HMI software to visualize the arduino code (SCADA)

Projects Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
1

Hi All :slight_smile: ,

This subject must be a common topic of discussion in the forum. But still, since I am short of time to look into previous posts, I am presenting my problem in this forum.

Problem: I am developing a robot (not exactly, its more like a rail or bogie) to monitor a series of thermocouples in line which are placed along different locations in a room. I have a basic arduino sketch for measuring the temperature as well as running the robot using the stepper motor. Now, the client wants to monitor the temperature along with fine tuning, ON/OFF of the robot movements remotely (From a Laptop as of now).

Any suggestions as to how to implement this? I tried using LabVIEW but have been stuck due to few issues which i need answers. If there are any members well versed with LabVIEW + Arduino, will appreciate their help greatly. Any alternatives to this will be of great help. I am not good at VB/Python programming. Hence if you have come across solutions for this kind of a problem in any old posts please link me to it. If you have any documentation or sample codes for understanding please send me the links of the same. Really sorry for the trouble.

Thanks in Advance.

Best Regards,
Sush.

2

I have read your post 3 times and I still have no idea what you actually want help with or what your project actually does.

Let me try a guess ...

  • You have a robot that moves around a room.
  • It has some thermocouples on board.
  • At various locations you want it to take temperature readings.
  • You want the robot movements to be controlled by a laptop
  • You want the temperature measurements to be sent back to the laptop.
  • You want wireless (bluetooth ?) communication with the laptop.

If there is anything wrong with that (I would be amazed if there is not), please correct it

Then tell us what you are having a problem with.

...R

3

Thanks a lot for your reply. Your guess is correct except for the wireless part since the arduino will be connected via USB to my Laptop. Thermocouples and stepper motor will connected to the analog input terminals via lengthy wires(will try for wireless in future). So now i wish to have a control in my laptop ( more like a interface) as to change the steps of the stepper motor(forward or backward option, fine tuning option to pinpoint the location where temperature must be measured) instead of push buttons. For the temperature reading part, i will display it in LCD. Hope this clarifies your doubts regarding the project. Currently, I am trying to build the GUI using Monitoriza. Hope it yields some results. Thank you...

4

Using USB will certainly be simpler.

You should design the protocol or exchanging data with the Arduino at an early stage. Generally it will be easier to make the PC software meet the Arduino requirements than vice versa.

The examples in serial input basics should give you some ideas.

You should ensure that your PC program can display debug messages from the Arduino.

This Python comms demo illustrates a reliable method for talking to a PC. The general principles will apply with any language. You may be interested in this Python GUI demo.

I would also recommend that you do as much as possible on the PC where modifications to your program will be easiest. I have a Python program to control a small lathe with 3 stepper motors. I have been making lots of changes to the Python code but the Arduino code has been unchanged for 6 months or more.

...R

5

Search for Arduino Modbus Library and AdvancedHMI. That may help give you an easy way to visualize data in your Arduino program.