Our current Poster for the bench inspection

For what's it's worth, the most we could do for 6 weeks. What is left to do is our thesis which has a deadline : 22/03/2013

New Codes

So far, we've wanted the readings to be called rather than continuously send data. Therefore, we changed the the codes into a format where the main PC will be able to call the transmitter to send the data being read.

It turned out as so:


float tempK=0, tempC=0, tempF=0;
void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);                    //Setup serial to 9600 bps

}

void loop(){

  Serial.println("Enter '1' to prompt results");

  float reading = analogRead(A0) * 5.0;   //Where 5.0V and the Analog (ADC) input
  reading /= 1024.0;                                // is used to determine the voltage reading

  tempK = reading * 100;                  //Read temperature in Kelvins first

  tempC = tempK - 273.15;                //Convert from Kelvin to Celsius

  tempF = ((tempK) * 9 / 5) - 459.67;    //Convert from Kelvin to Fahrenheit


  while (Serial.available() ==0);       //where no value is entered, no data is sent

  int val = Serial.read() -'0';          //Set the codes to read 'Char' of the ASCII Table
  delay(50);

  if(val == 1)                         //For when the value '1' is given, the data is read
  {
 
    //Print all the values to Serial
    Serial.print("Voltage: ");
    Serial.println(reading);

    Serial.println();

    Serial.print("Kelvin: ");
    Serial.println(tempK);

    Serial.print("Celsius: ");
    Serial.println(tempC);

    Serial.print("Fahrenheit: ");
    Serial.println(tempF);

    Serial.println();    //Print Blank Line
  }
  else                            // For any other data expect for '1', causes an invalid
  {
    Serial.println("Invalid");
  }
  while (Serial.available() > 0) Serial.read();

}

Regarding the ASCII Table, if the code was not placed. The value read from pressing '1' will be '49'

ASCII Table

Info Gathering

Google my friend...

Loads of information gathering is needed. All thanks and appreciation goes to the findings and the links given to us thus far.

Arduino UNO

Arduino UNO

The Arduino UNO is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328. Using the Arduino software, we use the codes uploaded into the microcontroller to calculate, read or write however way we can code it to. This device can be powered up both ways. One is from the A-B USB Cable connected to the PC while the other is from a 9V external power supply.

XBEE Shield

Board, Arduino, XBEE Shield, w/o module

The device here is used to mount the Xbee module onto the Arduino UNO. On the far left of the device in the picture, there is a cap for 2 pins. This cap here is for the 3 pins on this Xbee Shield. Naming the pins '1', '2', '3' from left to right, covering '1' and '2' will set the shield to 'USB' mode and covering '2' and '3' will set it to 'XBEE' mode. From what we found out/ read online, the 'USB' mode allows configuration of the Xbee module. In other words, we can say that information can only be passed around from the USB using the A-B  USB Cable. The 'XBEE' mode should also work the same way where information can only be passed around from the Xbee module attached to the Xbee Shield.

XBEE Module

XB24-BWIT-004 module, ZIGBEE XBEE ZNET 2.5

The Xbee is the brand name from Digi International for a family of form factor compatible radio modules. Using 2 of this module, we can set up a wireless communication using the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. One of the module will be written and configured into a Coordinator. The device will issue an 802.15.4 beacon request command on multiple channels (frequencies) after the device has started a PAN (Personal Area Network). This is where the other module comes in play, we write and configure the other to be the End Device. This End Device will locate and join the PAN. Note that this module have a PAN ID, so make sure to set the ID (range between 0x0000 ~ 0xFFFF) similar for both modules. For our project, we set them to a PAN ID of 0x1AAA.

15th Feb 2013

New Software Used:

• X-CTU Software (www.digi.com/support/productdetail?pid=3352)

For today's trial and errors, we will be finally working on the "Wireless" part of the project. The devices used for this part will be the Xbee module with the Xbee Shield. What is needed to be done is to set one of the modules as a Coordinator and the other as a Router/End Device. That is where the X-CTU software comes into play as it allows us to configure the setting on the Xbee module.

First up, we would like to connect the Xbee module to the PC. mount the Xbee module onto the Xbee Shield and the Xbee Shield to the Aduino UNO. Take precaution that you will need to remove the ATmega328 from the Arduino UNO. Best advice is to use a screwdriver and slowly pry it off the device. Next, make sure the 2-pin caps on the Xbee Shield are capping the USB side of the 2 out of the 3 pins. Now comes the part where one module receives while the other transmits.

On the X-CTU, under the 'PC settings' tab, set the Baud, Flow Control, Data Bits, Parity and Stop Bits similar to the settings on COM5 (The COM which your Arduino is connected to). Click the 'Test/Query' to see if the componens can communicate and are linked. Sometimes, the outcome would fail. So make sure to check the ATmega328 is out, the caps are capping the right pins, all connections are connected properly and for safe measure, press the 'reset' button on the Arduino UNO. Once successful, click the 'Modem Configuration' tab and under the 'Modem Parameter & Firmware', click 'read'. This will all the XCTU to read what modem is being used currently. Ours would be XB24-B.

Set the 'Function Set' to Coordinator for one of the module and Router/End Device for the other. Here, we are free to change the network settings to however we see fit.

Codes

prototype number 1

From the way we connected our circuit, the power supply is giving 5 volts, with 2k ohms. The output in this case which is the temperature reading is connected to analog A0. The ATmega328 will read the resulting voltage as an (ADC) input.

[ADC stands for Analog to Digital Converter]

Therefore we have to use a formula. Since we know the total Voltage,(Vt), (ADC total) = 1024, and (ADC calculated) which is the reading provided in analog A0. We can find the numerical calculated voltage reading.

As the temperature sensor has a breakdown voltage directly proportional to absolute temperature at +10mV/K, with the voltage reading, we can find out the temperature in Kelvin. 

Converting from Kelvin to Celsius, we need to minus 273.15

Hence the code we uploaded into the Arduino software to calculate this reading is as shown below;

float tempK=0, tempC=0, tempF=0;

void setup(){

  Serial.begin(9600);                               //Setup serial to 9600 bps

}

void loop(){

  float reading = analogRead(A0) * 5.0;   //Where 5V and the Analog (ADC) input

  reading /= 1024.0;                                // is used to determine the voltage reading

  

  tempK = reading * 100;                       //Read temperature in Kelvins first

  tempC = tempK - 273.15;                   //Convert from Kelvin to Celsius

  tempF = ((tempK) * 9 / 5) - 459.67;    //Convert from Kelvin to Fahrenheit

  //Print all the values to Serial

  Serial.print("Voltage: ");                       //Print the reading of the voltage

  Serial.println(reading);                         //on Serial Monitor

  

  Serial.println();

  Serial.print("Kelvin: ");                        //Print the reading of the temperature

  Serial.println(tempK);                         //in Kelvin on Serial Monitor

  Serial.print("Celsius: ");                       //Print the reading of the temperature

  Serial.println(tempC);                         //in Celsius on Serial Monitor

  Serial.print("Fahrenheit: ");                 //Print the reading of the temperature

  Serial.println(tempF);                         //in Fahrenheit on Serial Monitor

  Serial.println();                                   //Print Blank Line

  delay(3000);                                      //Delay 1.5 second

}

8th Feb 2013

Actual Component List;

• LM335AZ: IC, Temp Sensor, Precision, T092
• 2x A000021: Board, Arduino, XBEE Shield, w/o module
• 2x XB24-BWIT-004 module, ZIGBEE XBEE ZNET 2.5
• 2x Arduino UNO
• 2x 1k ohm
• Personal Laptop
• A-B USB Cable

Software Used;

• Arduino Software (www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)

For today, we managed to update the Arduino driver and tested the module with the 'Blink Code' already preset into one of the files. With the use of the built in LED on the Arduino UNO, the test was to show that the codes could be compiled into the device. For the first few minutes, all that happened when we tried to upload the codes was,

avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00

avrdude: stk500_disable(): protocol error, expect=0x14, resp=0x51

Searching the web for solutions to the problem, it turns out all we had to do was disconnect and connect back the cable.

Next, we added the LM335AZ to the circuit. Followed the Basic Temperature sensor diagram on the LM335AZ datasheet. On the Arduino software, what needed to be shown was the temperature taken from the LM335AZ which could be in Celsius, Kelvin or Fahrenheit. Future updates soon.

1st Feb 2013

The components arrived today, which was

• 2x LM335AZ (A Board Mount Temperature Sensors with precision, 1 Deg Cel)
• 2x XBee Module
• 2x XBee Shield
• 2x Arduino UNO

The plan would be to set up this blog and as well as to carry on with the project.

For today, we tested the connection between the Arduino UNO with the PC. We somehow needed an A - B USB Cable to connect the component to the lab PC. Downloaded the Arduino Software to the computer and proceeded to connect the component to the PC. Not a while later we seem to have hit a wall. The PC could not read the device which was the Arduino UNO, therefore we searched online to find a solution to bypass this problem. While searching we read up more on our temperature sensor and on how to connect/ mount the component on the device.

Turns out, using the lab PC was not an option. Due to being limited the full access of the computer, we could not continue on our search to at least allow any communication between the PC and the Arduino UNO. It was later decided that we brought out laptop along next week to try out once again. As for today, we mainly figured out how to connect the temperature sensor to the Arduino and what codes to use that could be written on the Arduino Software.

Till next time.

First Day!

Alright this is the start of the project