I am new to Arduino. Been researching a lot of youtube videos but still wondering if what I want to achieve is possible with Arduino. Then if it is give me direction for parts needed to order.
I am a physician and trying to create prototype where using Arduino to automatically move piece of medical equipment. I will include photos of the equipment to give a better idea of what I need to move. It is complicated in that it has 2 different arms that swing back in forth on a semicircular track. Im wanting them to move back and forth but at different rates and be able to control them from pc (either usb or bluetooth). I will be remotely logging into desktop. I also would like manual button for someone to push and automate the process as well.
Lastly I am also driving to separate usb lights connected on either side of device that can be controlled by pc.
What I think I need
Arduino board
2 Stepper motors with enough power to move the arms.
Relay switch to connect to pc so I can turn power on and off - bluetooth or usb (2 for lights, and one to run motor sequence)
Power connected to actual outlet (not battery operated)
Some type of pulley system and track connected to motors
various cables and items to connect everything
Software code to run everything
Not the best but you get idea that black arm with light moves back and forth on semicircular plain. The main unit just slides left in right in line. Obviously there are many more parts to this but Im creating a very basic system to be automated and ignore all the other parts.
Very commendable project, but what is in it for us? You are suggesting a WHOLE lot of mechanical and electrical and electronic engineering that will all eventually have to be approved by some government agency before commercial production can even be contemplated.
Paul
Hi,
This is the initial research work, right? Arduino is a good environment for that.
A couple of suggestions here:
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/Arduino-Project-Planning-Electrical
and
https://arduinoinfo.mywikis.net/wiki/Arduino-Project-Planning-Packaging-Mechanical
As Paul points out there's a LOT to something like that. Are you interested in doing the mechanical design also?
Then there's what is called Interaction Design which is how humans interact with the Thing.
There are books on all these subjects. As a MD you obviously know about finding information and studying it.
Good Old friend of mine became an Electrical Engineer. Worked at Columbia and MIT, specializing in patient monitoring. He was frustrated because "They won't let me touch the Damn patient!". Went back and got an MD.
So you just might reverse that...
My daughter was doing High School Biology. She said "Dad, I realize the reason I LIKE this so much: It's so INTRICATE!" Message received. When she was at Brandeis doing Biochemistry, we talked about the future. "I could do it, but I really do not want to be a Physician. I love the laboratory TOO much!". Long ago. Today she is a Professor of Cell Biology at Yale with her own lab [here]. And 4 kids along the way. There are MANY paths through all the interesting and complex stuff. My Editorial when I talk to high school students is, "All the REALLY interesting jobs are multidisciplinary!". Enough DadBrag...
Paul_KD7HB:
Very commendable project, but what is in it for us? You are suggesting a WHOLE lot of mechanical and electrical and electronic engineering that will all eventually have to be approved by some government agency before commercial production can even be contemplated.
Paul
Not looking for a manufactured quality product. Its more of a proof of concept that it can be done. Then I would take project to engineering firm to build it into the actual equipment for government approval. Im not asking for someone to do the project for me. I just need to know if its worth my time to take it on and what parts I would need to make it work.
Until you do the mechanical design, no one can tell what electronic stuff you might need.
Paul
