Reaching the real world

[Fuzzyman]

I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help -
and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
'programmers interface'.

What I'd like is an electronic interface that connects to several
relays and a python extension module to switch on and off the relays.
I've had a quick google and can't see anything too similar to what I
want. pyro (python robotics) seems to require expensive (relatively)
robotic equipment.

Does anyone know anything *similar* to what I have in mind, or have
alternative suggestions ?
Regards,

Fuzzy
http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml

[Thomas Bartkus]

Re: Reaching the real world

"Fuzzyman" <fuzzyman@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:1104850540 .610295.152240@ f14g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=blue]
> I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
> electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help -
> and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
> 'programmers interface'.
>
> What I'd like is an electronic interface that connects to several
> relays and a python extension module to switch on and off the relays.
> I've had a quick google and can't see anything too similar to what I
> want. pyro (python robotics) seems to require expensive (relatively)
> robotic equipment.[/color]

Loosely, what you are looking for is Data Acquisition (DAQ) , Digital I/O,
and control that you can do from your pc. Those are the keywords you want to
google.

Look at www.ni.com and poke around. They will have some introductory
material.
Look at www.circuitcellar.com . It may look a bit overwhelming at first but
look at the ads for pc equipment. These should also lead you to some
tutorials.

You are looking for simple digital output. You can use an existing serial or
parallel port with a bit of external hardware from radio shack to control
relays on the cheap.
OR
You can purchase a Digital I/O adaptor that will plug into your computer bus
and give you outputs to control your relays. You will also get
instructions and some software to interface (talk!) to the adaptor.
Typically you will read and write to the I/O ports on your computer to flip
the switches.
OR perhaps the easiest and most effective
These would be smart devices that talk to your Python (or whatever!)
software via the serial port. You would throw simple string commands (eg
"ChannelB ON") at the serial port and the microprocessor based controller
will turn on the appropriate relay.

Your challenge from Python will be to control the computers I/O ports or to
communicate with one of the serial ports. I'm sure someone else will point
to libraries that will help you with this.

Much *much* more but you have to start somewhere :-)
Thomas Bartkus

[Gregor Horvath]

Re: Reaching the real world

Hi,

I have just written a python module to program the M232 measurement unit
from elv.
It has 8 digital I/O and 6 analog ports (0-5V). Works fine, although it
is a little bit slow (0,2 s to measure)
Furthermore the digital ports do not have enough power to switch a relay
directly, I had to do it with additional transistors.
It controls my heating together with a python program an a eletric motor
/ gearbox and some sensors.

german store:

http://www.elv.de/

Type M232 into the search field.

english:

http://www.elv.de/shopping/elvcom/

If you are intersted in the python code, just drop a note.

--
Greg

Fuzzyman wrote:[color=blue]
> I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
> electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help -
> and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
> 'programmers interface'.
>
> What I'd like is an electronic interface that connects to several
> relays and a python extension module to switch on and off the relays.
> I've had a quick google and can't see anything too similar to what I
> want. pyro (python robotics) seems to require expensive (relatively)
> robotic equipment.
>
> Does anyone know anything *similar* to what I have in mind, or have
> alternative suggestions ?
> Regards,
>
> Fuzzy
> http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml
>[/color]

[John Machin]

Re: Reaching the real world


Fuzzyman wrote:[color=blue]
> I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
> electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help[/color]
-[color=blue]
> and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
> 'programmers interface'.[/color]

Try Googling for "Python X10"

[Thomas Bartkus]

Re: Reaching the real world

"Fuzzyman" <fuzzyman@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:1104850540 .610295.152240@ f14g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=blue]
> I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
> electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help -
> and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
> 'programmers interface'.
>
> What I'd like is an electronic interface that connects to several
> relays and a python extension module to switch on and off the relays.
> I've had a quick google and can't see anything too similar to what I
> want. pyro (python robotics) seems to require expensive (relatively)
> robotic equipment.[/color]

Loosely, what you are looking for is Data Acquisition (DAQ) , Digital I/O,
and control that you can do from your pc. Those are the keywords you want to
google.

Look at www.ni.com and poke around. They will have some introductory
material.
Look at www.circuitcellar.com . It may look a bit overwhelming at first but
look at the ads for pc equipment. These should also lead you to some
tutorials.

You are looking for simple digital output. You can use an existing serial or
parallel port with a bit of external hardware from radio shack to control
relays on the cheap.
OR
You can purchase a Digital I/O adaptor that will plug into your computer bus
and give you outputs to control your relays. You will also get
instructions and some software to interface (talk!) to the adaptor.
Typically you will read and write to the I/O ports on your computer to flip
the switches.
OR perhaps the easiest and most effective
These would be smart devices that talk to your Python (or whatever!)
software via the serial port. You would throw simple string commands (eg
"ChannelB ON") at the serial port and the microprocessor based controller
will turn on the appropriate relay.

Your challenge from Python will be to control the computers I/O ports or to
communicate with one of the serial ports. I'm sure someone else will point
to libraries that will help you with this.

Much *much* more but you have to start somewhere :-)
Thomas Bartkus

[Gary Richardson]

Re: Reaching the real world


"Fuzzyman" <fuzzyman@gmail .com> wrote in message
news:1104850540 .610295.152240@ f14g2000cwb.goo glegroups.com.. .[color=blue]
> I have a friend who would like to move and program lights and other
> electric/electro-mechanical devices by computer. I would like to help -
> and needless to say Python would be an ideal language for the
> 'programmers interface'.
>
> What I'd like is an electronic interface that connects to several
> relays and a python extension module to switch on and off the relays.
> I've had a quick google and can't see anything too similar to what I
> want. pyro (python robotics) seems to require expensive (relatively)
> robotic equipment.
>
> Does anyone know anything *similar* to what I have in mind, or have
> alternative suggestions ?
> Regards,
>
> Fuzzy
> http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml
>[/color]

Take a look at:

http://www.geocities.com/hagtronics/pic_das/index.html

Very easy to interface to Python.

[Fuzzyman]

Re: Reaching the real world

Thank you very much (to all who replied). There;'s more than enough
here to make very good further enquiries.

Much appreciated.
Fuzzyman
http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/index.shtml

[Avi Berkovich]

Re: Reaching the real world

Hey,

If you want to do something simple, you can use your parallel port to
control other circuitry.
I've made an extension module before for DLPortIO which is a free lib
for doing port IO in win2k/xp.

I have to dig it out of my hdds/discs if you want it, but it's really
easy to make with pyrex anyway.

Avi.