ST / Mbed 2 deprecated SunTracker_BLE

SunTracker_BLE

Dependencies:   BLE_API X_NUCLEO_6180XA1 X_NUCLEO_IDB0XA1 X_NUCLEO_IHM01A1 X_NUCLEO_IKS01A1 mbed

Fork of SunTracker_BLE by ST Expansion SW Team

Overview

The SunTracker is a demo application running on ST Nucleo-F401RE stacking a set of ST X-NUCLEO expansion boards.
Main features provided are:

• A solar panel follows the light source, orienting the panel in order to achieve the best panel efficiency.
• Orientation is controlled thanks to a couple of VL6180X FlightSense light sensors mounted on a X-NUCLEO-6180XA1 expansion board and driven by X-NUCLEO-IHM01A1 controlled stepper motor acting as actuator to orientate the panel.
• The system features a progressive control on the stepper motor in order to modulate the panel rotation speed according to the light angle.
• The application is also able to control the panel productivity reading the panel voltage through an ADC and proving feedback on the local display.
• A manual orientation is possible by using the accelerometer on a X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 expansion board that, according on board tilt, controls the speed and the rotate direction.
• A remote control is available using a X-NUCLEO-IDB04A1 or a X-NUCLEO-IDB05A1 Bluetooth Low Energy expansion board. Remote control software is here.

Working Status

• SunTracker has 3 working status visible on FlightSense display and switchable by pressing the User Button:

Status 0 (Idle)

• Motor: Free Turning
• Display: Waiting for User Button

Status 1

• Motor: Driven by Light
• Display: Direction and Light Intensity = Direction and Motor Speed

Status 2

• Motor: Driven by Light
• Display: Solar Panel Efficiency

Status 3

• Motor: Driven by Accelerometer
• Display: Direction and Accelerometer Intensity

Server Startup

• When you plug the power supply, the word ‘PUSH’ is shown on display.
• You can manually rotate the structure to assign the ‘Zero Point’. Then press the User Button to launch the application.
• The display will show this status, which means that the structureis oriented to maximize the efficiency of the solar panel.
• If there is a light displacement, the structure will rotate, left or right,to follow the light source and on display is shown the direction and the speed.
• You can press the User Button to show the panel efficiencywith 4 digits that represent the range from 0v (0000) to 3,3v (3300).
• Further pressing the User Button you will manual rotate the panel by tilt the Server or Client accelerometer depending by BLE connection.

Client Startup

• The Client application can remotely control the User Button and the Accelerometer functions.
• Power on the Client AFTER the Server, it will automatically search for the SunTracker and will establish a BLE connection.
• The Green Led on Nucleo Client board will be powered on.

Rotation Features

• It has been implemented a block of rotation to avoid cables twist.
• The blocking point can be set in the firmware by changing a constant.
• You can manually rotate the structure to assign the ‘Zero Point’ before press the User Button to launch the application.
• The system features a progressive control on the stepper motor in order to modulate the rotation speed according to the light or accelerometer angle.

List of Components

SERVER SunTracker_BLE

• Nucleo-F401RE platform using a STM32F401RET6 microcontroller.
• X-NUCLEO-IHM01A1 - Stepper motor driver board based on the EasySPIN L6474.
• X-NUCLEO-6180XA1 - 3-in-1 proximity and ambient light sensor board based on ST FlightSense technology.
• VL6180X-SATEL - Satellite boards compatible with X-NUCLEO-6180XA1 board.
• X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 - Motion MEMS and environmental sensor board.
• X-NUCLEO-IDB04A1 or X-NUCLEO-IDB05A1 - Bluetooth Low Energy Bluetooth low energy evaluation board.

• Stepper Motor 400’’ (Part Number 5350401) - To orientate the Mechanical Structure.
• Solar Panel 0.446w (Part Number 0194127) - To capture sunlight and generate electrical current.
• Power Supply 12v (Part Number 7262993) - To provide power supply at the Stepper Motor.
• Flat Cable 6 ways (Part Number 1807010) - To plug VL6180X-SATEL with X-NUCLEO-6180XA1 (60cm length each x2).
• Cable Connector (Part Number 6737694) - To plug the Flat Cable (x4).
• Power Connector (Part Number 0487842) - To provide Power Supply to X-NUCLEO-IHM01A1.

CLIENT SunTracker_BLE_Remote

• Nucleo-F401RE platform using a STM32F401RET6 microcontroller.
• X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 - Motion MEMS and environmental sensor board.
• X-NUCLEO-IDB04A1 or X-NUCLEO-IDB05A1- Bluetooth Low Energy Bluetooth low energy evaluation board.

MECHANICAL STRUCTURE

Find here the STL files to print with a 3D printer.

FLAT CABLE ASSEMBLY

HARDWARE SETUP

Nucleo ADC + Solar Panel

Connect Solar Panel cables to Nucleo Morpho PC_3 (white) and Nucleo Morpho GND (black). Connect a capacitor 10uF between PC_3 and GND to stabilize its voltage value shown on display.

EasySpin (L6474) + BLE

Hardware conflict between EasySpin DIR1 and BLE Reset, both on same Arduino Pin PA_8. Disconnect PA_8 between EasySpin and Nucleo by fold EasySpin Pin. PB_2 has been configured as EasySpin DIR1 in the firmware .Connect Nucleo Morpho PB_2 to FlightSense Arduino PA_8 by a wire.

FlightSense Satellites

In case of instability with I2C due to long flat cables, solder 4 SMD capacitors 47pF on FlightSense board in parallel between R15, R16, R17, R18 and plug 2 capacitors 15pF between FlightSense Arduino PB_8 and PB_9 to GND pin to cut-off noises over 720 KHz.

Arduino & Morpho Pinout

--- a/CustomSensorsService.h	Wed Mar 16 19:17:08 2016 +0000
+++ b/CustomSensorsService.h	Mon Mar 21 10:18:41 2016 +0000
@@ -47,9 +47,11 @@
 const ShortUUIDBytes_t SENS_POSITION_CHAR_UUID_128      = 0xB002; //Motor Position
 const ShortUUIDBytes_t SENS_SUNPANEL_CHAR_UUID_128      = 0xB003; //SunPanel Voltage    
                                    
-#define DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN     4
-#define POSITION_DATA_LEN       4
-#define SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN       4
+#define DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN     2
+#define POSITION_DATA_LEN       2
+#define SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN       2
+// 1 byte   0xFF     8 bit      int8
+// 2 byte   0xFFFF   16 bit     int16
 
 /* Custom Sensors Service */
 class CustomSensorService  {
@@ -84,45 +86,51 @@
 
 // Tests Method
 
-    void sendEnvDifference (uint32_t Dif) {
-            STORE_LE_32(envDifference,Dif);
+    void sendEnvDifference (uint16_t Dif) {
+            STORE_LE_16(envDifference,Dif);
             PRINTF("sendEnvDifference handle: %d\n\r", positionCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle());
             memcpy (pastenvDifference, envDifference, DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN);
             ble.gattServer().write(differenceCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle(), envDifference, DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN, 0);         
             printf(" (Update)");
     } 
 
-    void updateEnvDifference (uint32_t Temp) {
-            if (memcmp (&pastenvDifference[0], &Temp, 4) != 0) {
-                sendEnvDifference (Temp);
+    void updateEnvDifference (uint16_t Temp) {
+            if (ble.getGapState().connected && isEnabledDifferenceNotify ) { 
+                if (memcmp (&pastenvDifference[0], &Temp, DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN) != 0) {
+                    sendEnvDifference (Temp);
+                }
             }
     }
         
-    void sendEnvPosition (uint32_t Pos) {
-            STORE_LE_32(envPosition,Pos);
+    void sendEnvPosition (uint16_t Pos) {
+            STORE_LE_16(envPosition,Pos);
             PRINTF("sendEnvPosition handle: %d\n\r", positionCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle());
             memcpy (pastenvPosition, envPosition, POSITION_DATA_LEN);
             ble.gattServer().write(positionCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle(), envPosition, POSITION_DATA_LEN, 0);         
             printf(" (Update)");
     } 
 
-    void updateEnvPosition (uint32_t Temp) {
-            if (memcmp (&pastenvPosition[0], &Temp, 4) != 0) {
-                sendEnvPosition (Temp);
+    void updateEnvPosition (uint16_t Temp) {
+            if (ble.getGapState().connected && isEnabledPositionNotify ) { 
+                if (memcmp (&pastenvPosition[0], &Temp, POSITION_DATA_LEN) != 0) {
+                    sendEnvPosition (Temp);
+                }
             }
     }
 
-    void sendEnvSunpanel (uint32_t Sun) {
-            STORE_LE_32(envSunpanel,Sun);
+    void sendEnvSunpanel (uint16_t Sun) {
+            STORE_LE_16(envSunpanel,Sun);
             PRINTF("sendEnvSunpanel handle: %d\n\r", sunpanelCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle());
             memcpy (pastenvSunpanel, envSunpanel, SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN);
             ble.gattServer().write(sunpanelCharacteristic.getValueAttribute().getHandle(), envSunpanel, SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN, 0);         
             printf(" (Update)");
     } 
 
-    void updateEnvSunpanel (uint32_t Temp) {
-            if (memcmp (&pastenvSunpanel[0], &Temp, 4) != 0) {
-                sendEnvSunpanel (Temp);            
+    void updateEnvSunpanel (uint16_t Temp) {
+            if (ble.getGapState().connected && isEnabledSunpanelNotify ) { 
+                if (memcmp (&pastenvSunpanel[0], &Temp, SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN) != 0) {
+                    sendEnvSunpanel (Temp);            
+                }
             }
     }
 
@@ -274,12 +282,14 @@
 */    
                                         
     void enNotify (Gap::Handle_t handle) {
+            printf("\n\r\n\renNotify (handle %d)", handle);
             if (isDifferenceHandle(handle)) { isEnabledDifferenceNotify = true; memset(envDifference,0,DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN); return; }
             if (isPositionHandle(handle)) { isEnabledPositionNotify = true; memset(envPosition,0,POSITION_DATA_LEN); return; }
             if (isSunpanelHandle(handle)) { isEnabledSunpanelNotify = true; memset(envSunpanel,0,SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN); return; }                     
     }
 
     void disNotify (Gap::Handle_t handle) {
+            printf("\n\r\n\rdisNotify (handle %d)", handle);
             if (isDifferenceHandle(handle)) { isEnabledDifferenceNotify = false; memset(envDifference,0,DIFFERENCE_DATA_LEN); return; }
             if (isPositionHandle(handle)) { isEnabledPositionNotify = false; memset(envPosition,0,POSITION_DATA_LEN); return; }        
             if (isSunpanelHandle(handle)) { isEnabledSunpanelNotify = false; memset(envSunpanel,0,SUNPANEL_DATA_LEN); return; }