Arduino Multithreading

[jdiezlopez]

Hi, I want to do two things at the same time, for example: turn on two servo motors.

Or I dunno, but can the Arduino handle multithread tasks?
Like calculating [ch960] and flashing a led at the same time.

[halley]

No such thing as a thread, to the microcontroller.  But you could write your own simple task scheduler, and bounce between those tasks according to their timing requirements.

[dmesser]

Here's a function I came up with to do what halley is talking about.

Code: [Select]

boolean cycleCheck(unsigned long *lastMillis, unsigned int cycle)
{
 unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
 if(currentMillis - *lastMillis >= cycle)
 {
   *lastMillis = currentMillis;
   return true;
 }
 else
   return false;
}

Basic usage:

For each event you want to deal with, set up an unsigned int for how often it should trigger in ms (cycle), and an unsigned long to keep track of the last millis() reading since the last event (lastMillis). You call the function passing the address of the lastMillis for that event and the cycle for that event. The function returns a true if the event is due for action, and a false if the syscle time hasn't elapsed yet.

Typical usage example (Simple blinking 2 LEDs at different rates)

Code: [Select]

#define ledPin1 11
#define ledPin2 12

#define led1Cycle 100U
#define led2Cycle 275U

unsigned long led1LastMillis = 0;
unsigned long led2LastMillis = 0;

boolean led1State = false;
boolean led2State = false;

boolean cycleCheck(unsigned long *lastMillis, unsigned int cycle)
{
 unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
 if(currentMillis - *lastMillis >= cycle)
 {
   *lastMillis = currentMillis;
   return true;
 }
 else
   return false;
}

void setup()
{
 pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT);
 pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT);
}

void loop()
{
 if(cycleCheck(&led1LastMillis, led1Cycle))
 {
   digitalWrite(ledPin1, led1State);
   led1State = !led1State;
 }
 if(cycleCheck(&led2LastMillis, led2Cycle))
 {
   digitalWrite(ledPin2, led2State);
   led2State = !led2State;
 }
}


I've found this to work very well, and it keeps the main loop code very clean. You can even make the cycle times variable by making them variables instead of #defines. Then you can change the cycle times during execution. For example, you want to change the blink rate with a potentiometer.

[MikMo]

That's a very good generalized solution to a common problem.

[dmesser]

Thanks. Hope it's useful to some... Someday I'll make the function deal with millis() rollover, too....

[skumlerud]

For each event you want to deal with, set up an unsigned int for how often it should trigger in ms (cycle), and an unsigned long to keep track of the last millis() reading since the last event (lastMillis). You call the function passing the address of the lastMillis for that event and the cycle for that event. The function returns a true if the event is due for action, and a false if the syscle time hasn't elapsed yet.

I use a very similar function myself, the difference is that I'm using a struct to hold the last_millis- and interval-values. I'm also using similar functions to poll switches, changes in analog input etc. As you said, it keeps the main loop clean and the code is much easier to follow.

[dmesser]

I like the idea of using a struct for the last millis and cycle parameters. Good idea.

[dcb]

Maybe have a look at http://www.bdmicro.com/code/threads/ too.

[jkone27]

Hello i have to play a sound on a buzzer (so repeat HIGH and LOW on its pins, at a given frequency (the note)) and while i'm doing this, i have to check if to continue or not.

i check from an incoming message from the usb (a midi message), if the message is NoteOff then it has to stop the BUzzer.

maybe i could use this code to deal with that? :-?

[mem]

giacomo, have a look at the Arduino tone function introduced in release 0018: http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Tone

[jkone27]

thaaaaaanks!

[AlphaBeta]

Could have a look at this next time you need to time some reoccurring actions:
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/TimedAction

[efficens]

Hi.

I wrote some lines using structs and 2 task running, one for send display data and other for read keyboard buttons.

Task for display run every 3000 milliseconds
Keyboard task run every 100 milliseconds

Enjoy ...

Bruno

typedef struct Timer
{
   unsigned long start;
   unsigned long timeout;
};

char TimerExpired ( struct Timer * timer )
{
   if ( millis () > timer->start + timer->timeout )
       return true;

   return false;    
}

void TimerStart ( struct Timer * timer )
{
   timer->start = millis ( );
}

//Display task running every 3000 milliseconds
Timer timerDisplay = { 0, 3000 };
//Keyboard task running every 100 milliseconds
Timer timerKeyboard = { 0, 100 };

void setup (void)
{
}

void loop (void)
{
   if ( TimerExpired ( & timerDisplay ) )
   {
       taskDisplay ( );
       TimerStart ( & timerDisplay );
   }

   if ( TimerExpired ( & timerKeyboard ) )
   {
       taskKeyboard ( );
       TimerStart ( & timerKeyboard );
   }
}

void taskKeyboard ( void )
{
}

void taskDisplay ( void )
{
}

[federico.dami]

Try this:
http://robotgroup.com.ar/noticias/20091102/duinos-sistema-operativo-multitarea-para-arduino

[Tchnclfl]

You can you use the Arduino's in-built PWM timers to change the brightness (as you see it) of an LED.

Check out analogWrite().