All posts by admin

In this video lesson we show how to control the position of a game paddle in Python using data from a joystick controlled by Arduino. the data is passed from Arduino to Python, and then the position of the game paddle is dynamically adjusted in real time. On the arduino side, this is the code which we developed:

int potX=A0;
int potY=A1;
int potZ=2;
int dl=100;

int xVal=0;
int yVal=0;
int zVal=0;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(115200);
pinMode(potX,INPUT);
pinMode(potY,INPUT);
pinMode(potZ,INPUT);
digitalWrite(potZ,HIGH);
delay(dl);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
xVal=analogRead(potX);
yVal=analogRead(potY);
zVal=digitalRead(potZ);
Serial.print(xVal);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.print(yVal);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.println(zVal);
delay(25);



}

int potX=A0;

int potY=A1;

int potZ=2;

int dl=100;

int xVal=0;

int yVal=0;

int zVal=0;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(115200);

pinMode(potX,INPUT);

pinMode(potY,INPUT);

pinMode(potZ,INPUT);

digitalWrite(potZ,HIGH);

delay(dl);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

xVal=analogRead(potX);

yVal=analogRead(potY);

zVal=digitalRead(potZ);

Serial.print(xVal);

Serial.print(',');

Serial.print(yVal);

Serial.print(',');

Serial.println(zVal);

delay(25);

}

And on the Python side, this is the code which we used:

from vpython import *
import serial

arduinoData=serial.Serial('com3',115200)

roomX=12
roomY=10
roomZ=16
wallT=.5
wallColor=vector(1,1,1)
wallOpacity=.8
frontOpacity=.1
marbleR=.5
ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)
marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

paddleX=2
paddleY=2
paddleZ=.2
paddleOpacity=.8
paddleColor=vector(0,.8,.6)
paddle=box(size=vector(paddleX,paddleY,paddleZ),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=paddleColor,opacity=paddleOpacity)



marbleX=0
deltaX=.1

marbleY=0
deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0
deltaZ=.1

while True:
    while arduinoData.inWaiting()==0:
        pass
    dataPacket=arduinoData.readline()
    print('data is: ',dataPacket)
    dataPacket=str(dataPacket,'utf-8')
    dataPacket.strip('\r\n')
    splitPacket=dataPacket.split(',')

    x=float(splitPacket[0])
    y=float(splitPacket[1])
    z=float(splitPacket[2])

    padX=(roomX/1023.)*x -roomX/2
    padY=(-roomY/1023.)*y+roomY/2

    marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    marbleY=marbleY+deltaY
    marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ


    if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
        marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

    if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):
        deltaY=deltaY*(-1)
        marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

    if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):
        deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)
        marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

    marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)
    paddle.pos=vector(padX,padY,roomZ/2)

from vpython import *

import serial

arduinoData=serial.Serial('com3',115200)

roomX=12

roomY=10

roomZ=16

wallT=.5

wallColor=vector(1,1,1)

wallOpacity=.8

frontOpacity=.1

marbleR=.5

ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)

marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

paddleX=2

paddleY=2

paddleZ=.2

paddleOpacity=.8

paddleColor=vector(0,.8,.6)

paddle=box(size=vector(paddleX,paddleY,paddleZ),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=paddleColor,opacity=paddleOpacity)

marbleX=0

deltaX=.1

marbleY=0

deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0

deltaZ=.1

while True:

while arduinoData.inWaiting()==0:

pass

dataPacket=arduinoData.readline()

print('data is: ',dataPacket)

dataPacket=str(dataPacket,'utf-8')

dataPacket.strip('\r\n')

splitPacket=dataPacket.split(',')

x=float(splitPacket[0])

y=float(splitPacket[1])

z=float(splitPacket[2])

padX=(roomX/1023.)*x -roomX/2

padY=(-roomY/1023.)*y+roomY/2

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):

deltaY=deltaY*(-1)

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):

deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)

paddle.pos=vector(padX,padY,roomZ/2)

Uncategorized

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 16: Connecting and Using a Joystick with Arduino

April 26, 2022 admin

In this video lesson we are working towards creating a 3D version of the classic Pong arcade game. In this session, we show how to read data from the joystick using the arduino.

The arduino code developed in this video is included for your convenience below:

int potX=A0;
int potY=A1;
int potZ=2;
int xVal=0;
int yVal=0;
int zVal=0;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(115200);
pinMode(potX,INPUT);
pinMode(potY,INPUT);
pinMode(potZ,INPUT);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
xVal=analogRead(potX);
yVal=analogRead(potY);
zVal=digitalRead(potZ);
Serial.print(xVal);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.print(yVal);
Serial.print(',');
Serial.println(zVal);
delay(25);
}

int potX=A0;

int potY=A1;

int potZ=2;

int xVal=0;

int yVal=0;

int zVal=0;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(115200);

pinMode(potX,INPUT);

pinMode(potY,INPUT);

pinMode(potZ,INPUT);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

xVal=analogRead(potX);

yVal=analogRead(potY);

zVal=digitalRead(potZ);

Serial.print(xVal);

Serial.print(',');

Serial.print(yVal);

Serial.print(',');

Serial.println(zVal);

delay(25);

}

Also, this is the vPython 3D simulation we have developed thus far:

from vpython import *
roomX=12
roomY=10
roomZ=16
wallT=.5
wallColor=vector(1,1,1)
wallOpacity=.8
frontOpacity=.1
marbleR=.5
ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)
marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0
deltaX=.1

marbleY=0
deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0
deltaZ=.1

while True:
    rate(20)

    marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    marbleY=marbleY+deltaY
    marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ


    if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
        marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

    if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):
        deltaY=deltaY*(-1)
        marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

    if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):
        deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)
        marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

    marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)

from vpython import *

roomX=12

roomY=10

roomZ=16

wallT=.5

wallColor=vector(1,1,1)

wallOpacity=.8

frontOpacity=.1

marbleR=.5

ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)

marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0

deltaX=.1

marbleY=0

deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0

deltaZ=.1

while True:

rate(20)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):

deltaY=deltaY*(-1)

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):

deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 15: Model of Bouncing Marble in 3D Room

April 19, 2022 admin

In this video lesson we model a 3D room, and have a marble bouncing around in the room, off of each of the six walls. Below we include the code we develop in the video above

from vpython import *
roomX=12
roomY=10
roomZ=16
wallT=.5
wallColor=vector(1,1,1)
wallOpacity=.8
frontOpacity=.1
marbleR=.5
ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)
marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0
deltaX=.1

marbleY=0
deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0
deltaZ=.1

while True:
    rate(20)

    marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    marbleY=marbleY+deltaY
    marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ


    if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
        marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

    if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):
        deltaY=deltaY*(-1)
        marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

    if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):
        deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)
        marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

    marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)

from vpython import *

roomX=12

roomY=10

roomZ=16

wallT=.5

wallColor=vector(1,1,1)

wallOpacity=.8

frontOpacity=.1

marbleR=.5

ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)

marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0

deltaX=.1

marbleY=0

deltaY=.1

marbleZ=0

deltaZ=.1

while True:

rate(20)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

if marbleY+marbleR>(roomY/2-wallT/2) or marbleY-marbleR<(-roomY/2+wallT/2):

deltaY=deltaY*(-1)

marbleY=marbleY+deltaY

if marbleZ+marbleR>(roomZ/2-wallT/2) or marbleZ-marbleR<(-roomZ/2+wallT/2):

deltaZ=deltaZ*(-1)

marbleZ=marbleZ+deltaZ

marble.pos=vector(marbleX,marbleY,marbleZ)

3D Graphics with Visual Python, Arduino with Python

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 14: Model a Moving Marble in a Room Using Parameters

April 12, 2022 admin

In this lesson we show how to model a moving marble in vPython. We show how to create an animation where the marble bounces off the left and righty walls of our virtual room. For your convenience, we include the code below:

from vpython import *
roomX=12
roomY=10
roomZ=16
wallT=.5
wallColor=vector(1,1,1)
wallOpacity=.8
frontOpacity=.1
marbleR=.5
ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)
frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)
marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0
deltaX=.1

while True:
    rate(20)
    marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):
        deltaX=deltaX*(-1)
        marbleX=marbleX+deltaX
    marble.pos=vector(marbleX,0,0)

from vpython import *

roomX=12

roomY=10

roomZ=16

wallT=.5

wallColor=vector(1,1,1)

wallOpacity=.8

frontOpacity=.1

marbleR=.5

ballColor=vector(0,0,1)

myFloor=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,-roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

myCeiling=box(size=vector(roomX,wallT,roomZ),pos=vector(0,roomY/2,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

leftWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(-roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

rightWall=box(size=vector(wallT,roomY,roomZ),pos=vector(roomX/2,0,0),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

backWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,-roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=wallOpacity)

frontWall=box(size=vector(roomX,roomY,wallT),pos=vector(0,0,roomZ/2),color=wallColor,opacity=frontOpacity)

marble=sphere(color=ballColor,radius=marbleR)

marbleX=0

deltaX=.1

while True:

rate(20)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

if marbleX+marbleR>(roomX/2-wallT/2) or marbleX-marbleR<(-roomX/2+wallT/2):

deltaX=deltaX*(-1)

marbleX=marbleX+deltaX

marble.pos=vector(marbleX,0,0)

Raspberry Pi

Understanding Raspberry Pi 4 GPIO Pinouts

March 31, 2022 admin

Raspberry Pi GPIO Pinout — Diagram of physical and BCM Pins on Raspberry Pi

This shows the pinout for the Raspberry Pi 4. It shows both the BOARD numbering scheme, and the BCM numbering scheme. You define which numbering scheme you want to use in your python program. You must start by importing the GPIO Library:

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

Then, if you use setmode to define which numbering scheme you want:

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD)

will give you the Physical Pin numbering scheme.

If you use:

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

You will be using the BCM Numbering Scheme. I prefer the BOARD Scheme as it is much easier to keep track of. Hope this helps.

Technology Tutorials

All posts by admin

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 17: Controlling Paddle Position with a Joy Stick

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 16: Connecting and Using a Joystick with Arduino

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 15: Model of Bouncing Marble in 3D Room

Using an Arduino with Python LESSON 14: Model a Moving Marble in a Room Using Parameters

Understanding Raspberry Pi 4 GPIO Pinouts

Making The World a Better Place One High Tech Project at a Time. Enjoy!