Recommendations for Arduino design/emulation software? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pete F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 03:17:39 am
content: I'm working my way through learning to use Arduinos but am away a lot for work, so would like to be able to keep working on projects while away. I've gone through some of the circuit design software mentioned on lists but the ones I've looked at seem to be either too basic (TinkerCAD) or are quite complex.What I'm looking for is an easy to use application (preferably one that is cloud based/cross-platform so works on iOS iPad etc) where I can drag an Arduino and various devices in, code within the app, run the code on the circuit, and make changes as required.As an example, I currently have an Arduino alarm clock on my bench (it will serve no purpose and is simply an example I've just arbitrarily chosen as a design goal). So very simple wiring to a DS1307 RTC, a 16x2 LCD (both communicating via I2C) and I'm currently using pin 13 LED in place of a buzzer. I'm also using the serial monitor function. All these things I'd like to model virtually.In this example what Ineedto do is:Drag a Uno, DS1307 RTC, LCD, buttons, LEDs etc from a library.Wire these modules togetherOpen a window to create the Arduino sketchRun the code and have the input/output devices function as they would in the real worldWhat I'dliketo do is:Import/export the code easily to the Arduino IDE (no biggie as drag/drop is easy)Be able to use this on an iPadUse the same software for more complex circuit design/simulation that may/may not involve ArduinosBe able to export the circuit to PCB design software (assuming it doesn't have existing PCB design capability)One of the biggest stumbling blocks so far is being able to find/import commonly available devices (such as this particular RTC or the I2C LCD display) and have their own libraries function as they should. There's no point in, for example importing a DS3231 RTC module, as the library is completely different, hence requires entirely different code.I don't think my wish-list is particularly arduous, so I'd think there should be some recommendations other have found work well for them.Thanks

author: rjp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 03:32:09 am
content: I dont believe the emulation isnt at that good a level right now.you can easily build a tiny kit from usb gumstick type units (nano, teensy, adafruit feather) and a collection of cheap ebay breakouts for the sensors you like with a bunch of dupont female-female leads to connect the pins on all of them.the entire thing would fit in a cigarette packet sized box.

author: Pete F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2018, 03:45:10 am
content: Quote from: rjp on September 03, 2018, 03:32:09 amYes I could simply pack the whole lot in a bag and carry it all around with me, but that's not a viable solution

author: Rerouter
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 09:18:56 am
content: To my knowledge. The only arduino (AVR micro) Emulator is baked into atmel studio 6, and is a right pain to learn to use. And runs at about 1/1000th of realtime speed due to it needing to go step by step through the compiled instructions.Sounds like your more after a "mocking" tool. This is a not as accurate model. But is much faster to run, generally siplified down to the register map, the IO map. And not caring about clock count qccuracy.I can personally confirm that for AVR micros there are very few tools that even let you mock out an arduino without significant time learning the ropes. Definatly not plug and play at this point

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 09:34:27 am
content: Try Proteus.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proteus_Design_Suite

author: Pete F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 09:37:16 am
content: Ok thanks very much. I can see now how integrating the various peripherals, with their own libraries would be quite difficult. Just today I picked up various load cells and their drivers, some small ones to prove the concept and code, then some larger ones to actually use on the data logging application. That would require not only the electronic simulation, but also some physics/environmental inputs to properly simulate the whole setup.I think we’re not too far away from this type of thing being available but we’re not quite there yet.Thanks for the guidance, much appreciated.

author: Pete F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 10:45:18 pm
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on September 06, 2018, 09:34:27 amThanks. Unfortunately it appears to be Windows only, so probably wouldn’t fit my needs.With an application such as this, is it possible to properly simulate the various peripheral devices that are available? Sometimes even with a specific interface, such as an LCD for example, there may be many libraries available and the code and behaviour may depend on both. Would this be constrained by the devices/libraries defined within the application?

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 10:53:17 pm
content: Autodesk Tinkercaddoes what you need I believe. I've played around with it a few times and it seems to work reasonably well.

author: Pete F
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 06, 2018, 11:56:09 pm
content: Quote from: mtdoc on September 06, 2018, 10:53:17 pmLikewise I've only really played with TinkerCAD, but the options for peripherals seemed very limited indeed. I tried to set up a basic RTC and LCD clock for example and it couldn't do it from what I could see. The overall concept was however the type of thing I was looking for.