsecondsToInches(durationFRP);

  FLPInches = inchesFLP;
  FRPInches = inchesFRP;


} //end of PingFront function



//Distance Calculation Functions

long microsecondsToInches(long microseconds)
{
  // According to Parallax's datasheet for the PING))), there are
  // 73.746 microseconds per inch (i.e. sound travels at 1130 feet per
  // second).  This gives the distance travelled by the ping, outbound
  // and return, so we divide by 2 to get the distance of the obstacle.
  // See: http://www.parallax.com/dl/docs/prod/acc/28015-PING-v1.3.pdf
  return microseconds / 74 / 2;
}

long microsecondsToCentimeters(long microseconds)
{
  // The speed of sound is 340 m/s or 29 microseconds per centimeter.
  // The ping travels out and back, so to find the distance of the
  // object we take half of the distance travelled.
  return microseconds / 29 / 2;
}

//ISR( TIMER2_COMPA_vect) {
  //int analog = analogRead( analogpin)/4;
//  OCR2A = duty;
//  OCR2B = duty2;
//}
Raj from Fiji  [9 posts] 12 year
Thanks spacehermit
Its quite lengthy but manage to get the main points.

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