I know this has been done in the past a few times so here's one more. This is a skeletal Visual Basic 2010 and Arduino Sketch that I mixed together to test the PC to Arduino Uno connection via serial. It simply turns LED 13 on or off.
The Visual Basic 2010 code assumes you have Form1 with 2 buttons Button1 and Button2 and SerialPort1 controls. Button1 sends a 1 and Button2 sends a 0 to the serial port COM10 (change this to match your PC to Arduino port setting)
See attached photo of my simple form design.
The Arduino Uno Sketch code simply waits and reads the serial port. If it see 1 it will turn PIN 13 on and if it sees 0 it will turn PIN 13 off. If you have an LED on PIN 13, you can turn it on and off. On the Arduino Uno, PIN 13 is attached to a an on-board LED.
I used COM10 as a serial port but you can (and must) change it to match your Arduino serial port.
The purpose of this code is to simplify explanation of how to connect VB to Arduino. You can add error processing and more intelligence based on your particular needs.
Make sure you drag the Serial Port control icon from the Toolbox onto your form. It should have the name SerialPort1
WARNING: On my PC I had to close the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor window while runing the VB program, else I run into all sorts of error message about COM port access denied and the program will fail.
You can download Visual Basic Express 2010 for free from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-basic-express
'------------ START OF VB 2010 CODE -----------------
' NOTE: I am using COM10 so you need to change the Visual Basic code to match your COM port
Imports System.IO
Imports System.IO.Ports
Imports System.Threading
Public Class Form1
Shared _continue As Boolean
Shared _serialPort As SerialPort
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
SerialPort1.Close()
SerialPort1.PortName = "com10" 'change com port to match your Arduino port
SerialPort1.BaudRate = 9600
SerialPort1.DataBits = 8
SerialPort1.Parity = Parity.None
SerialPort1.StopBits = StopBits.One
SerialPort1.Handshake = Handshake.None
SerialPort1.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.Default 'very important!
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
SerialPort1.Open()
SerialPort1.Write("1")
SerialPort1.Close()
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
SerialPort1.Open()
SerialPort1.Write("0")
SerialPort1.Close()
End Sub
End Class
'------------ END OF VB 2010 CODE -----------------
//------------- START OF ARDUINO SKETCH -----------------
//
// Mixed by: Hazim Bitar
// Based on: Science Guy 14 youTube tutorial http://youtu.be/g0pSfyXOXj8
int ledPin = 13; // the number of the LED pin
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // set serial speed
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // set LED as output
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); //turn off LED
}
void loop(){
while (Serial.available() == 0); // do nothing if nothing sent
int val = Serial.read() - '0'; // deduct ascii value of '0' to find numeric value of sent number
if (val == 1) { // test for command 1 then turn on LED
Serial.println("LED on");
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn on LED
}
else if (val == 0) // test for command 0 then turn off LED
{
Serial.println("LED OFF");
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn off LED
}
else // if not one of above command, do nothing
{
//val = val;
}
Serial.println(val);
Serial.flush(); // clear serial port
}
//------------- END OF ARDUINO SKETCH -----------------
The Visual Basic 2010 code assumes you have Form1 with 2 buttons Button1 and Button2 and SerialPort1 controls. Button1 sends a 1 and Button2 sends a 0 to the serial port COM10 (change this to match your PC to Arduino port setting)
See attached photo of my simple form design.
The Arduino Uno Sketch code simply waits and reads the serial port. If it see 1 it will turn PIN 13 on and if it sees 0 it will turn PIN 13 off. If you have an LED on PIN 13, you can turn it on and off. On the Arduino Uno, PIN 13 is attached to a an on-board LED.
I used COM10 as a serial port but you can (and must) change it to match your Arduino serial port.
The purpose of this code is to simplify explanation of how to connect VB to Arduino. You can add error processing and more intelligence based on your particular needs.
Make sure you drag the Serial Port control icon from the Toolbox onto your form. It should have the name SerialPort1
WARNING: On my PC I had to close the Arduino IDE Serial Monitor window while runing the VB program, else I run into all sorts of error message about COM port access denied and the program will fail.
You can download Visual Basic Express 2010 for free from Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/products/2010-editions/visual-basic-express
'------------ START OF VB 2010 CODE -----------------
' NOTE: I am using COM10 so you need to change the Visual Basic code to match your COM port
Imports System.IO
Imports System.IO.Ports
Imports System.Threading
Public Class Form1
Shared _continue As Boolean
Shared _serialPort As SerialPort
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
SerialPort1.Close()
SerialPort1.PortName = "com10" 'change com port to match your Arduino port
SerialPort1.BaudRate = 9600
SerialPort1.DataBits = 8
SerialPort1.Parity = Parity.None
SerialPort1.StopBits = StopBits.One
SerialPort1.Handshake = Handshake.None
SerialPort1.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.Default 'very important!
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
SerialPort1.Open()
SerialPort1.Write("1")
SerialPort1.Close()
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
SerialPort1.Open()
SerialPort1.Write("0")
SerialPort1.Close()
End Sub
End Class
'------------ END OF VB 2010 CODE -----------------
//------------- START OF ARDUINO SKETCH -----------------
//
// Mixed by: Hazim Bitar
// Based on: Science Guy 14 youTube tutorial http://youtu.be/g0pSfyXOXj8
int ledPin = 13; // the number of the LED pin
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600); // set serial speed
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // set LED as output
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); //turn off LED
}
void loop(){
while (Serial.available() == 0); // do nothing if nothing sent
int val = Serial.read() - '0'; // deduct ascii value of '0' to find numeric value of sent number
if (val == 1) { // test for command 1 then turn on LED
Serial.println("LED on");
digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn on LED
}
else if (val == 0) // test for command 0 then turn off LED
{
Serial.println("LED OFF");
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn off LED
}
else // if not one of above command, do nothing
{
//val = val;
}
Serial.println(val);
Serial.flush(); // clear serial port
}
//------------- END OF ARDUINO SKETCH -----------------
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int incomingByte = 0;
int r = 9;
int g = 10;
int b = 11;
int datar = 0;
int datag = 0;
int datab = 0;
int part = 0;
int numbertrans = 0;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
if (Serial.available() > 0) {
incomingByte = Serial.read();
if (incomingByte == 48) { numbertrans = 1; }
if (incomingByte == 49) { numbertrans = 25; }
if (incomingByte == 50) { numbertrans = 51; }
if (incomingByte == 51) { numbertrans = 76; }
if (incomingByte == 52) { numbertrans = 102; }
if (incomingByte == 53) { numbertrans = 127; }
if (incomingByte == 54) { numbertrans = 153; }
if (incomingByte == 55) { numbertrans = 178; }
if (incomingByte == 56) { numbertrans = 204; }
if (incomingByte == 57) { numbertrans = 255; }
if (incomingByte == 44) { part++; }
if (part == 0) {datar = numbertrans;}
if (part == 1) {datag = numbertrans;}
if (part == 2) {datab = numbertrans;}
if (part == 3) {
analogWrite(9, datar);
analogWrite(10, datag);
analogWrite(11, datab);
part = 0;}
// Below is evil dubug stuff
Serial.println(incomingByte, DEC);
}
}
But it still not work when I try it in VB
I "change com port to match your Arduino port"
And it work when I test in ARDUINO.(To check if it's ok)
If there any thing I need to check?
Shared _continue As Boolean
Shared _serialPort As SerialPort
It happens to have an error and i just commented it, Still the program works. Can you explain why?
Please let me know, how to control multiple pins.
Thanks,
If we divide the byte we are sending into 2 X 4-bits, we can use 4-bits for pin number 0 to 15 and the other 4 bits to also send any value from 0 to 15. This requires basic binary math which is supported by both Arduino and VB. Of course you can decide how to interpret the bit patterns you are getting from the PC
Example: Suppose you want to control pin 4 to turn it on.
1) We can set the most significant 4-bits to number 4: In binary that's 0100.
2) Then we set the least significant 4-bits to 1111 to signify ON. (use whatever system that works for you)
3) Then we send 01001111 from PC to Arduino
4) At the Arduino, our sketch will read each 4-bit into pin# + command and act accordingly.
Hope this helps.
Error 1 'SerialPort1' is not declared. It may be inaccessible due to its protection level. C:\Documents and Settings\Sugianto\Local Settings\Application Data\Temporary Projects\WindowsApplication1\Form1.vb 10 9 WindowsApplication1
Anyone knows what happen?
I just forgot to drag Serial Port to the design window, now it works well.
Thank you for responding.
Anyway, in your code:
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
SerialPort1.Close()
SerialPort1.PortName = "com10" 'change com port to match your Arduino port
SerialPort1.BaudRate = 9600
SerialPort1.DataBits = 8
SerialPort1.Parity = Parity.None
SerialPort1.StopBits = StopBits.One
SerialPort1.Handshake = Handshake.None
SerialPort1.Encoding = System.Text.Encoding.Default 'very important!
End Sub
why do you start with SerialPort1.Close() ?
any one help me plzzzz
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9445/arduinoproblem.jpg
why ?
HELP PLEASE!!
I have the VB code working thanks for that!
But I would love to have this work for a stepper motor and don't know how to write the sketch.
Any help greatly appreciated,
Rob
Here is what I have:
#include
while (val == 1) { // test for command 1 then turn on stepper
do
int enA = 10; // Enable pin 1 on Motor Control Shield
int enB = 11; // Enable pin 2 on Motor Control Shield
int dirA = 12; // Direction pin dirA on Motor Control Shield
int dirB = 13; // Direction pin dirB on Motor Control Shield
#If
(val == 0) // test for command 0 then turn on next stepper
do
int enA = 14; // Enable pin 1 on Motor Control Shield
int enB = 15; // Enable pin 2 on Motor Control Shield
int dirA = 16; // Direction pin dirA on Motor Control Shield
int dirB = 17; // Direction pin dirB on Motor Control Shield
end whileloop
const int stepsPerRevolution = 20; // Change this to fit the number of steps per revolution
// for your motor
// Initialize the stepper library on pins 12 and 13:
Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, dirA, dirB);
void setup() {
// set the speed at 60 rpm:
myStepper.setSpeed(60);
// Enable power to the motor
pinMode(enA, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite (enA, HIGH);
pinMode(enB, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite (enB, HIGH);
}
void loop() {
// Step five revolutions into one direction:
myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution*5);
delay(2000);
// Step five revolutions in the other direction:
myStepper.step(-stepsPerRevolution*5);
delay(2000);
}