Voltage Measurements and Graphs

Using Arduino General Electronics
#1

I know I seem like I'm trying to find an easy way out here, but I truly just need a tiny bit of guidance on where to start. I've done Java and JavaScript, but I have no experience whatsoever with Arduino. My plan is to try to watch videos and find DIYs online, but I just want to make sure I'm going in the right direction.

What I want to do is use the Arduino as a voltmeter and record these voltage values over a certain period of time, then be able to output these voltages over time into graphs on my computer. I also want to include an LED alert of sorts for when either the voltage or the current reaches zero, since I'm measuring a primary cell (it's actually for a high school science project). I hope I can figure this out and thank you guys for your help!

#2

This is doable.
You can send Arduino data to the computer in CSV format then graph it with Excel.
Use a program like Realterm to receive the data and store it to a file.
http://realterm.sourceforge.net/

You can also use other software like MegunoLink to get the data and print it to a graph all in one.

.

#3

Once you have the data (saved to an SD card perhaps?)… you can make a graph/visuals using many languages/apps…

(not sure about the location/placement of what you want to measure)

Processing
Excel
Flash
JS/jQuery

etc…etc.

#4

Silly notion.

The original intention of the Processing language and IDE... (the basis for Ardiuno) was for data visualization. The Processing option is a viable method to achieve what you want as well.

Have a look here:

RealtimePlotter

#5

I use the serial functions of matlab to read in data and graph it in real time.

I bet there is something in java that can do that as well.

That way you leverage your java knowledge.

#6