LabView + Arduino Solar Tracking Learning Kit.

[momac85]

Hi Folks,

I am currently doing a project for college. I bought a Solar Tracking Learning Kit online which is programed through Arduino. I have modified the code as such that it is controlled from LabView.

Basically I built a state machine, 'System Off' 'Idle' 'Tracking' 'Manual' 'Auto'  'Alarm' 'Shutdown' ( I haven't implemented full Alarm Case yet)

My main issue is timing delay/feedback. The program seems to slow down.

For example when I operate 'Power' switch on/off no issues, when I transition into Auto/Tracking and back into Idle state no issue. It seems when I go into manual 'mode' my program slows down quite alot and the generates quite a delay response in LabView then. Would be grateful if someone could have a look at my VI and point me in the correct direction, please.

Please note, my LabView skills are only basic 🙂 as its a college project.

Thanks.

[altenbach]

I recommend to do a "save for previous" (2020 or below) and attach again.. Most here cannot look at code saved in LabVIEW 2025.

[momac85]

Saved as 20.0 version

[altenbach]

Thanks,

• How exactly are you defining and measuring "slowdown"?
• Why do you think you need to reconfigure the serial port with every iteration of the loop???
• It is strongly recommended to stay away from generic default names, (e.g. I already had a "control 1.ctl" in my downloads folder from last year, causing the new download the be renamed to control 1 (1).vi and your VI to break because it loaded with the old and incompatible control 1.)
• All your value property nodes should be local variables
• many local variables are completely unnecessary.
• Why do you need to have so many identical boolean constants? You are allowed to branch the wire and set output tunnels to "use default if unwired".

Also note that in manual node, you are sending a garbled command because the constant is set to normal mode instead of \-codes display. If I set it to \codes, you can see that is also sends a plain "\n" before the linefeed. Not sure what the receiver does with it...

 (note that your other similar string constants are set to \-codes.)

[momac85]

As i said, my LabView skills are fairly basic. Thanks for the feedback, will have look at this over next few days.