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.

/media/uploads/fabiombed/suntracker_server-client.png

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 structure is 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 efficiency with 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

  • 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

MECHANICAL STRUCTURE

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

/media/uploads/fabiombed/assembly.png

/media/uploads/fabiombed/mechanical_structure_and_motor_legs.png

FLAT CABLE ASSEMBLY

/media/uploads/fabiombed/flat_cable.png

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

/media/uploads/fabiombed/arduino_pinout.png /media/uploads/fabiombed/morpho_pinout.png

Revision:
0:becf0d313663
Child:
1:8f312c1686b6
--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/main.cpp	Thu Dec 03 12:17:33 2015 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+/**
+ ******************************************************************************
+ * @file    main.cpp
+ * @author  Davide Aliprandi, STMicrolectronics
+ * @version V1.0.0
+ * @date    October 16th, 2015
+ * @brief   mbed vertical application using the STMicrolectronics
+ *          X-NUCLEO-IHM01A1 Motor Control Expansion Board and the
+ *          X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 MEMS Inertial & Environmental Sensors Expansion
+ *          Board to get a MEMS-based motor control (direction and speed).
+ ******************************************************************************
+ * @attention
+ *
+ * <h2><center>&copy; COPYRIGHT(c) 2015 STMicroelectronics</center></h2>
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
+ * are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *   1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+ *      this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *   2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *      this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *      and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *   3. Neither the name of STMicroelectronics nor the names of its contributors
+ *      may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+ *      without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+ * FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+ * DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+ * SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+ * CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+ * OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ ******************************************************************************
+ */
+
+
+/* Includes ------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+/* mbed specific header files. */
+#include "mbed.h"
+
+/* Helper header files. */
+#include "DevSPI.h"
+
+/* Components and expansion boards specific header files. */
+#include "x_nucleo_iks01a1.h"
+#include "l6474_class.h"
+
+
+/* Definitions ---------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+/* Absolute value of the threshold on the Y axis acceleration. */
+#define ACCELERATION_TH 50
+
+/* Rotation gain. */
+#define ROTATION_SPEED_GAIN 20
+
+
+/* Variables -----------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+/* MEMS Expansion Board. */
+X_NUCLEO_IKS01A1 *x_nucleo_iks01a1;
+
+/* Motor Control Component. */
+L6474 *motor;
+
+
+/* Main ----------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+int main()
+{
+    /*----- Initialization. -----*/
+
+    /* Initializing I2C bus. */
+    DevI2C dev_i2c(D14, D15);
+
+    /* Initializing SPI bus. */
+    DevSPI dev_spi(D11, D12, D13);
+
+    /* Initializing MEMS Expansion Board. */
+    x_nucleo_iks01a1 = X_NUCLEO_IKS01A1::Instance(&dev_i2c);
+
+    /* Retrieving the accelerometer. */
+    MotionSensor *accelerometer = x_nucleo_iks01a1->GetAccelerometer();
+    int acceleration_axis = x_nucleo_iks01a1->gyro_lsm6ds3 == NULL ? 0 : 1;
+
+    /* Initializing Motor Control Component. */
+    motor = new L6474(D2, D8, D7, D9, D10, dev_spi);
+    if (motor->Init(NULL) != COMPONENT_OK)
+        return false;
+
+    /* Set defaults. */
+    motor->SetAcceleration(10000);
+    motor->SetDeceleration(10000);
+    motor->SetMinSpeed(100);
+    int status = 0;
+    int speed = 0;
+
+
+    /*----- Infinite Loop. -----*/
+
+    /* Printing to the console. */
+    printf("Motor Control with MEMS\r\n\n");
+
+    /* Main Loop. */
+    while(true)
+    {
+        /* Reading Accelerometer. */
+        int accelerometer_data[3];
+        accelerometer->Get_X_Axes(accelerometer_data);
+
+        /* Motor Control. */
+        int module = abs(accelerometer_data[acceleration_axis]);
+        if (module > ACCELERATION_TH)
+        {
+            int sign = accelerometer_data[acceleration_axis] < 0 ? -1 : 1;
+            speed = module * ROTATION_SPEED_GAIN;
+            
+            /* Requesting to run. */
+            if (status != sign)
+            {
+                motor->Run(sign == -1 ? StepperMotor::BWD : StepperMotor::FWD);
+                status = sign;
+            }
+
+            /* Setting Speed. */
+            motor->SetMaxSpeed(speed);
+
+            /* Printing to the console. */
+            printf("Speed: %c%d\r\n", sign == -1 ? '-' : '+', motor->GetSpeed());
+        }
+        else if (status != 0)
+        {
+            /* Requesting to stop. */
+            motor->SoftStop();
+            status = 0;
+            speed = 0;
+
+            /* Printing to the console. */
+            printf("Stop.\r\n");
+        }
+
+        /* Waiting. */
+        wait_ms(50);
+    }
+}