Averaging Individual Sensor Values for Multiple Sensors

Projects Programming
1

I am fairly new to programming, specifically using arrays to store values and condense code.

I am working on putting together a code that averages 5 readings for each of 10 different sensors and want to make sure my logic is making sense. The code is below.

What I want it to do is take 2 IR readings ("ambient" and "obstacle") and calculate another variable ("distance"). This will happen 5 times, then the 5 readings are averaged and stored in a single array (distance[10]) for each sensor. Using a 10 value array where each stored value is referenced in another code and each location is associated with a single pod. (i.e. location 0=pod 1, location 1=pod 2.....)

This code is just a portion of a much larger code that uses the values for each pod to control lights associated with each sensor.

Also, when I say pod, it is in reference to the light and IR combined circuit. See attached PCB design.

Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Thanks in advance!

Equipment: Arduino Mega2560, TCRT5000 sensors

//=========================//
//=====IR Sensor Setup=====//
//=========================//

int ambient[5];                 // array to store the IR coming from the ambient

int obstacle[5];                // array to store the IR coming from the obstacle

int distance[10];                // array to store if a cup is on each pod

int podIR[] = {A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9};            //defines pin to retrieve IR value from for each pod

int CupCount[10];     //Still trying to figure out how to get a count of the pods that have an object on them. This line is not used at this point.



#define IRemitters 2   //IR emitters on digital pin 2. All 10 pods IR emitters are controlled by this one line


void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);         // initializing Serial monitor

   pinMode(IRemitters,OUTPUT);   //IRemitters (digital pin 2) as output
   digitalWrite(IRemitters,LOW);   //Turns IR LEDs off


void loop()
{

Serial.println(distance[0]);   // writing value of pod 1 for debugging

  for(int y=0; y<10; y++){  //Loops through all 10 pods
    for(int x=0; x<5; x++){   //Collects 5 readings from sensor for averaging
      digitalWrite(IRemitters,LOW);           // turning the IR LEDs off to read the IR coming from the ambient                                           
      ambient[x] = analogRead(podIR[y]);  // storing IR coming from the ambient
      digitalWrite(IRemitters,HIGH);          // turning the IR LEDs on to read the IR coming from the obstacle
      obstacle[x] = analogRead(podIR[y]);  // storing IR coming from the obstacle
      distance[y] += ambient[x]-obstacle[x];   // calculating changes in IR values and storing it for future average
    }
 
 distance[y] /= 5;  //average of 5 readings from each pod

 
  }
  
  
}

PCB_LED Pods w silkscreen.pdf (13 KB)

2

What I want it to do is take 2 IR readings ("ambient" and "obstacle")

I'm sorry. That makes no sense. Ambient generally refers to lighting or temperature or humidity - something related to the space around you.

An obstacle is a physical object that can't reasonably be measured with an IR sensor.

This will happen 5 times, then the 5 readings are averaged and stored in a single array (distance[10])

Why do you need a 10 element array to hold 5 values?

You have an array to hold 5 values from 5 ambient sensors (though what an IR sensor is going to tell you about any kind of ambient conditions, I can't imagine.

You should have an array of 5 pin numbers for those sensors.

You have an array to hold 5 values from 5 obstacle sensors (though what an IR sensor is goinf to tell you about the obstacles, I can't imagine).

You should have an array of 5 pin numbers for those sensors.

Then, you can read and store the data in each array with one (or two) for loops, with no weird indexing of the pin array.

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);         // initializing Serial monitor

   pinMode(IRemitters,OUTPUT);   //IRemitters (digital pin 2) as output
   digitalWrite(IRemitters,LOW);   //Turns IR LEDs off


void loop()

Not necessary to close setup() in your universe?

Anyway, what is the problem?