tl:dr How to parse multiple live-time changing variables send to Arduino?
Hello dear banana community!
Recently I worked on a project including TouchDesigner to Arduino communication.
I faced a problem with sending multiple live-changing data from CHOP to Arduino through serial.
I have two animations that runs independently for 10s after a different triggers (null1 on the screenshot). Ewentually there will be 5 independent animations triggered by different events.
Each animation is an analogWrite value of different motor connected to Arduino.
CHOP Execute sends data to serial1 on value change. Serial1 sends it to Arduino.
I’ve done the coding based on the example from TD docs (Arduino - Derivative).
Data send from TD are being parsed on Arduino side. Here is the problem - if I send constant value, they are saved in buffer and parsed correctly, but if I send changing values, they are changing positions in buffer, so the parsing is going wrong.
(On the screenshot first animation was triggered, so first message should be changing value and second should be 0).
Is there any other way I can send five independently changing values to Arduino through serial port? Or any other way to parse them?
I’m a begginer in Arduino and Python, any help appreciated!
Arduino code (for debug purpose I print parsed values instead of sensor values I use to trigger animations):
char buffer[13];
int len = 0;
int sensorVal1 = 0;
int sensorVal2 = 0;
int motorPin1 = 5;
int motorPin2 = 6;
int sensorPin1 = A0;
int sensorPin2 = A1;
void setup() {
// start serial port at 9600 bps:
Serial.begin(9600);
while (!Serial) {
; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
}
pinMode(motorPin1, OUTPUT);
pinMode(motorPin2, OUTPUT);
pinMode(sensorPin1, INPUT);
pinMode(sensorPin2, INPUT);
//establishContact(); // send a byte to establish contact until receiver responds
}
void loop() {
sensorVal1 = analogRead(sensorPin1);
sensorVal2 = analogRead(sensorPin2);
//FINAL version prints sensor values!!!
//Serial.print(sensorVal1); Serial.print(",");
//Serial.print(sensorVal2);
//Serial.println(); //terminate the line
// if we get a valid byte, read analog ins:
if (Serial.available() > 0) {
// get incoming byte:
int inByte = Serial.read();
buffer[len++] = inByte;
//resetting
if (len >= 13) {
len = 0;
}
//check for newline
if (inByte == '\n') {
int motorVal1, motorVal2;
int n = sscanf(buffer, "%d %d", &motorVal1, &motorVal2);
//write motor when two variables red
if (n == 2) {
analogWrite(motorPin1, motorVal1);
analogWrite(motorPin2, motorVal2);
//for DEBUG print parsed values
Serial.print(motorVal1); Serial.print(",");
Serial.print(motorVal2); Serial.print(",");
Serial.print("over"); Serial.print(",");
}
}
}
}
