(MATLAB Support Package for Arduino) New in this World: Thrust Bench Project

Using Arduino Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
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Hello! My name is Abel, I am an Aerospace Engineering graduated student at Texas University. For my research and Thesis, I am required to built a Test bench to run different combinations of Brushless Motors and Propellers, and measure different parameters, like voltage, current, thrust, rpm... and make an study of the performance, efficiency etc...

I am totally new in this world, and I knew nothing about Arduino. I got an Arduino UNO, a load cell, an HX711, a brushless motor and a ESC. Despite of being new in Arduino, I have experience building and flying Racing Drones.

For now, I could manage to run the motor using a potenciometer, and also programming increases of pwm value from 1000 to 2000 (maximun and minimum ESC signal). I get the thrust values in the serial monitor.

Now I have to take the next step: Recording all the data in Matlab, to create plots and store the results.

I have received today a voltage sensor and the 720 Current sensor.

I have installed the Arduino support package for Matlab. Now I am stuck, because I have serious conceptual doubts. I have seen a lot of tutorials an I have researched online, but still I need somebody to explain me some questions.

Can I totally control my Arduino (all the functions) with Matlab? I mean, not write anything in the arduino IDE from the beginning and program all the funtions and set up all the sensors only with Matlab?

Maybe I have to setup all the sensors with arduino IDE and then read some values and store them in Matlab?

I do not know how this is working.

Please help me.

Thank you :slight_smile:

Do I have to

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This is how my test bench looks right now. I will add the two new sensor soon. I would love to learn some theory about how the Matlab Support package works and what is doing inside my arduino board.

IMG_6101.jpg
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AbelMartinez90:
Can I totally control my Arduino (all the functions) with Matlab? I mean, not write anything in the arduino IDE from the beggining and program all the funrions and set up all the sensors only with Matlab?

I don't know anything about Matlab and from your Title I did not know your question was about Matlab.

People who do know Matlab but don't know about Thrust may not read your Thread.

If you edit your Original Post you can change your Title. Maybe "Help with controlling Arduino from Matlab" would be more suitable>

...R

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Can I totally control my Arduino (all the functions) with Matlab? I mean, not write anything in the arduino IDE from the beggining and program all the funrions and set up all the sensors only with Matlab?

No.

But what you can do is run a program on the Arduino called Fermatta it is in the IDE under the examples menu. This will allow Matlab to command a reading or setting of the Arduino’s pins individually and get the result back.

This might be good enough for your use but it means you have some delay in getting the results. This delay is the length of time it takes to send the message and read the result.

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Robin2:
I don't know anything about Matlab and from your Title I did not know your question was about Matlab.

People who do know Matlab but don't know about Thrust may not read your Thread.

If you edit your Original Post you can change your Title. Maybe "Help with controlling Arduino from Matlab" would be more suitable>

...R

Thanks a LOT! I have edited it. Yes right now my question is about MATLAB interface, but for sure in the future I will have others.

I want to show here my progress in this project, to get help when I will be really stuck, also to help and guide others who want to do something similar.

Thank you for your time.

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Grumpy_Mike:
No.

But what you can do is run a program on the Arduino called Fermatta it is in the IDE under the examples menu. This will allow Matlab to command a reading or setting of the Arduino’s pins individually and get the result back.

This might be good enough for your use but it means you have some delay in getting the results. This delay is the length of time it takes to send the message and read the result.

Thanks a lot for your answer. That is exactly what I want to know. I hope we could discuss further about that. So what I have to do is write all the sensor set up in the Arduino IDE, also the loop, and then with MATLAB I can read an write pins inputs and outputs?

Thank you for your time!

Regards

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I hope we could discuss further about that.

Well I know of the existence of Matlab and Fermatta but I have never used them.