Virtual World Using Arduino

Creating a Virtual World Using Arduino and Python:

Introduction to Our Project:

how to create a simple virtual world using vPython library.In this project we are using Arduino and Ultasonic Sensor for sensing the virtual world. The virtual world is use in real time based on measurements from the arduino and ultrasonic sensor. In this project you can use how to combine Arduino, Python, and vPython library to create a virtual world i.e virtual object updated based on sensor measurements.

Installation of All Software:

Arduino IDE:

Installation of Arduino IDE: You can download the latest Arduino IDE from this link:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

Python:

Download and Install Python 2.7.8.for windows. Link is given below:

https://www.python.org/downloads/windows/

Pyserial:

Download and Install Pyserial version 2.7 for windows. Link is given below:

https://learn.adafruit.com/arduino-lesson-17-email...

vPython:

Download and install the Vpython library for windows. Link is given below:

http://vpython.org/

Component Used:

1) Arduino UNO:

Arduino/Genuino Uno is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P (datasheet). It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz quartz crystal, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header and a reset button.

2)Ultrasonic sensor:

This is the HC-SR04 ultrasonic ranging sensor. This economical sensor provides 2cm to 400cm of non-contact measurement functionality with a ranging accuracy that can reach up to 3mm. Each HC-SR04 module includes an ultrasonic transmitter, a receiver and a control circuit.

Circuit Description:

First we are going to connect ultrasonic sensor with Arduino board. Then according to program our ultrasonic sensor going to generate a trigger signal which is going to receive by our echo pin of Ultrasonic Sensor. Then we are going to run our arduino code. According to Arduino code our Ultrasonic Sensor detect the distance of any object.

Here are the connections of our circuit:

Ultrasonic Sensor---Arduino UNO

GND---------------------GND

Echo------------------- pin 11

Trig..........................pin13

Vcc.........................5v

Code of the Project:

Step to run Code:

1) Firstly you can run Arduino code.

2) After that You can run python script, before running python script you can install Pyserial and vPython.

Arduino Code:

int trigPin=13; //Sensor Trig pin connected to Arduino pin 13

int echoPin=11;  //Sensor Echo pin connected to Arduino pin 11

float pingTime;  //time for ping to travel from sensor to target and return

float targetDistance; //Distance to Target in inches

float speedOfSound=776.5; //Speed of sound in miles per hour when temp is 77 degrees.

void setup() {

  // put your setup code here, to run once:

  Serial.begin(9600);

  pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);

}

void loop() {

  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

 

  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW); //Set trigger pin low

  delayMicroseconds(2000); //Let signal settle

  digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH); //Set trigPin high

  delayMicroseconds(15); //Delay in high state

  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW); //ping has now been sent

  delayMicroseconds(10); //Delay in low state

 

  pingTime = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);  //pingTime is presented in microceconds

  pingTime=pingTime/1000000; //convert pingTime to seconds by dividing by 1000000 (microseconds in a second)

  pingTime=pingTime/3600; //convert pingtime to hourse by dividing by 3600 (seconds in an hour)

  targetDistance= speedOfSound * pingTime;  //This will be in miles, since speed of sound was miles per hour

  targetDistance=targetDistance/2; //Remember ping travels to target and back from target, so you must divide by 2 for actual target distance.

  targetDistance= targetDistance*63360;    //Convert miles to inches by multipling by 63360 (inches per mile)

 

  Serial.println(targetDistance);

 

  delay(100); //delay tenth of a  second to slow things down a little.

}

Python Script:

import serial #Import Serial Library

from visual import * #Import all the vPython library

arduinoSerialData = serial.Serial('com3', 9600) #Create an object for the Serial port. Adjust 'com11' to whatever port your arduino is sending to.

measuringRod = cylinder( radius= .1, length=6, color=color.yellow, pos=(-3,-2,0))

lengthLabel = label(pos=(0,5,0), text='Target Distance is: ', box=false, height=30)

target=box(pos=(0,-.5,0), length=.2, width=3, height=3, color=color.green)

while (1==1):  #Create a loop that continues to read and display the data

    rate(20)#Tell vpython to run this loop 20 times a second

    if (arduinoSerialData.inWaiting()>0):  #Check to see if a data point is available on the serial port

        myData = arduinoSerialData.readline() #Read the distance measure as a string

        print myData #Print the measurement to confirm things are working

        distance = float(myData) #convert reading to a floating point number

        measuringRod.length=distance #Change the length of your measuring rod to your last measurement

        target.pos=(-3+distance,-.5,0)

        myLabel= 'Target Distance is: ' + myData #Create label by appending string myData to string

        lengthLabel.text = myLabel #display updated myLabel on your graphic