Working on a project that is complex enough that just working with air pilot valves alone is going to be a bear.
Basically, I'm building a simple robot that has about 8 air cylinders that control independent movements. I'd like to actuate these cylinders in a specified, user-variable order - basically, the user would have the ability to pick which "sets" of 2-3 cylinders would actuate. The exact sequence isn't important, just being able to include/exclude sets of cylinders.
Is this doable using arduino and solenoid operated valves? I've never used Arduino, but i've done some Lego ROBOLAB programming and have fussed with a PIC or two.
If it is doable, what would I need besides the obvious (cylinders, solenoid valves, control switches/buttons...)?
Thanks Richard, looks like I'm on the right track anyway!
luckily for me I'm going binary - at most I'd have a servo controlled regulator to adjust input pressure, or just a manual one. Sequencing is the only real task.
Electronics are not my strong suit, but the programming should be pretty easy I think. Basically, raise voltage to the pin to move solenoid, cut voltage for return? I assume programming in wait times and sequencing is relatively easy.
The "Uno"" should be sufficient, right? 14 i/o to control the solenoids (1 transistor + 1 diode per solenoid for control/protection), and whatever switch system I come up with would go through either hte digital I/o's or the 6 analog inputs? Besides a possible display and a DC power source, that should about do it, right?
Anybody know a project that's used pneumatics I could check out?