Handy Personal Scale Model Data Acquisition Thread

Discussion in 'OnBoard Electronics & Controls' started by rwatson, Sep 11, 2014.

  1. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    This thread is more a series of personal links for me to facilitate the design of a data capture system for a scale model boat.

    It is inspired by the thread
    http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/design-software/sailboat-data-acquisition-51171.html#post704257

    I have been following the Arduino technology, and I came across this useful starting description
    https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/what-is-an-arduino

    It has been a while since I did any simple device programming, but getting into it again should be fun.

    I suppose I could get my head into focus - I would like to measure
    1) Boat Speed Over ground
    2) Power required from electric outboard to achieve the speed
    (http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/on...ls/measuring-pressure-diffferences-47511.html)

    3) For sailing tests, wind velocity, direction, sail angle, heel angle

    I have a video camera with GPS already setup, but data streams would be of great assistance for ongoing analysis.


    If anyone else can contribute any insights, gear suppliers, hints etc, please fee free to drop a line into this thread




    Edit - cheap programable computer to collect and store data
    http://www.zdnet.com/raspberry-pi-how-i-spent-almost-150-on-a-35-computer-7000020574/







    For anyone interested, the background is at -

    and is designed to fit onto a 2 metre scale model boat
    http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/projects-proposals/fast-build-scale-model-40905-4.html

    and

    http://schoolroad.weebly.com/rpgmodel_11.html
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2014
  2. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

  3. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

  4. Doug Lord
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: Cocoa, Florida

    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Ray, here is a link to one of the largest and most complete radio control forums anywhere. Be sure to check out the "FPV" forums-that stands for "first person view"- which means video piloted planes and helicopters(including quads) and they use telemetry so you might find some good links:
    http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/index.php
     
  5. CaptBill
    Joined: Jan 2010
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    Location: Savannah,Ga

    CaptBill CaptBill

    I highly recommend that you step up into the NXP 'platform' line of microprocessors. The Arduino is great for small, less 'mission critical' type stuff and learning basics. The NXP platform/s are less hobbyist and more professional/light industrial grade.

    They are actually simpler to use than the Arduino. You plug them in and they are found as a usb hard drive so programming is very simple.

    Most importantly though is the language you program your board with. The Arduino is using what's called 'the Java bytecode compiler' when you create your app with the Sketch Maker IDE. Java is a complex language made for web programming. Sub-optimal for any 'real-time' data acquisition of any complexity.

    First thing is the right compiler/language. Java's 'blinker demo' is @ 12 times larger than the equivalent blinker.bin file from Oberon. And C++ produces a .bin file that is @ twice as big as Oberon. Imagine which one performs best. If you can program in Java you can program in Oberon.

    You could also go with the Mbed platform and they have a web based C++ IDE compiler which is free with massive demos.

    To go with Astrobe Oberon you must get the commercial product from Mr. Chris Burrows from down your way in Australia. Highly recommended, if you want to seriously learn $145

    http://www.astrobe.com/default.htm


    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arm-MBed-NX...418?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c8589c822
     

  6. rwatson
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 6,163
    Likes: 495, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1749
    Location: Tasmania,Australia

    rwatson Senior Member

    Thanks Cap'n

    I have had two other people tell me that the Arduino might have trouble with some aspects of data capture.

    I will do a serious study of the Oberon. Thanks for the info.
     
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