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Experimental aquaponics with Arduino and multiple sensors

Hello ladies and gentelman,

How do you think I will be able to read the Temp. PH, Dissolved Oxygen and some other parameter for my experimental aquaponic system???

All is built and the sensor already in the garage!

ah, I forgot, to developed this project we aquired a LabView 2012!

Big question is:

how a new LabView user is going to connect all the sensors on a Arduino Mega and develop a sketch that will read all the sensor on LabView?!?!?!?

I have got all my sensor from Atlas Scientific, they are all with OneWire technologies,

Any suggestion on how to start to develod the .vi behind the screenshot I have attached?

I would like to record every 10-15 seconds the data and write them in a file that can be used with Excel.......... just to add a cherry on the cake........

Eventually, after all of this is working, it would be nice to have access remotely to the main screen......... but this it will be the last step.............

There is someone that can direct me to the right direction to develop this project?

Thanks for the attention and time.

All the best

Andrea

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Hey Andrea,

I am putting together a small aquaponics setup as well.  Though yours is much more complicated than mine, I am starting small in order to grasp everything first.  I have some Arduino code set up with a relay shield that has 2 sensors right now, temp/humidity and moisture.  Right now these are the only sensors I am going to include, but I'll probably add some down the line. 

Anyways, I am trying to learn how to use LabView as well, because I eventually want to be able to create a controllable interface that I can use online with a computer or a mobile device.  Have you set anything up besides just the screenshot of what you would like to do?

If anyone would be so nice as to help me or andreaIT in creating our projects itd be highly appreciated.  What I would like to have is an interface that logs my Temp/Humidity and Moisture sensor, and also include some switches to turn on relays manually and automatically (e.g., turn on a humidifier when humidity gets too low or fans when the temp gets too high).

Thanks

Ryan

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Hello Andrea,

To help readers please provide a list of all of the  inputs and outputs connected to the Arduino Mega?

How any digital outputs?

How many digital inputs?

How  many analog inputs?

Are all of your analog sensors one wire sensors?

How many analog outputs?

Will all displays be indicators or do you need strip charts?

At present LIFA only has the capability to work with one wire temperature sensors.  ALFA will need to be modified to work with other types of of one wire sensors.  Others will disagree but I believe it would be easier to not use LIFA and instead use the serial Interface capabilities of Labview to directly connect to the Arduino Mega.

hrh1818

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Based on my conversation with Andrea, she is using sensors from https://www.atlas-scientific.com/.  She told me that she was using the embedded devices that they provide (e.g. https://www.atlas-scientific.com/product_pages/embedded/ph.html).  These embedded devices that they have all communiate via serial.  I could not find any reference to OneWire technology.

Andrea,  are you actually using the embedded devices they sell? or are you trying to use the sensors directly?  Could you post a link to the OneWire reference that you found?

They do have a temperature sensor that is simple and is simply an analog output but the other ones appear to require the embedded circuits.

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Hi Nathan_B,

yes, I am using the embedded devices with the PH and DO sensors.

I have tried to connect them, can not have more than one working at the same time.

I am really considering to go for an National Instrument DAQ Board..... if I can find something affordable.   But for now I more incline to by 2 more Arduino Mega than spend 1.700 USD in one single DAQ board.....

I can use any system to measure the Temperature, I have got 4 of those onewire themperature sensors (DB18B20) but they are cheep to be changed with any other sensor that you think it will be easier to connect/program.

I found different blogs on the Onewire technology with Arduino and looks like many people went in to trouble just to get one sensor working..... so  I am willing to change completely this, just forget about the onewire technology.

I would like to list the final amount of sensor, just to make things more clear...... (if possible).

- There will be 7 Sensors from Atlas Scientific (4 PH and 3 DO) with their embedded circuit boards;

- 4 Themperature sensors (to be identified to semplify the programming);

- 4 DO to Open/Close the solenoids (I have the board already with relays);

- 2 DI to get the signals of High and Low water level in the Buffer tank;

-1 Densor for Air Themperature  and Humidity (now I have a HDT03, according to the blogs I will have to change it in a HRT22 if you have one to suggest I will be very much ok with)

We did a manual test of the system (tanks,pumps, solenoids, 3 way valves......) a part of few leaks we are ready to put fish and veggies! We are quite sutisfied with this first result..... and looking forward to see if all the theory behind it will give us the proper tomatos and fish like we saw on the paper!

Will attach a video as soon I manage to reduce the size of it.

All the best and thanks for the effort you are making.

Greatings

Andrea

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Hi heh1818,

Here a list of sensors and their use,

I have them all under my desk, but I can change the type of sensors for Temperature (4 for the water and 1 for ambient) to a different system that makes programming easier.

- There will be 7 Sensors from Atlas Scientific (4 PH and 3 DO) with their embedded circuit boards;

- 4 Themperature sensors (to be identified to semplify the programming);

- 4 DO to Open/Close the solenoids (I have the board already with relays);

- 2 DI to get the signals of High and Low water level in the Buffer tank;

-1 Densor for Air Themperature  and Humidity (now I have a HDT03, according to the blogs I will have to change it in a HRT22 if you have one to suggest I will be very much ok with)

Any suggestion will be very much appreciated.

All the best and thaks

Andrea

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Hi DonZavala,

we are more or less at the same point,

I didn't managed to go any further than having the relay and one sensor working......

ok, I have to admit that my knoledge in programming was 0 until 20 days ago, now is 0.1 in a scale 0 to 10!

I have done many years ago an authomation using LabView and National Instrument DAQ boards, funds were not an issue there, so all it went fine and looked simple. Now I am crashing my head at every line of the code.............. and the money are mine so it's an issue!

Will keep you posted with some news and results!

Best regards

Andrea

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Hello Andrea,

ll looks like the biggest problem is the 7 PH and DO sensors.  The circuit board for these sensors uses a serial port and you will need 7 serial ports to connect to the circuit boards.  However, an Arduino Mega as only 3 available hardware serial ports.  It is possible to have more serial ports if you use software serial ports.  But this adds complexity.  Maybe Nathan has some suggestions and I will look around to see what options are available.

hrh1818

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Yes hrh1818, I got the same impression.

now I am evaluating if it will more cost effective to change the 7 PH and DO sensors or buy a NI DAQ board and use the 7 I have under the desk............

It look like a PCIe 8430/8 could do the job...... but next to it I would have to buy all the Chassis and Thermocouple modules Digital and Analog........ sor a total of 4.000 USD............

A big hole in my wallet! How many kg of veggies and fish do I have to eat to get my investment back????

But at this point, with all ready to go, I have to find a solution in the net 2 weeks.

Thanks for all your effort, I would appreciate if you keep one ear open on this 'Discussion'.

All the best

Andrea

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Andrea,

Serial Communication (Ph and DO sensors)

The PCIe 8430/8 is for RS-232 and is not compatible with the sensors for Atlas-Scientific (afaik).  You can do it all on the Arduino with a little work.  There are two ways that I imagine you can do this:

  1. The first way is to use the built-in serial and software serial to communicate with each of the sensors.  This would require at least 4 of them as software serial.
  2. Use a serial multiplexer offered by Atlas-Scientific.  This will allow you to use all 7 devices on just two serial ports from the Arduino.  This is nice because you won't need software serial.  This will also require two digital pins per multiplexer (to select which one of the four you talk to).

I think the second option is the best personally just because you will only need to code two serial ports in Arduino whereas you need  to code all 7 in option 1.

OneWire Temperature

There are a few people who are having success with OneWire temperature sensors.  More specifically, DavePW has had success communicating with the DS1820 in this thread.

There was a lot information in the last two days so if I missed something, let me know.  I believe that I am capable of writing code for the serial stuff but I'm really busy lately so it would have to see if I can find enough free time to write it.

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