Forum >DFRduino Data Logging: Will it work?
DFRduino Data Logging: Will it work?
Frontball 2011-12-17 12:24:11 5094 Views2 Replies Hey guys.
I'm new to the arduino world but I've been doing considerable research and want to get more involven not only for my own interests, but also for my teams benefit. My goal is to create a cheap and simple data logging unit for a drag pulling tractor. I know it can be done because the setup and program that we made last year worked flawlessly, however in order to cut some costs and increase functionality I would like to use some new parts.
Last year the following unit worked flawlessly.
-DFRduino Mega 1280
-uMMC Serial Data Storage Module
-LS20031 32 Channel 5Hz GPS Reciever
The unit also had an 2X16 LCD display that displayed Engine RPM, Wheel Speed, Ground Speed, and Engine Temp. This data was all stored on an SD card on the uMMC Module. Everything worked great... except it was a pain to open up the entire electrical system just to get the SD card to transfer the data from each pull.
Question: Will the following set up be able to work as well?
-DFRduino Mega 2560
-DFRduino Mega IO Expansion Shield V2.1
-LS20031 32 Channel 5Hz GPS Reciever
The Mega IO Expansion Shield has a built in Micro SD card slot and is much cheaper than the uMMC module, as well as it provides 3 Xbee slots. It might be a silly question, but it possible to program the DRRduino to write the data recieved to the Micro SD card in something able to be read by excel with delimiters? Does it require some possible circuitry to be built on the prototype section of the Expansion Shield? Don't worry about me knowing technical terms, I have enough friends and professors in electrical engineering that can help me out as well.
I'm new to the arduino world but I've been doing considerable research and want to get more involven not only for my own interests, but also for my teams benefit. My goal is to create a cheap and simple data logging unit for a drag pulling tractor. I know it can be done because the setup and program that we made last year worked flawlessly, however in order to cut some costs and increase functionality I would like to use some new parts.
Last year the following unit worked flawlessly.
-DFRduino Mega 1280
-uMMC Serial Data Storage Module
-LS20031 32 Channel 5Hz GPS Reciever
The unit also had an 2X16 LCD display that displayed Engine RPM, Wheel Speed, Ground Speed, and Engine Temp. This data was all stored on an SD card on the uMMC Module. Everything worked great... except it was a pain to open up the entire electrical system just to get the SD card to transfer the data from each pull.
Question: Will the following set up be able to work as well?
-DFRduino Mega 2560
-DFRduino Mega IO Expansion Shield V2.1
-LS20031 32 Channel 5Hz GPS Reciever
The Mega IO Expansion Shield has a built in Micro SD card slot and is much cheaper than the uMMC module, as well as it provides 3 Xbee slots. It might be a silly question, but it possible to program the DRRduino to write the data recieved to the Micro SD card in something able to be read by excel with delimiters? Does it require some possible circuitry to be built on the prototype section of the Expansion Shield? Don't worry about me knowing technical terms, I have enough friends and professors in electrical engineering that can help me out as well.
2011-12-19 19:48:45 Hi,
As far as writing to a file that can be read directly by excel I would recommend saving your data to a CSV file which is a plain text file which excel reads and separates the data by commas
So for example: a file named data.csv which contains this plain text info:
data1, 1234, olmpcsa
data2,345,39394
data3, pppop, o3od4nf
Will give you an excel which looks like the picture attached. So in this case all you need to do is insert a comma between each data entry, and enter a new line for new entries.
if you like try writing a csv file in notepad and save it and re-open in excel so you get the idea of how excel will interpret your plain text formatting.
As far as sending the info through bluetooth, it should be possible. You just need to write a function to wait for a certain input command to send you the file. You need to use the "dumpfile" command:
CodeThe code below is configured for use with an Ethernet shield, which has an onboard SD slot. In the setup(), callSD.begin(), naming pin 4 as the CS pin. This pin varies depending on the make of shield or board you are using.
On the SD card, there is a file named "datalog.txt". In the loop(), the file is opened when calling SD.open(). To send the file serially to a computer, use Serial.print(), reading the contents of the file with SD.read().
This is an example which I found on the Arduino site. You can rename the file to whatever you want. so CSV is possible. You should look on the net some more and try to find a better example of this. But it's possible :)
Good luck, keep us posted, we love to hear about our customers projects! And, of course if you have more questions come back and we will try to point you in the right direction.
Hector
As far as writing to a file that can be read directly by excel I would recommend saving your data to a CSV file which is a plain text file which excel reads and separates the data by commas
So for example: a file named data.csv which contains this plain text info:
data1, 1234, olmpcsa
data2,345,39394
data3, pppop, o3od4nf
Will give you an excel which looks like the picture attached. So in this case all you need to do is insert a comma between each data entry, and enter a new line for new entries.
if you like try writing a csv file in notepad and save it and re-open in excel so you get the idea of how excel will interpret your plain text formatting.
As far as sending the info through bluetooth, it should be possible. You just need to write a function to wait for a certain input command to send you the file. You need to use the "dumpfile" command:
CodeThe code below is configured for use with an Ethernet shield, which has an onboard SD slot. In the setup(), callSD.begin(), naming pin 4 as the CS pin. This pin varies depending on the make of shield or board you are using.
On the SD card, there is a file named "datalog.txt". In the loop(), the file is opened when calling SD.open(). To send the file serially to a computer, use Serial.print(), reading the contents of the file with SD.read().
This is an example which I found on the Arduino site. You can rename the file to whatever you want. so CSV is possible. You should look on the net some more and try to find a better example of this. But it's possible :)
Good luck, keep us posted, we love to hear about our customers projects! And, of course if you have more questions come back and we will try to point you in the right direction.
Hector 2011-12-17 12:48:13 Alright, I answered my own question. There's plenty more information on the net if you just type it in right.
Still, I only found out how to write it.
Next question. If I were to use an Bluetooth-Bee board on the Expansion module then could I read that data from the card via a laptop? From what I've discovered so far, reading it is the hard part. Frontball
Still, I only found out how to write it.
Next question. If I were to use an Bluetooth-Bee board on the Expansion module then could I read that data from the card via a laptop? From what I've discovered so far, reading it is the hard part.
Frontball 