SerialChart Tutorial

This guide goes over how to set up Arduino for HCC computers, attach an IMU to the Arduino, and view data from the IMU on serialchart.

User Page: Kcarpent7117 Project Page: Quadcopter Project

Step 1: Gather Materials

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You will need an arduino (I have tested the Mega 2650 and Uno models and both have worked), a breadboard, a 5DOF IMU such as this model used in the HCC engineering room. Pins will need to be soldered onto the IMU if they aren't already so it can be attached to the breadboard. 7 stiff wires, from 3"-4" long, will also be necessary to connect the breadboard to the ardunio.

Step 2: Connect the IMU to the Arduino

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From here, connect the rest of the wires using this guide:

From the IMU Analog In on Arduino
X-Acc A0
Y-Acc A1
Z-Acc A2
Y-Rate A3
X-Rate A4

There should be nothing plugged into the slots for VRef or ST.

Step 3: Installing Arduino Drivers

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This step applies to setting up Arduinos in the Howard Community College Engineering Lab. If you are using a different computer, you will need to download drivers for the Arduino from the Arduino website.

Step 4: Download and Extract Software

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You will need SerialChart by Starlino and the Ardunio sketch and SerialChart file for this tutorial.

Step 5: Uploading the Program onto the Arduino

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To open the software used to upload code to the Arduino on an HCC computer, open the 'EngShortCut' folder on the desktop and go to Arduino.

Step 5: View Data on Serial Chart

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Open the SerialChart software by navigating to the folder that the .zip file was extracted to, and opening the file 'SerialChart.exe'

Click on the green play icon near the top left of the Serial Chart window. The program should be displaying data from the Arduino in the left and bottom frames of the window. Picking up the Arduino and rotating it in different directions will yield different results within SerialChart. Here's what the final product should look like.