Arduino Flowchart Programmer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mattwarne
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:03:28 am
content: Hey GuysI go to a school in Adelaide Australia and as part of our technology curriculum we need to build a 0.5 watt iPod amp and laser-cut a case for it. However as I have built 10 watt amplifiers my teacher has allowed me to build another Item.I have chosen to build a Useless/Pointless box/machine. Essentially it has a toggle switch that when pressed a arm moved by a servo pops out of the case to switch the toggle switch off!If the video doesn't work here's the link:http://bit.ly/8dQNqwAnyway I bought an Arduino UNO v3, 2 servos and a proto-shieldBut I don't know "C"I have used a "PICAXE" based Flow-chart programmer before, But I Need one that works with an Arduino.Also I would like to be able to view/export the actual code (C) so I can see how it works and/or show my teacher.ThanksMatt Warne

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:30:25 am
content: That is awesomely funny!!I'd love to stick that into a fan in a hot control room where a second pole on the switch actually turns the fan on/off

author: Mattwarne
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:37:26 am
content: Quote from: AlfBaz on October 17, 2013, 11:30:25 amCoolIdea Literally~Matt

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:42:30 am
content: Cool, I like these. You need to build two which can fight over the switch!Quote from: Mattwarne on October 17, 2013, 11:03:28 amDude, just try to learn C. No need to use the My First Compiler and program in crayon... simple C tutorials are easy to find. It's not a hard language, especially when the Arduino environment simplifies it so much.

author: senso
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:49:56 am
content: Usually useless boxes dont have any micros, just a motor, a pair of switches and a lever.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 11:57:25 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on October 17, 2013, 11:42:30 amStart here:And watch the series. I learned Arduino programming from these videos. Yes I did take a C class 10+ years ago but I never used it again.

author: psycho0815
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2013, 12:19:29 pm
content: personally, i prefer text tutorials for that kinda thing, but yeah, just go ahead learn C. The Arduino Environment is really easy to code and there are tons of tutorials.But if you want to use the project for learning C i would pick something a little more complex. that thing is like 5 lines of code.Designing and building the case would be a lot more involved than coding.

author: Jorpy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2013, 10:29:56 am
content: Sparkfun just had an article about thishttps://www.sparkfun.com/news/1291. Try to take a look at that

author: tiofilo75
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 03:04:49 pm
content: I saw these a while back. They are pretty neat.http://youtu.be/UkgoSOSGrx4

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 08:27:25 pm
content: TI released something called Grace which is a graphical programming environment that exports to C.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 22, 2013, 09:13:24 pm
content: Quote from: Mattwarne on October 17, 2013, 11:03:28 amKnock yourself out -http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Most-Useless-Machine-Ever-project/?ALLSTEPS

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 03:37:02 am
content: Using a micro for a device as the OP described is way overkill.Discreet components would be easy, and the simplest solution is always the best.Now, using an Arduino for something complex that requires timing and some slick choreography... then it is worth the effort.

author: Kryoclasm
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2013, 05:05:20 am
content: Quote from: wilfred on October 23, 2013, 04:21:29 amBravo!Good catch.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2013, 04:43:21 pm
content: Quote from: senso on October 17, 2013, 11:49:56 amSome are smarter than others

author: FrankT
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 03:26:14 am
content: This is my favourite.??ON???OFF?Version 2 has impressive video special effects.??ON???OFF???

author: Orpheus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 04:52:45 am
content: Sorry, I haven't been around lately or I'd have posted this in a more timely fashion, but a friend of mine, Ed Baafi of the Boston FabLab, designed just such a GUI flowchart programmer for the Arduino, called the Modkit, a few years ago. I believe he's continued to evolve it since.Checkhttp://www.modk.it/micro/editor/(I think his new website is modkit.com -- I told him not to be so clever with the domain naming convention)For the long term, learn C. I did, 30 years ago, and never looked back. For a short-semester fall project, Modkit is there if you get stuck.BTW, I had a (wind-up or battery) toy "bank" that did this in the 70s, it had a mausoleum theme: a skeletal arm would slowly reach out if you put a coin on the ON button. It would slap the button in the process of snatching the coin into the "tomb".

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2013, 04:15:06 pm
content: Quote from: Mattwarne on October 17, 2013, 11:03:28 amIs this a one time thing or do you see yourself tinkering with Arduinos and microcontrolers in the future? If the later, definitely learn C and the Arduino IDE makes is easier. Start with simple programs, look at examples, ask people (e.g. at stackoverflow.com).One alternative is to use a Basic Stamp instead of Arduinohttp://www.parallax.com/catalog/microcontrollers/basic-stamp, possibly easier to learn language, though not as good investment as learning C.I tried visual programming once with LabView. It was fun with simple programs but as it got more complex it became simply too tedious, much easier with text based programming.

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2013, 01:05:47 am
content: Quote from: zapta on November 14, 2013, 04:15:06 pmAt one point in our lives NONE of us knew C.I took a college class on it 10 years ago but the class was hampered in several ways.1. 50% of the students had taken the prerequisite (Intro to Programming) the year prior or earlier which was Pascal at the time (Me!)2. 50% of the students took the prerequisite (Intro to Programming) the previous semester which was C.3. The instructor had to teach basic C to 1/2 the class and intermediate C to the rest.4. The instructor wasn't very good with people who needed a little more explanation.5. A lot of his hand written examples on the board had mistakes that wouldn't compile.6. He would get mad at you if you pointed that out.7. He told me I wasn't allowed to bring my laptop to class. (Because I used it to confirm another student's supposition that his code example had a flaw) but later retracted I think because he realized that I might file a complaint with the dean of that area.8.