I totally disagree, Sir. The amount of people using the Arduino IDE everyday, in an astounding number of different hacks and projects, proves your are. Serial communications is needed in several types of applications, but the Win32 API isnt a very easy to use API to implement it. Things get even more complicated. ArduDroid formerly Andruino is a simple tool to help you control your Arduino or clone from your Android phone. Its both an Android app and an Arduino program. Since the program uses basic serial communication it should work with all versions of the Arduino and other microprocessors. If the Arduino serial monitor is working. H2eMY69j5ipatcS6X8CVHEuefBcEkQA2.png' alt='Arduino Serial Communication Visual Basic' title='Arduino Serial Communication Visual Basic' />Arduino and Visual Basic Part 3 Controlling an Arduino. I am still very new to Visual Basic and I have been surprised at how quickly you can develop working apps. My first attempt resulted in a very basic app to receive data from the Arduino which taught me the basics of serial communication in VB. If you havent solved it yet, you might be in luck I just wrote and released released minutes ago, I saved a link to this post an Arduino library for the 24XX1025. The next step is two way communication and controlling the Arduino from the VB program. I already have a similar project arduino. BTcontrol, where the Arduino is controlled from an Android app over Bluetooth. So all I need do is tweek the Arduino sketch and recreate the Android app in VB. Here is the app screen. Visually it is nothing special and all controls are straight out of VB but is it working well. Here is the circuit. Basically the same circuit as used in the Bluetooth project minus the Bluetooth module. Serial Communication. The communication between the Arduino and Visual Basic is done using ascii over serialusb. The data sent to the Ardiono is formatted in to commands which are enclosed in start and end markers lt and. In this example there is very little data sent from the Arduino to the host computer and so I have not used start and end markers for the data send from the Arduino. For a more complex project I would enclose all data in markers as an easy way to ensure I receive a complete command. The Commands. Depending on the button slider used, the VB program sends different commands to the Arduino. I have tried to make the commands easy to read and this makes them longer than they need to be. For example, to turn on the LED connected to pin 4 the command is lt P0. ON, this can be shortened to lt P4. HIGH and 0 to mean LOW. P Pin HIGHLOW. lt P0. ON, Pin 0. 01 on or Pin 1 HIGH lt P0. OF, Pin 0. 01 off or Pin. LOWThe button toggles between ON and OFF. First click turns the LED on, the second click turns the LED off. The Arduino Sketch recognises Pin 4,5,6,7,8,9, and 1. N Navigation lt NUON, U for UP. ON for HIGH lt NUOF, U for UP. OF for LOWThe navigation buttons work on button down and button up. When the button is clicked and the button becomes pressed the ON signal is sent. When the button is released the button returns to the up position the OF signal is sent. There are 4 directions up, down, left and right and a OKSelect button. The OK button works with regular mouse clicks. Command buttons. There are 3 command buttons, these send the following commands lt CMD0. CMD0. 2 LED chaser lt CMD0. RGB LED cycle colours. The command buttons work in a different way to the other buttons. After a command is sent, the VB program waits for a completed signal from the Arduino. The clicked button becomes inactive until the completed signal is received. T RGB sliderlt Trrrgggbbb rrr is the decimal value 0 2. LED ggg is the decimal value 0 2. LED bbb is the decimal value 0 2. LEDlt T0. 00. 00. T2. 55. 25. 52. 55 is fully on. As soon as one of the RGB sliders is moved the new position is sent to the Arduino. At the bottom of the window is a text box where any command can be entered by the user. The data entered is enclosed in the start and end markers before being sent to the Arduino. Advanced Systemcare 6.2 Serial. The commands accepted are FON, FOF, DON, and DOF FON FOF, acknowledgement onof. If you turn this off the commands buttons never reset. DON DOF, debug onof. With debug on, the Arduino mirrors the data it receives back to the VB program. The commands are then displayed in the Received Data text box. The Arduino Sketch. The Arduino sketch waits around for serial data and then depending on the data received does something. Basically turn an LED on or turn one off. Of course once you have the LEDs working you can change the sketch to do what ever you like. The Arduino expects the data to be enclosed in start and end markers and anything received not contained in the markers is ignored. Most of the work is done in the parse. Data routine. This looks at the data received and reacts accordingly. Sketch Arduino and Visual Basic Part 3 Controlling an Arduino. VBserialcontrol. Arduino controlled by Visual. Basic. www. martyncurrey. Some of the below code is not very elegant but it should be easy to see what is happening. RGB LED RED PIN. 1. RGB LED GREEN PIN. RGB LED BLUE PIN. LED RIGHT. The expected commands are. P0. 01. ON P0. Pin 1. ON HIGH. P0. 01. OF P0. Pin 1. OF LOW. RGB LED Slider. Trrrgggbbb T is the slider command. LED. ggg is the decimal value 0 2. LED. bbb is the decimal value 0 2. LED. lt NUON N navigation. U for UP. ON for HIGH. NUOF N navigation. U for UP. OF for LOW. U up. D down. L left. R right. K OKselect. CMD0. CMD0. 2 LED chaser. CMD0. 3 RGB LED cycle colours. Charsconst byte num. Chars 2. 0 char received. Charsnum. Chars. Data false. UPpin 1. 6. byte DOWNpin 1. LEFTpin 1. 4. byte RIGHTpin 1. OKpin 1. 8. boolean feedback true. Mode1. 2, OUTPUT. Mode8, OUTPUT. pin. Mode7, OUTPUT. pin. Mode6, OUTPUT. pin. Mode5, OUTPUT. pin. Mode4, OUTPUT. pin. Mode1. 1, OUTPUT. Mode1. 0, OUTPUT. Mode9, OUTPUT. Common anode RGB l. ED, 2. 55 is off. If using a common cathod RGB l. ED then remove the next 3 lines. Write9, red. analog. Write1. 0, green. Write1. 1, blue. Mode1. OUTPUT. Mode1. 5, OUTPUT. Mode1. 6, OUTPUT. Mode1. 7, OUTPUT. Mode1. 8, OUTPUT. Serial. begin9. 60. Start. Message. Serial. With. Start. End. Markers ifnew. Data parse. Data. Assumes serial is connected. Start. Message. Serial. Serial. printlnarduino. VBserial. Control Ver 1. Serial. println. Serial. DON debug on. Serial. DOF debug off. Serial. START to reset. Serial. Serial. printlnDebug is on else Serial. Debug is off. Serial. Checks received. Chars for commands. Chars. void parse. Data. new. Data false ifdebug Serial. Chars. HELLO If the Arduino receives HELLO it sends HELLO back This is used by the VB program to show it is connectedifstrcmpreceived. Chars,HELLO0. Serial. HELLO. Blink the LED on pin 1. HELLO was received. Write1. 3,HIGH. Write1. LOW. Chars,START0. Start. Message. PIN P0. ON P for pin. ON on P0. OF P for pin. 0. OF offifreceived. Chars0Pint tmp convert. To. Number1 if received. Chars4O received. Chars5N digital. Writetmp,HIGH if received. Chars4O received. Chars5F digital. Writetmp,LOW PIN. RGB SLIDER Trrrgggbbbif received. Chars0T For a common anode RGB LED take the value away from 2. If using a common cathod RGB led then use red convert. To. Number 1 green convert. To. Number 4 blue convert. To. Number 7. red 2. To. Number1. green 2. To. Number4. blue 2. To. Number7. analog. Write9, red. analog. Write1. 0, green. Write1. 1, blue RGB SLIDER. NAVIGATION NUON N navigation. U for UP. ON for on NUOF N navigation. U for UP. OF for offif received. Chars0Nif received. Chars1U UPif received. Chars2O received. Chars3N digital. WriteUPpin,HIGH if received. Chars2O received. Chars3F digital. WriteUPpin,LOW. Chars1D UPif received. Chars2O received. Chars3N digital. Arduino Playground Ideas. List your project ideas. This can be helpful for both the novice and the experienced. Navigation. Easy. Getting started with Python and Arduino MKR1. Garage door opener using a smartphone and Arduino. Cellular Automata on OLED A Cellular Automata display running on a small OLED device. How to Build an Arduino Self balancing Robot Make a mini Segway Frequency Counter using 1. LCD A Frequency Counter for Arduino with a 1. LCD display. Dancing Ghostbusters Toaster Turn your toaster into a dancing toaster Slime not required. DIY Catapult using Arduino Use an Arduino and a servo to shoot food or what ever else The SAM 1. Arduino development board of just 1. SAMD2. 1G1. 8. It has even more IO pins than the Arduino Zero 3. Thirsty Flamingo The Thirsty flamingo beeps whenever humidity levels in the soil drop. Full tutorial including electronic diagram, code and 3. D modeling file. Simple gas sensor shield for Arduino Uno R3. Simple Io. T snap connector board for Arduino Nano ENC2. J6. 0 Ethernet shield. How to Build a Simple Arduino Based Calculator Includes full source and video of working prototype. Smart Night Lamp for Kids Lights up when dark and changes color automatically. Step by step tutorial with full source code Motion Following Camera Base Upgrade your home security camera, webcam, or any other type with a motorized stand that will detect, track, and follow any motion in the room Check out the Step by Step Tutorial Lightning Detector for Arduino A simple lightning detector for Arduino. Step by step tutorial with full source code Red. Bot Buggy UI Learn to build an Arduino program that does things when it receives serial commands. Send commands to drive a Spark. Fun. Red. Bot buggy around from your computer. A simple PID fan controller with nice LCD display The fan controller described on this project page, controls one or more PWM controlled 1. V PC fans. It uses the input from two precise DHT2. The MCU is an Arduino Uno, which is powered using a 1. V power source. On top of the Arduino Uno, there is the Adafruit data logger shield and on top of that is an Adafruit LCD shield. The software is a simple, custom written PID controller. Electronic Piano Keyboard with Preset Songs An electronic keyboard with 7 piano keys, programmed to Middle BAGFEDC, and an 8th button used to access a menu of preset songs using a 1. LCD screen. Check out the Step by Step Tutorial PHIRO Learn how to connect PHIRO Pro wirelessly to an Arduino with Pocket Code smartphone app We have made a step by step Instructable just for you Project Tutorials with Full Source Code An ongoing webpage dedicated to Arduino projects, tutorials, courses and source code Ardu. Photographer Why do not let Arduino to automatically trigger your SLR based on motion detection or just remotely via web interface Smartphone controlled Dice Roller. Why not just press a button on your smartphone Get an Annikken Andee, some servo, connect some wires and finally code in Arduino for a simple graphic user interface and have fun guessing the next number on the dice Arduino Tutorials These tutorials will bring you up to speed in the arduino syntaxAPI, and you will almost certainly get some project ideas. If you do, remember to add them here. Home Automation Server with Arduino Ethernet shield. Create a simple data logger, recording humidity and temperature over time. Check if your documents are safe in your root cellar. Learn how to create Dragonkeepers Screensaver. Smart phone Garage Door Opener. Learn how to build a Talking Clock. Make an automatic night light which switches on when its dark. Intrusion alarm. Thermostat 1. GUI. Line Follower Robot. Make a capacitive switch using capsense library which controls lights or some other devices. RBS lights and switches My rolling ball sculpture has switches on the track and my Arduino triggers lighting events from them. Intelligent bug zapper show how many bugs were zapped and averagecumulative zap time. Photovore a robot that goes to the brightest source of light. Automatic exhaust fan in the toilet that turns on and off with a methane sensor and relay. Plot Sensor Values from the Arduino analog to digital converter. Poo and Pee detector, with a Diaper Shield, for use on newborn newbies. Red Desk Lamp dimmer. V DC, Red LED strip light, for Astronomy enthusiasts. Aim is so that light does not adversely affect you night vision It is an astronomy thing. Food Detector By measuring resistance. Pixelate. Nabto demoControl a lamp with Arduino Ethernet and Nabto software. Build a stripped down Arduino. Simple kaleidoscope, based on a strip of addressable RGB leds. Create color changing xmas decoration which always shows beautiful color combinations. Tweet the temperature via the wifi shield. An electronic thermostat for a fridgefreezer combination Fridge. Controller. An MPU 6. IMU controlled Big Trak Bee bot clone program it to fetch apples from the kitchen if you dareA Telephone Ringer tailored for the hard of hearing. TFTPong. git A simple 2 person pong game for Arduino Uno. Morse Keyer A simple Morse keyer for kids. Morse code decoder A simple Morse code decoder using Serial monitor and push button switch. Intermediate. LED Lightsaber 4 part series detailing how to make a very cool lightsaber Make your guitar an Io. T device with temperature and humidity sensor. Combining guitars, Arduino, Raspberry. Pi, Azure and mobile apps http www. Io. GHack your air conditioner and control room temperature with an Arduino. Nex. Ardu Illumination Smart Control based on Nexa devices. Machine olfaction Electronic nose with Taguchi gas sensors. General purpose GPIO and relay board for an Arduino Nano. Sonic eye for the blind to help them to navigate with no cane less use At the minimum, they are informed of the setting of environment beyond the reach o the cane. Build a Talking Clock with an LED display, temperature sensor and light sensor. Contains a good video introduction to Arduino and a tutorial with a components list. Write a library. Become a master brewer with your own malt kiln. Blinkenlight Experiments Implement lots of different experiments with just 2. LEDs. Lots of ideas for just a bunch of LEDs. Difficulty ranges from novice to advanced. Figure out more applications for this setup. Balance multirotor motor using Arduino accelerometer. Custom Arduino Controller with character LCD display and wireless serial communication facility. Steampunk chromatic clock Digits based on colors. Time, Date and Temperature Humidithy. Arduino Ipod like SMARTGPU2. Tic Tac Toe. Ligh organ psychedelics lights using FFT library with power stage TRIAC controlled. Make a speedometer for your vehicle using a hall effect sensor and a magnet. LED Matrix Control. MIDI Controller. TETRIS Game mini SMARTGPUMaze Solver Robot. Anti tailgater use distance and speed sensors to light up a sign in the back window of a car. Auto internals read OBDII data from your car and display the state of the sensors, calculate MPG see opengauge mpguino, OBDuino. Interface too. Ultimate computer case fan controller you got 6 analog inputs and 6 PWM outputs. Thats a lot of fan controlFountain andor lights that respond happy to see you via proximity andor motion sensors. Ham radio Morse code keyerpropagation beacon. Ham Radio Transceiver. Arduino VFO a Direct Digital Synthesis Radio Frequency generator on the Arduino platform.