topic Re: transmit image using zigbee in LabVIEW

transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:49:22 GMT

Hello i am working on a project and we want to transmit an image using ZigBee. The ZigBee modules that we will use are provided by "adaptive modules" (the link provided show the modules that we will use http://adaptivemodules.co.uk/index.cfm/fa/shopdetails/Product_ID/745/Category_ID/12/Sub_Category_ID/8 ).

Can you please tell me how i can start working and if you can provide me with a code in order to transfer something initial?

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:10:47 GMT

Hi,

My name is Kevin I am an Application Engineer for NIUK. I understand you are after some information to get started with your project. I am assuming you want to use LabVIEW to interact with this device.

My first question for you is have you read the user manual that came with the product?

The User manual begins by explaining how to configure your device and prepare it to communicate with your computer.

My next question is can you use a terminal program to send commands? If so doing this in LabVIEW is relatively straight forward.

Here is an example how to Read and Write through serial
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/epd/p/id/2669

In Summary
1. Read the user guide, to configure your hardware
2. Send commands through a terminal program to ensure hardware works
3. Open Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX)
4. On the left hand side Expand Device and Interfaces >> Serial and Parallel
5. Right Click on the COM port your device is connected to and left click "Open VISA Test Panels" Here you can see if MAX can communicate with the device in the same way your terminal software did.
5. Follow the LabVIEW example VI

This will allow you to send basic serial data. To send an image you will have to convert your image down to an array. I would advise doing more research in this area once you have established basic communication.

All the best with your project. Post back here to let me know how you got on

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:08:16 GMT

Thanks a lot Kevin its very helpful. I will let you know soon about my progress.

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:59:36 GMT

I have done the above steps that you told me and it was very helpful. I would like to ask now, since i have two ZigBee modules i want the one to act as a sender and the other as a receiver how i can perform this from two computers. I mean i want to send it from one computer and then to be able to preview what i send from another laptop. Is this possible? If yes, how please

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:07:47 GMT

Hi ,

I would just like to clarify your question.

You have 2 computers

You would like one to transmit (write) some data

and the other to receive (Read) that data.

Is this correct?

If so you will need to configure the Zigbees on both computers as per the user manual. The manual also goes through how to configure the Zigbees so they can communicate with each other.

Once you have established this connection. In LabVIEW you will be able to read and write to the different ports.

Let me know how you get on

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:55:36 GMT

What about the LabVIEW code. How i can send it using LabVIEW and automatically receive it using LabVIEW? Can you provide me or explain to me how i can write this code.

Thanks

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:08:00 GMT

Hi,

Once you have established communication between the 2 Zigbees it is simple, I will explain:

PC A -> Zigbee A ---------> Zigbee B -> PC B

PC A is running LabVIEW, you perform a serial write to the port that Zigbee A is attached to.

The communication has already been configured as per the manual. Zigbee A and Zigbee B are "Paired"

PC B performs a serial read from the port Zigbee B is connected to and there for reading the transmitted data.

I hope this is clearer. So the LabVIEW code will be the same as the example I previously sent. Run the example VI on both PC's. PC A will Write and PC B will read.

Let me know how you get on

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:38:14 GMT

It's work thanks a lot!

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:07:49 GMT

Hi,

That's great news that you have been successful in getting everything up and running.

Unless you have any further questions I would like to wish you all the best with your application

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:07:06 GMT

Hello Kevin,

I really appreciate your help, i would like to ask you if you can help me now with my main target. My main target is to succesfully transfer (and preview) images from my laptop to another using LabVIEW and ZigBee. Can you please give me some help or some steps for that also?

Thanks in advance for the help

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:07:19 GMT

Hi,

One way that we can send an image is first to consider what an image is. An image made up of individual pixels, and each pixel has a value. We can look at this as a 2D array and each element will have a value (Pixel Value) which relates to a color.

Here is a link with an example of how to change an image to an array.

Once we have the array we can convert the array to a string using the array to spreadsheet string.

We already know how to write string data to the serial port (Zigbee)

On the other side we will need to do the reverse. So spreadsheet string to array and then once we have the array we can build the array back to an image.

I hope this helps let me know how you get on

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:49:28 GMT

Hello kevin

Thanks a lot for your help. I have stuck at a point and i was wondering if you can help me. I have the code that convert the image to array and the code for serial communication. But how i can take the array and put it as write and then transmit it. Please have a look at my code.

Thanks a lot for your help

Re: transmit image using zigbee

cawanEEE — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:35:11 GMT

Hi,

I'm using the similar modules, the ProBee ZS10 to communicate between two serial port.

I've managed to establish the serial communication between these two modules, using AT command on TeraTerm as platform but not when I used LabVIEW, it did not work.
Can LabVIEW be implemented on these modules?

Thanks. Looking forward for your reply.

p/s: i used the Write and Read through serial code to communicate between those modules

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 09:57:36 GMT

Hi,

Thank you for sending me what you have done so far. You are very close to getting it working.

Here is an image of some code I put together, let me know how you get on

I have attached the code as well.

I look forward to hearing from you

Kind Regard

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 17:29:43 GMT

Hello i have finaly manage to transmit images! The issue that is require about 14 min for a jpeg, 640*480, 50kB image. Is it any way that i can reduce the time needed for the transmission. Please find attached the code i used

Thanks

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Kev_R — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:47:44 GMT

Hi Ariadni,

That's good news! You have made a considerable about of progress. Have you tried increasing the baud rate (bps Bits Per Second) The spec sheet says the device can handle up to 115Kbps

Let me know how you get on

Kind Regards

Re: transmit image using zigbee

Ariadni — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:50:55 GMT

Hello again i would like to ask you if you can help me on how i can convert the serial communication to wi-fi communication,

Thanks a lot

Re: transmit image using zigbee

James-K — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:27:23 GMT

Ariadni,

If you connect the two computers together using a wireless network then you can use TCP communication rather than serial. This should be much faster.

Here is a link to a basic example of using TCP communication in LabVIEW:

http://www.ni.com/white-paper/2710/en

Hope that helps.

James K

Applications Engineer

National Instruments

Re: transmit image using zigbee

cawanEEE — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:26:43 GMT

Hello,

Thanks for the help. I have develop two codes but i am getting errors. Can you give me some help? Please note that i want this to run on a single board rio.

Thanks in advance

Re: transmit image using zigbee

James-K — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:24:47 GMT

Can you give the specific error codes/text you are receiving?

I would recommend starting with one of the examples in the LabVIEW example finder to make sure you can get everything working/understood on your Windows machine. The implementation on the sbRIO should be basically the same.