Arduino Fio and LIFA

[Dan39]

Hello all,

I am trying to use LIFA to interface labview with an arduino fio board through Xbee adaptors. I am going to have a Xbee connected to the computer through a usb shield communicating with a xbee adapter attached to an arduino fio board. I have successfully uploaded the LIFA sketch using an FTDI cable and prior to useing LIFA was successful in uploading sketches through Xbee modules, so I know communication is possible. I am now trying to move into fully useing Labview and in order to optomise LIFA for this situation I had a few questions.

Are there changes that need to be made to LIFA to utilize all pins of the FIO?

In Labview is the uno or duemilanove/mg328 a better option?

Was changing the "LabVIEWInterface.h"  within the LIFA sketch to 9600 a good or bad idea?

What are optimal Xbee module settings through Xctu?

What are the settings in terms of bites and baud rate when using the "ini.vi" within LIFA?

I greatly appreciate any information that anyone can give me regarding this issue. Even if the questions cannot be directly answered it would be great to hear of others successes or struggles with useing LIFA with an Arduino Fio connected by Xbees.

Much appreciated,

Dan

[andretaris]

Hi Dan,

I am dealing with pretty much the same issues now, wondering how your project went?

My setup is on a Mac, with the Fio XBee combo and am looking to interface the data from three analog sensors via serial straight into Labview for realtime plotting in the visual interface of LIFA and hopefully output a csv also from Labview. I am hoping it will be easier than using Processing/Flash/Matplotlib for the plotting part.

Did you manage the Firmware base.ino step with no hassles? Im doing that via the FTDI adaptor. And am not sure how to handle the COM port as mac doesnot have a device manager.

Anyway, hope it all went well for you. Any tips would be awesome.

Cheers,

André

[Dan39]

Hey Andretaris,

The project went really well I got everything running just as I wanted. Ill write you an in depth guide within the next few days. Once everything is running correctly you have complete labview abilities using an arduino either wirelessly or wired. Ill write the guide based on wireless use if you are planning on have the board wired to the computer you can skip those steps.

Best,

Daniel Sawyer

[andretaris]

Cool Daniel,

Is that a hint of Dutch at the end there? (Best), If so, I am actually a dutch/kiwi doing my masters in Design for Interaction at TU Delft in the Netherlands, but I only moved here a year ago.

Anyway back on track, great to hear you got it all going as required, hearing your success story has made me think this will be do-able after all.

I was getting overwhelmed with the alternatives. I can handle Arduino and Processing but start to put Matplotlib or Python / MatLab .........etc in the mix, it is too many different apps running for me to be confident and in control.

I think you were spot on with the Labview alternative. You are one of the only ones I can find out there, who has done well enough to post their progress.

I dont want to have to code the visuals or get into flash and other complex alternatives so this sounds really nice.

If you do get a chance to send a guide my way it will be cherished greatly! I will also bounce back with my progress.

Best,

André Taris