Wait, have you heard this one already?
So... I'm using the Arduino as a hardware bridge for my PandaBoard. I'm trying to write a sketch where the Arduino continuously polls its sensors, waiting for a serial command from a PandaBoard. It acts on the command and either sends the required data back or an "OK".
Here's the kicker: The Arduino is using the "PulseIn" command, waiting for the Ultrasonic Distance sensors. It can conceivably be waiting as long as 30 milliseconds for the pulse to come back. (Or longer if the wiring breaks.)
How do I make sure I don't lose Serial Data?
This is the current system I'm using is:
loop{
If Serial Bytes available{//I.e. a command from the Pandaboard
Get Byte
Check for '\n' signalling a completed command.
If Completed command Execute.
}
Check Next Sensor
}
Execute being defined as
Execute{
If Get Message{
Pack sensor data into string
return to PandaBoard
}
If Set Message{
Set Values.
Return "OK" to PandaBoard.
}
}
I haven't tested this as several things aren't wired up yet (it's a huge mess), but I wanted to get your input before I tried it out.