Hello,
I am new to Arduino and I am not aware to its abilities. I don't know where to start or what keywords to search for online regarding what I need. Please bear with me as I try to explain in detail what I am searching for or if it would be possible to implement this.
I am developing a electronics payload for a model rocket and one thing I am trying to consider is adding to our Arduino Code a LCD display or some sort of indicator to let us know that all our sensors/ modules are working, and if they are not working, to display a error code that we can then use to narrow down the issue rather than looking around the whole electronics bay.
For reference, this project we plan on using an MPU6050 Accelerometer, and a Linear Actuator.
Picture this hypothetical scenario of the guidance I am looking for: All electronics and code are working the day before the flight and are packed and ready to go, but during transportation, a wire disconnects from the accelerometer and Arduino and we are unaware of this event. As we setup for flight, before assembling the rocket together, we attach a LCD display to the headers of the Arduino to let us know if all the sensors are functioning correctly. So in this case because the accelerometer is not properly setup, the LCD display would display a error code corresponding to that module, say "0X01" or alternatively if everything is working, display a message "Ready to go" once all sensors/motors have been tested.
Please let me know if this was not in good enough detail or if further clearance is required.
Old method is to have a few small LEDs that would display an error code (in the form of a binary pattern on the LEDs) to indicate a problem. No actual problem using an LCD display, but probably a lot easier to have an accessible USB jack to plug a laptop into.
Sorry forgot to clarify that the LCD display would ideally not be in the rocket during time of flight. It would just be a tool that would temporarily be connected to the Arduino to make sure all electronics are properly working.
How do You intend to connect resp. disconnect this external device? If both the systems are powered, or even only system, there is danger.
Just pushing/pulling a connector might disturb the onboard system, eventually even damaging it.
I use the 0.96inch/1.3inch OLED display units. They are quite cheap and easy to work with.
Adafruit do a library that you can use with them. Have a look on their website to start with.
I prefer the 7 wire SPI units, rather than the 4 wire I2C units.
I use them a lot to display the status of various sensors in my systems.
You can display 8 lines on the screen.
So, when you power up the Arduino, it can test 8 sensors and display the results on screen. You could also use a button/switch to cycle step by step through the test sequence.
As others have said, you could simply have a row of marked leds. An led can be lit up if its assigned sensor test was passed. Unlit leds indicate the fault.
But OLEDs are way cooler than leds!
Ok if you say it quickly.
A lot of hidden drawbacks.
Do you know what amount of code would be required to accomplish this?
What have you written so far in this application?
Perhaps you should try working your way up from "blink".