PROJECT VOC
Virtual Object Controller
Recently I've been trying to learn a bit of Python and decided to build a project for fun.
This project has a simple objective: To control a virtual object using a set of potentiometers.
By Connecting a set of potentiometers to an Arduino, this gave me the ability to manipulate two variables. I decided to manipulate the x-axis and the y-axis of a virtual box in Python.
The Arduino's circuit is simple. It has 2 potentiometers and 2 LEDS which will have different light intensities based on how much the potentiometer is being turned.
Here goes my attempt at explaining how the code works. *takes a deep breath*
Let's take a look at the Arduino's code:
The parts with the //(comment) is the explanation
//Moving a virtual object using potentiometers
int ledx = 5; //Variables for LED pins
int ledy = 6;
void setup() {
// put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin (9600); //Initialize serial communication
pinMode(ledx, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledy, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
int potx = analogRead(A0); //declaring some variables to hold the int poty = analogRead(A1); potentiometer reading
int xval = map(potx, 0, 1023, 0, 50); //Here I am mapping the x-axis potentiometer
int yval = map(poty, 0, 1023, 51, 101); from 0-1023 to 0-50. Smaller numbers will
int xled = map(potx, 0, 1023, 0, 255); help me manage the programming easier.
int yled = map(poty, 0, 1023, 0, 255); Y-axis potentiometer is mapped to 51-101
because they need separate values to
//0-50 is the range of values for x axis differentiate x and y axis. I'm also mapping
//51-100 is the range of values for y axis the pot values to 0-255 for PWM for LEDS
//Varying light intesities based on the degree of movement of the x and y axis. (based on the potentiometer)
analogWrite(ledx, xled);
analogWrite(ledy, yled);
//Sending the potentiometer values to Python
Serial.println(xval); //Sending the values one by one to Python in
delay(10); the form of string.
Serial.println(yval);
delay(10);
}
Now let's take a look at the Python side of the program: (# are for comments)
import serial #Importing the necessary libraries for the code to work
from visual import *
arduinoSerialData = serial.Serial('com6', 9600) #Setting up serial communication, take note of
com port and baud rate (same with Arduino)
virtualObject = box(color = color.green, length = 3, width = 3, height = 3, pos = (0,0,0))
#Declaring an object to set up the shape. In my case, I'm using a box, the values in the brackets are
the parameters for the box. The 'pos' value is what we need to change dynamically, (x,y,z) axis. We don't have to bother with the Z axis in this case.
y = 0 #Declaring the variable used to change the Y-axis, not sure why only y is needed, but the
code does not work without this.
while (1==1): #Run everything in a loop
rate(200) #How fast it runs (tried 20, doesn't work too well)
if (arduinoSerialData.inWaiting()>0): #Check to see whether there's data
value = arduinoSerialData.readline() #Write the data in a variable called value
data = int(value) #Convert the string format data into an integer
if (data < 51): #If the potentiometer reading is less than 51, the value received is
x = data for the X-axis. Write the value into a variable called x.
if (data > 50): #If the potentiometer reading is more than 51, the value received is
y = data - 51 for the Y-axis. Write the value into a variable called y. Minus the
value with 51 so that it starts from (0,0).
virtualObject.pos = (-30 + x,-30 + y, 0) #This is in charge of drawing the box itself. Notice
the variables in the position. This will enable updating of the x and y coordinates. I also start with
(-30,-30) so that there's more space for the box to
move around.
Don't copy and paste the program from here. It might get messy. Instead, download it from my Google Drive folder.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6uB9kVTUBKuWFZQUDFBX1pjRW8
