Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sending Serial Data from Processing to Arduino

I want to send data from my laptop to the Arduino-based robot. Processing is running on the laptop and Wiring on the Arduino. In Processing, the serial object is being called ‘myPort’ (it could have been called ‘Joe’ for that … Continue reading →

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Buying an Arduino at Radio Shack

Ever since I was informed that Radio Shack was going to sell Arduinos, I’ve been swinging by the local store to check what they have in stock. Well, last night there was a Mega and a motor controller shield on … Continue reading →

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Arduino Pin 13 as low-res serial monitor

Now that I have data to send from the computer to the arduino, I’d like to verify that it has gotten to the arduino. My original assumption was that I could echo back the data and read it on the … Continue reading →

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GIRC: Reviewing Output in the Processing Console

After I generate a path and convert the data into turn-and-move format, I want to send the data to the arduino-robot. For this I will use the USB/serial cable. But before I send any data, I want to make sure … Continue reading →

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GIRC Distance Commands

In the above illustration, the first Command Element has a command code of 44, which tells us that it is a Move command, and that we are to move 360 plus whatever is in the second Command Element minus 33. … Continue reading →

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GIRC Turn Codes

Here we make a 76 degree right turn in GIRC, and this information has to be sent over the USB/Serial cable to the microcontroller aboard the robot. This communication is done with a control code pair. As shown, the first … Continue reading →

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GIRC Path Data Conversion

The user inputs path data to GIRC by clicking points on the screen. Processing then draws segments between the points and calculates x,y coordinate data. This data is then converted into distance and turn data which will then be sent … Continue reading →

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Five Stages of Programmer’s Grief

I knew this, but I forgot it yesterday when I was working on GIRC. This convention of inverting the y-axis for screen display isn’t peculiar to Processing, it’s common to many programming languages. There is a way to change the … Continue reading →

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GIRC Path Calculations

(ATTN Google Searchers: Click here for Generation Starship Orinoco.) The user guides the robot in GIRC by creating a path. The path is composed of segments which are created by mouse clicks. The program calculates the length (or distance traveled) … Continue reading →

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Arduino Cheapbot gets a Mini Breadboard Makeover

Videos of delivery guys gone wild may be viral these days, but Santa Zero was good to me and delivered these presents intact and on time. They will help in making my cheapbot kit a reality. I’ve only just browsed … Continue reading →

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