Mech - User contributions [en]

Force-Sensing Resistor

2015-03-28T01:22:58Z

JaneMiller:

== Force Sensing Resistor ==

*[http://bildr.org/2012/11/force-sensitive-resistor-arduino/ This tutorial from Bildr] has a great overview of what a force sensitive resistor is and how to use it.
*Like the analog distance sensor, we can stream the values of this sensor over serial and use Arduino's "map" function to calibrate it.

Force-Sensing Resistor

2015-03-28T01:19:44Z

JaneMiller: Created page with " == Force Sensing Resistor =="

== Force Sensing Resistor ==

Analog Distance Sensor

2015-03-28T01:18:52Z

JaneMiller:

== Sharp 4-30 cm Analog Distance Sensor ==

'''Summary'''
*This sensor detects reflective objects that are 4-30 cm away.
*The sensor outputs a voltage from approximately 0-3.3 volts which you can read into a microcontroller

---------------------------------------
'''Wiring'''
*This sensor has three cables coming out of it: red-power, black-ground and white-signal.
*Wire the power cable to the Arduino's 5V, the ground to the Arduino's ground
**Plug the signal cable into any of the Arduino's analog input pins (A0-A5 for the Arduino UNO) with a small pull-down resistor

'''Programming'''
*Looking at the graph on page 4 [https://www.pololu.com/file/0J713/GP2Y0A41SK0F.pdf '''in the datasheet for the sensor'''], it looks like the range of 4-30 cm corresponds to a range of 2.5-0.4 volts.
*We can use the Arduino's analogRead() function to read in this signal. By using the analogRead function, our result will be a number in the range 0-1023, which corresponds to 0-5 volts.
*To calibrate and find values for our sensor, we can stream the output values of our sensor using a program similar to [http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AnalogReadSerial '''this example'''] from the Arduino website:
<pre>
/*
AnalogReadSerial
Reads an analog input on pin 0, prints the result to the serial monitor.
Attach the center pin of a potentiometer to pin A0, and the outside pins to +5V and ground.

This example code is in the public domain.
*/

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset:
void setup() {
// initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
Serial.begin(9600);
}

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
// read the input on analog pin 0:
int sensorValue = analogRead(A0);
// print out the value you read:
Serial.println(sensorValue);
delay(1); // delay in between reads for stability
}
</pre>

*To trigger some event when an object is further than a certain distance away, instead of using Serial.println on our sensorValue variable, we could compare it to some min_value variable using an if statement:
<pre>

int min_val=30;

void setup(){
}

void loop() {
//read sensor value
int sensorValue= analogRead(A0)
//convert this value to a distance, consider using the "map" function

if (sensorValue > min_val)
{
// activate your event using a digitalWrite or some other function
}

delay(1); //delay between readings
}
</pre>

*Try using this distance sensor with a few RGB LEDs to "show" how far away an object is with the intensity of the color of the LEDs!
**Try using the RGB LEDs with this sensor like a red/yellow/green stoplight

Analog Distance Sensor

2015-03-28T00:50:27Z

JaneMiller: Created page with " == Sharp 4-30 cm Analog Distance Sensor == '''Summary''' *This sensor detects reflective objects that are 4-30 cm away. *The sensor outputs a voltage from approximately 0-3..."

Three-Axis Accelerometer

2015-03-28T00:35:32Z

JaneMiller: Created page with " == Three-Axis Accelerometer =="

== Three-Axis Accelerometer ==

RGB LEDs

2015-03-28T00:26:58Z

JaneMiller:

== WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs ==
(NeoPixels)[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|250px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|right]]

'''Install the NeoPixels Library'''
*[https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel Download ZIP of all library files here]
*Unzip the ZIP file when it's done downloading
*Put all of the files from the folder into a new folder called "Adafruit_NeoPixels"
*Put this new folder into your Adruino Libraries folder (usually located at (home folder)/Documents/Arduino/Libraries)
**If you don't have a "Libraries" folder in Arduino/Libraries, create one and put the Adafruit_NeoPixels folder in it
*Restart the Arduino IDE if it's already running
*Open up a new Arduino sketch (program) and check to see if the Adafruit NeoPixels library is installed by going to Sketch-->Import Library and seeing if the NeoPixels library is listed.

----

[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring.jpg|thumb|100px|[https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/COM-12877.pdf RGB LEDs Datasheet]|right]]
[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring_Diagram.jpg|thumb|350px|Wiring up Two LEDs|right]]

'''Wire Up Your LEDs'''

*The pinout for one of our RGB LEDs is as shown to the right
*When creating a circuit with RGB LEDs, make sure to have a 300-500 ohm resistor on the data input for the first LED
**Also make sure to connect the ground wire, then the +5V wire
**When disconnecting, disconnect power, then ground
*The next diagram down to the right shows how to wire up two RGB LEDs in a chain to an Arduino Uno.
**The signal for the second LED will travel through the first one.

----

'''Writing Code'''

*This program is a simple test program based on the "simple" example program that comes with the NeoPixels Library.
*If you're using the circuit diagrammed above, this program should make both of your LEDs a moderate green color
<pre>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include <avr/power.h>

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1
#define PIN 8

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define NUMPIXELS 2

// When we setup the NeoPixel library, we tell it how many pixels, and which pin to use to send signals.
// example for more information on possible values.
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_RGB + NEO_KHZ800);

int delayval = 500; // delay for half a second

void setup() {
pixels.begin(); // This initializes the NeoPixel library.
}

void loop() {

// For a set of NeoPixels the first NeoPixel is 0, second is 1, all the way up to the count of pixels minus one.
for(int i=0;i<NUMPIXELS;i++){

// pixels.Color takes RGB values, from 0,0,0 up to 255,255,255
pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,150,0)); // Moderately bright green color.

pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.

delay(delayval); // Delay for a period of time (in milliseconds).

}
}
</pre>

*The other examples in the NeoPixels example folder give demonstrations of more complex programs and other displays you can create with the NeoPixels
----

'''Applications'''

*RGB LEDs are great to use as analog "status" lights telling you information such as:
**How much battery something has left
**How much pressure is applied to something
**If it's an appropriate time to trigger some other action

RGB LEDs

2015-03-28T00:25:10Z

JaneMiller:

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|250px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|right]]

'''Install the NeoPixels Library'''
*[https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel Download ZIP of all library files here]
*Unzip the ZIP file when it's done downloading
*Put all of the files from the folder into a new folder called "Adafruit_NeoPixels"
*Put this new folder into your Adruino Libraries folder (usually located at (home folder)/Documents/Arduino/Libraries)
**If you don't have a "Libraries" folder in Arduino/Libraries, create one and put the Adafruit_NeoPixels folder in it
*Restart the Arduino IDE if it's already running
*Open up a new Arduino sketch (program) and check to see if the Adafruit NeoPixels library is installed by going to Sketch-->Import Library and seeing if the NeoPixels library is listed.

----

[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring.jpg|thumb|100px|[https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/COM-12877.pdf RGB LEDs Datasheet]|right]]
[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring_Diagram.jpg|thumb|350px|Wiring up Two LEDs|right]]

'''Wire Up Your LEDs'''

*The pinout for one of our RGB LEDs is as shown to the right
*When creating a circuit with RGB LEDs, make sure to have a 300-500 ohm resistor on the data input for the first LED
**Also make sure to connect the ground wire, then the +5V wire
**When disconnecting, disconnect power, then ground
*The next diagram down to the right shows how to wire up two RGB LEDs in a chain to an Arduino Uno.
**The signal for the second LED will travel through the first one.

----

'''Writing Code'''

*This program is a simple test program based on the "simple" example program that comes with the NeoPixels Library.
*If you're using the circuit diagrammed above, this program should make both of your LEDs a moderate green color
<pre>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include <avr/power.h>

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
// On a Trinket or Gemma we suggest changing this to 1
#define PIN 8

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define NUMPIXELS 2

// When we setup the NeoPixel library, we tell it how many pixels, and which pin to use to send signals.
// example for more information on possible values.
Adafruit_NeoPixel pixels = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUMPIXELS, PIN, NEO_RGB + NEO_KHZ800);

int delayval = 500; // delay for half a second

void setup() {
pixels.begin(); // This initializes the NeoPixel library.
}

void loop() {

// For a set of NeoPixels the first NeoPixel is 0, second is 1, all the way up to the count of pixels minus one.
for(int i=0;i<NUMPIXELS;i++){

// pixels.Color takes RGB values, from 0,0,0 up to 255,255,255
pixels.setPixelColor(i, pixels.Color(0,150,0)); // Moderately bright green color.

pixels.show(); // This sends the updated pixel color to the hardware.

delay(delayval); // Delay for a period of time (in milliseconds).

}
}
</pre>

*The other examples in the NeoPixels example folder give demonstrations of more complex programs and other displays you can create with the NeoPixels
----

'''Applications'''

*RGB LEDs are great to use as analog "status" lights telling you information such as:
**How much battery something has left
**How much pressure is applied to something
**If it's an appropriate time to trigger some other action

RGB LEDs

2015-03-27T23:59:47Z

JaneMiller:

File:RGB LEDs Wiring Diagram.jpg

2015-03-27T23:51:53Z

JaneMiller:

RGB LEDs

2015-03-27T23:10:27Z

JaneMiller:

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T21:02:41Z

JaneMiller:

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T21:00:28Z

JaneMiller:

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|250px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|right]]

butt

'''Install the NeoPixels Library'''
*[https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel Download ZIP of all library files here]
*Unzip the ZIP file when it's done downloading
*Put all of the files from the folder into a new folder called "Adafruit_NeoPixels"
*Put this new folder into your Adruino Libraries folder (usually located at (home folder)/Documents/Arduino/Libraries)
**If you don't have a "Libraries" folder in Arduino/Libraries, create one and put the Adafruit_NeoPixels folder in it
*Restart the Arduino IDE if it's already running
*Open up a new Arduino sketch (program) and check to see if the Adafruit NeoPixels library is installed by going to Sketch-->Import Library and seeing if the NeoPixels library is listed.

----

'''Wire Up Your LEDs'''[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring.jpg|thumb|150px|[https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/COM-12877.pdf RGB LEDs Datasheet]|right]]
*Diagram of how to wire 2 RGB LEDs together goes here

----

*Write code
*Applications

File:RGB LEDs Wiring.jpg

2015-03-13T19:35:28Z

JaneMiller:

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T19:35:04Z

JaneMiller:

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''
[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|300px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|right]]

'''Install the NeoPixels Library'''
*[https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_NeoPixel Download ZIP of all library files here]
*Unzip the ZIP file when it's done downloading
*Put all of the files from the folder into a new folder called "Adafruit_NeoPixels"
*Put this new folder into your Adruino Libraries folder (usually located at (home folder)/Documents/Arduino/Libraries)
**If you don't have a "Libraries" folder in Arduino/Libraries, create one and put the Adafruit_NeoPixels folder in it
*Restart the Arduino IDE if it's already running
*Open up a new Arduino sketch (program) and check to see if the Adafruit NeoPixels library is installed by going to Sketch-->Import Library and seeing if the NeoPixels library is listed.

----

'''Wire Up Your LEDs'''
[[image:RGB_LEDs_Wiring.jpg|thumb|300px|[https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/COM-12877.pdf RGB LEDs Datasheet]|right]]

----

*Write code
*Applications

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T19:02:20Z

JaneMiller:

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''
[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|300px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|right]]

*Download the NeoPixels Library
*Wire up a circuit
*Write code
*Applications

File:Adafruit RGB LEDS.jpg

2015-03-13T19:01:48Z

JaneMiller: Picture of RGB LEDs

Picture of RGB LEDs

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T19:01:15Z

JaneMiller:

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''
[[image:Adafruit_RGB_LEDS.jpg|thumb|800px|[http://www.adafruit.com/products/302 RGB LEDs]|center]]

*Download the NeoPixels Library
*Wire up a circuit
*Write code
*Applications

RGB LEDs

2015-03-13T18:57:14Z

JaneMiller: Created page with "'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)''' *Download the NeoPixels Library *Wire up a circuit *Write code *Applications"

'''WS2812 Addressable RGB LEDs (NeoPixels)'''

*Download the NeoPixels Library
*Wire up a circuit
*Write code
*Applications

DTC

2015-03-13T18:48:05Z

JaneMiller:

Arduino Tutorials (Spring 2015)

''Work in Progress''

*[http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage Getting Started with the Arduino Uno ]
**[http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software Software Download]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:30:10Z

JaneMiller:

Arduino Tutorials (Spring 2015)

''Work in Progress''

*[http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage Getting Started with the Arduino Uno ]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:29:27Z

JaneMiller:

Arduino Tutorials (Spring 2015)

''Work in Progress''

*[Getting Started with the Arduino Uno http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:24:20Z

JaneMiller:

Arduino Tutorials (Spring 2015)

''Work in Progress''

*[[Getting Started with the Arduino Uno]]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:23:15Z

JaneMiller:

Arduino Tutorials (Spring 2015)
''Work in Progress''

*[[Getting Started with Arduino]]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:22:29Z

JaneMiller: added links for additional tutorial pages

DTC Arduino Tutorials (work in progress by Jane Miller)
*[[Getting Started with Arduino]]
*[[RGB LEDs]]
*[[Three-Axis Accelerometer]]
*[[Force-Sensing Resistor]]
*[[Analog Distance Sensor]]

DTC

2015-03-13T18:11:36Z

JaneMiller: Created page to begin storing and developing DTC Arduino tutorials

DTC Arduino Tutorials (work in progress by Jane Miller)

Main Page

2015-03-13T18:10:15Z

JaneMiller: Added link to DTC page for Arduino tutorials

[[Image:mechlab.jpg|right|thumb|[http://mechatronics.mech.northwestern.edu/ Northwestern Mechatronics Design Lab]]]

The Northwestern University mechatronics design wiki provides reference material on the theory and applications of electronics, sensors, actuators, etc., for use in mechatronics-related research and projects. Practical applications often refer to equipment and supplies available in the [http://mechatronics.mech.northwestern.edu/ Northwestern Mechatronics Design Lab].

The mechatronics wiki was initiated by undergraduate Ben Stephens in 2006, under the supervision of Profs. Kevin Lynch and Michael Peshkin. Since then, many students have contributed content.

Important: Please be sure to read the [http://mechatronics.mech.northwestern.edu/mech-rules.pdf Rules for Using the Mechatronics Design Lab].

(Here you can find the [[Old Index Page]] of the mechatronics wiki, as of May 2, 2009. That page is now obsolete, and new material should be indexed on the pages below. New pages may be indexed in multiple places.)

* [[Editing the mechatronics wiki]] (or visit [[The sandbox]] to practice your wiki skills)
* [[Electronics basics]]
* [[Sensors]]
* [[Actuators]]
* [[Communication]]
* Control computers and software
**[[Robot Club]]
**[[nScope]]
**[[NUScope]]
** [[Microchip PICs]]
** [[PC/104 stacks and Matlab xPC]]
** [[QNX]]
** [[Robot Operating System]]
** [[Processing]]
** [[Node.js]]
** [[Eagle]]
** [[KiCad]]
** [[C Compilers]]
* Courses
** [[DTC]]
** [[EDI Bootcamp]]
** [[ME 224 Experimental Engineering]]
** [[ME 333 Introduction to Mechatronics]]
*** [[ME 333 Readings, Videos, and Sample Code]]
*** [[ME 333 final projects]] (2010 and earlier)
** [http://www.mech.northwestern.edu/courses/descriptions/433-advanced-mechatronics.html ME 433 Advanced Mechatronics]
** [[Northwestern Design Competition]]
** [[ME 449 Robotic Manipulation]]
* [[Tools in the lab and shop]] (software, hardware, supplies, etc.)
* [[Vendors and Useful Links]]
* [[Projects and miscellaneous]] (projects, research, and other mechatronics-related info)