Please I need help Writing code

Question

I am trying to write code for an automatic railroad crossing gates for my grandsons train table i built. I have no clue what i am doing. What i can say is im using 2 servos with external power 4 red leds that need to flash and a speaker for bell ding which i was hoping to use a sound file to play back my wire config is 2,3 for leds 2 servos 5,6 I also have a 10 second record-able device for train horn which uses push button for playback. i wanted to cut off the push button and use the arduino r3 to act as the push button pin 8. Also i will have 2 reed switches one to activate gates and lights and one to deactivate pins 4,7 this is what i have so far I get the lights to flash but im lost from there can some one help me write this code?

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int rd1LEDPin=2; //Declares rd1LED as int and set to 2

int rd2LEDPin=3; //declairs rd2LED as int and set to 3

int rd1onTime=250; //light 1 on time

int rd1offTime=250; // light 1 off time

int rd2onTime=250; //light 2 on time

int rd2offTime=250; // light 2 off time

const int REED_PIN = 4; // Pin connected to reed switch

const int REED_PIN = 7; // Pin connected to reed switch

const int LED_PIN = 13; // LED pin - active-high

void setup() {

pinMode(rd1LEDPin, OUTPUT);// sets the second pin for output

pinMode(rd2LEDPin, OUTPUT);// sets the third pin for output

Serial.begin(9600);

// Since the other end of the reed switch is connected to ground, we need

// to pull-up the reed switch pin internally.

pinMode(REED_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);

pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,HIGH); //turns led 1 on

digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,LOW); // turns led 2 off

delay (rd1onTime); //wait

delay(rd2offTime); //wait

digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,LOW); //turns led 1 off

digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,HIGH);//turns led 2 on

delay (rd1offTime);// wait

delay(rd2onTime); //wait

int proximity = digitalRead(REED_PIN); // Read the state of the switch

if (proximity == LOW) // If the pin reads low, the switch is closed.

{

Serial.println("Switch closed");

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // Turn the LED on

}

else

{

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // Turn the LED off

}

balearicdynamics · Accepted Answer

Hello Edward. Now button (that replace the reed sensor but the code remains unchanged) and the servos (I have only one here but it should work with two as well) moves accordingly.

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This is the code: //Level_crossing

#include "parameters.h"

Servo myservo1; // create servo object to control a servo
Servo myservo2;

void setup (){

pinMode (RED2, OUTPUT) ;// define LED as output interface
 pinMode (RED1, OUTPUT) ;// define LED as output interface
 pinMode (YELLOW, OUTPUT) ;// define LED as output interface
 
 pinMode (OBSTACLE_AVOIDANCE_SENSOR_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
 
 myservo1.attach(8);
 myservo2.attach(7);
 }

void loop (){
 
 // When the obstacle avoidance sensor detects a signal, LED flashes
 if (digitalRead(OBSTACLE_AVOIDANCE_SENSOR_PIN) == LOW) {
 myservo1.write(SERVO_ALERT); // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
 myservo2.write(SERVO_ALERT);
 flashLights();
 }
 else {
 myservo1.write(SERVO_PAUSE);
 myservo2.write(SERVO_PAUSE);
 digitalWrite (RED2, LOW);
 digitalWrite (RED1, LOW);
 digitalWrite (YELLOW, LOW);
 }
}

// LED flashing sequence
void flashLights() {
 int j;

// Light yellow LED
 digitalWrite(YELLOW, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
 delay(LONG_DELAY); // wait for a second
 digitalWrite(YELLOW, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW

// Two red LEDs cycle
 for(j = 0; j < RED_FLASHING_CYCLE; j++) {
 
 digitalWrite(RED2, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
 delay(SHORT_DELAY); // wait for a second
 digitalWrite(RED2, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
 
 digitalWrite(RED1, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
 delay(SHORT_DELAY); // wait for a second
 digitalWrite(RED1, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
 } // End LEDs flashing loop
 
 digitalWrite(YELLOW, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
 delay(MID_DELAY); // wait for a second
 digitalWrite(YELLOW, LOW); // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
} And this is parameters.h // Constants and application parameters
#include

#define LONG_DELAY 2000 // Long delay in LED flashing sequence
#define MID_DELAY 1000 // Mid duration delay
#define SHORT_DELAY 200 // Short delay in LED flashing sequence

#define RED2 11 // RED2 LED
#define RED1 10 // RED1 LED
#define YELLOW 9 // Yellow LED

#define RED_FLASHING_CYCLE 5 // Red LEDs flashing loop duration

#define SERVO1 7 // Pin servo 1
#define SERVO2 8 // Pin servo 2

#define SERVO_ALERT 90 // Servo position alert (maybe vice-versa)
#define SERVO_PAUSE 0 // Servo position pause

#define OBSTACLE_AVOIDANCE_SENSOR_PIN 3

theshay · Answer

ok i changed it. please for give me im an old man trying to do something for my autistic grandson he loves trains. so i build him a table for his birthday. only thing left to do is make the crossing gates lights and sound to work. I have no clue how to write code. everyone says it is so easy but not for me apparently.

jomoenginer · Answer

Considering your lack of code development background, gabbing code examples might be causing more of an issue for you than it may solve. My suggestion for you is to write out what you want the code to do. You already have part of that in the initial description. What I gather is that you want the railroad arms to drop, lights to flash and a bell to ring as the train passes a specific point where you have your reed switches placed. The reed switches are what trigger the sequence and perhaps end the sequence on the other end. Is this what you are looking to do? Try writing out the sequence of events in plain English (or whatever your native language is) and step though the events as they should occur. Something like: 1. When the train passes point A, I want the reed switch to start the crossing arm down sequence. ( This gives you a clue that you need to enable a GPIO for the reed switch as well as either poll for the event or have it triggered by an interrupt) 2. I want the crossing arm down sequence to perform the following when reedSwitchA is activated. a. Enable LED flash behavior b. Start bell sound c. Enable servos and move crossing arms down. ... And so on. Then once you have an outline of what you want your code to perform, you can start dropping in the individual pieces. Start simple by just getting the reed switch to start the LED flash event. Pseudo pseudo code. if (reedSwitchA == 0) flash LEDs is true if (reedSwitchB == 0) flash LEDS is false This is just an example but I think it may help you solve your coding project. From your first example, you want to take the flashing LED code that is listed prior to the reed switch reading and place it in a method(or rather function) and call this when the reed switch is activated. Or, the quick and dirty way, just move that code in the decision block for the reed switch: void loop() {

int proximity = digitalRead(REED_PIN); // Read the state of the switch

if (proximity == LOW) // If the pin reads low, the switch is closed.
 {

Serial.println("Switch closed");

digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH); // Turn the LED on
 digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,HIGH); //turns led 1 on
 digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,LOW); // turns led 2 off

delay (rd1onTime); //wait
 delay(rd2offTime); //wait

digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,LOW); //turns led 1 off
 digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,HIGH);//turns led 2 on

delay (rd1offTime);// wait
 delay(rd2onTime); //wait

}

else
 {
 digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW); // Turn the LED off
 } Again, this is just an example and not how I would actually implement this.

mcb1 · Answer

When you paste code here, you paste it, then select all of it, and hit the >> symbol and choose Syntaxt Hightlighting, then C++. During editing it may show everythign but as you'll see to others it's reduced. It also allows line numbers in the post to be used. */ #include // Constants const int CYCLE_PERIOD_MS = 10; const int SENSOR_DELTA_THRESHOLD = 20; const int BELL_RING_PERIOD = 400; const int BELL_RING_CYCLES = BELL_RING_PERIOD / CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; const int BELL_TONE_FREQUENCY = 300; const int BELL_DURATION = 180; const int LIGHT_BLINK_PERIOD = 1000; const int LIGHT_BLINK_CYCLES = LIGHT_BLINK_PERIOD / CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; const int LIGHT_BLINK_HALF_CYCLES = LIGHT_BLINK_CYCLES / 2; const float CROSSING_POSITION_RAISED = 110.0; const float CROSSING_POSITION_LOWERED = 15.0; const float CROSSING_DEGREES_PER_CYCLE = 0.1; const int TRAIN_SPEED_MS_PER_SECTION = 1000; const int TRAIN_SECTIONS_TO_CROSSING = 13; const int TIME_GATE_WARNING_BEFORE_TRAIN_MS = 7000; const int TIME_GATE_DOWN_BEFORE_TRAIN_MS = 5000; const int TIME_GATE_DOWN_AFTER_TRAIN_MS = 2000; const int TIME_GATE_DOWN_BEFORE_TRAIN_CYCLES = TIME_GATE_DOWN_BEFORE_TRAIN_MS / CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; const int TIME_GATE_DOWN_AFTER_TRAIN_CYCLES = TIME_GATE_DOWN_AFTER_TRAIN_MS / CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; const int PIN_SENSOR = 0; const int PIN_LEFT_LIGHT = 2; const int PIN_RIGHT_LIGHT = 3; const int PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_ARRIVAL = 4; const int PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_DEPARTURE = 5; const int PIN_BUZZER = 6; const int PIN_SERVO = 7; // Enums and globals enum sensorState { out, entering, in, exiting } sensorState = out; enum crossingState { up, warning, lowering, down, raising } crossingState = up; Servo gateServo; nt sensorThreshold = 0; long trainArrivalCountDownMS = 0; long trainDepartureCountDownMS = 0; int bellCycleCounter = 0; int leftLightCycleCounter = 0; int rightLightCycleCounter = LIGHT_BLINK_HALF_CYCLES; float crossingPosition = CROSSING_POSITION_RAISED; /* One time initializations */ void setup() { pinMode(PIN_LEFT_LIGHT, OUTPUT); pinMode(PIN_RIGHT_LIGHT, OUTPUT); pinMode(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_ARRIVAL, OUTPUT); pinMode(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_DEPARTURE, OUTPUT); pinMode(PIN_BUZZER, OUTPUT); // we assume that a train is not in the sensor at startup sensorThreshold = analogRead(PIN_SENSOR) + SENSOR_DELTA_THRESHOLD; gateServo.attach(PIN_SERVO); gateServo.write(CROSSING_POSITION_RAISED); Serial.begin(9600); } /* Main control loop. Check the sensor, update outputs, and then wait the cycle period. */ void loop() { checkSensor(); updateTimers(); updateStatusLights(); updateCrossingState(); updateBells(); updateLights(); updateGatePosition(); delay(CYCLE_PERIOD_MS); } /* Check sensor and update transitions or states */ void checkSensor() { if (isTrainPresentAtSensor()) { switch (sensorState) { case in: // still in... break; case entering: Serial.println(" sensor -> in"); sensorState = in; break; case out: case exiting: Serial.println(" sensor -> entering"); sensorState = entering; break; } } else { switch (sensorState) { case in: case entering: Serial.println(" sensor -> exiting"); sensorState = exiting; break; case out: break; case exiting: Serial.println(" sensor -> out"); sensorState = out; break; } } } /* Set the timers when a train arrives, increment the departure timer if a train is still in the sensor, decrement the timers if a train is on its way */ void updateTimers() { switch (sensorState) { case in: trainDepartureCountDownMS += CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; break; case entering: // is this a new train or an additional train? if (trainDepartureCountDownMS > 0) { // it is an additional train... // leave the arrival time as-is, add the time it takes for the new train to arrive on the departure timer Serial.println(" Additional train detected..."); trainDepartureCountDownMS = calculateTrainArrivalTimeMS() + CYCLE_PERIOD_MS + TIME_GATE_DOWN_AFTER_TRAIN_MS; // Serial.print("Arrival: "); // Serial.print(trainArrivalCountDownMS); // Serial.print("Departure: "); // Serial.println(trainDepartureCountDownMS); } else { // it is a new train... Serial.println(" New train detected..."); trainArrivalCountDownMS = calculateTrainArrivalTimeMS(); trainDepartureCountDownMS = trainArrivalCountDownMS + CYCLE_PERIOD_MS + TIME_GATE_DOWN_AFTER_TRAIN_MS; // Serial.print("Arrival: "); // Serial.print(trainArrivalCountDownMS); // Serial.print("Departure: "); // Serial.println(trainDepartureCountDownMS); } break; case out: case exiting: // do nothing additional break; } if (trainArrivalCountDownMS > 0) { trainArrivalCountDownMS -= CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; } if (trainDepartureCountDownMS > 0) { trainDepartureCountDownMS -= CYCLE_PERIOD_MS; } } /* Manage crossing state transitions */ void updateCrossingState() { switch (crossingState) { case up: if ((trainDepartureCountDownMS > 0) && (trainArrivalCountDownMS < TIME_GATE_WARNING_BEFORE_TRAIN_MS)) { Serial.println(" gate up -> warning"); crossingState = warning; } break; case warning: if (trainArrivalCountDownMS < TIME_GATE_DOWN_BEFORE_TRAIN_MS) { Serial.println(" gate warning -> lowering"); crossingState = lowering; } break; case lowering: if (crossingPosition <= CROSSING_POSITION_LOWERED) { Serial.println(" gate lowering -> down"); crossingState = down; } else { crossingPosition -= CROSSING_DEGREES_PER_CYCLE; } break; case down: if (trainDepartureCountDownMS <= 0) { Serial.println(" (expected train departure from gate)"); Serial.println(" gate down -> raising"); crossingState = raising; } break; case raising: if (crossingPosition >= CROSSING_POSITION_RAISED) { Serial.println(" gate raising -> up"); crossingState = up; } else { crossingPosition += CROSSING_DEGREES_PER_CYCLE; } break; } } /* We have one light to show the arrival countdown timer > 0 and another light to show the departure countdown timer > 0 */ void updateStatusLights() { if (trainArrivalCountDownMS > 0) { digitalWrite(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_ARRIVAL, HIGH); } else { digitalWrite(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_ARRIVAL, LOW); } if (trainDepartureCountDownMS > 0) { digitalWrite(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_DEPARTURE, HIGH); } else { digitalWrite(PIN_STATUS_LIGHT_DEPARTURE, LOW); } } /* Helper to determine if the train is in the sensor */ boolean isTrainPresentAtSensor() { int sensorValue = analogRead(PIN_SENSOR); // Serial.println(sensorValue); if (analogRead(PIN_SENSOR) > sensorThreshold) { Serial.print("S"); return true; } else { return false; } } /* We do a very simplistic calculation with the assumption that all trains move at the same speed. If we had a better sensor we could figure out how fast an individual train was going */ int calculateTrainArrivalTimeMS() { return TRAIN_SPEED_MS_PER_SECTION * TRAIN_SECTIONS_TO_CROSSING; } /* Bells only ring during the initial warning and when the gate is lowering */ void updateBells() { switch (crossingState) { case warning: case lowering: if (bellCycleCounter == 0) { Serial.print("(B!)"); tone(PIN_BUZZER, BELL_TONE_FREQUENCY, BELL_DURATION); bellCycleCounter = BELL_RING_CYCLES; } else { bellCycleCounter--; } break; } } /* Lights flash continuously when the gate is not up */ void updateLights() { switch (crossingState) { case up: digitalWrite(PIN_LEFT_LIGHT, LOW); digitalWrite(PIN_RIGHT_LIGHT, LOW); break; case warning: case lowering: case down: case raising: if (leftLightCycleCounter == 0) { Serial.print("(LL)"); digitalWrite(PIN_LEFT_LIGHT, HIGH); digitalWrite(PIN_RIGHT_LIGHT, LOW); leftLightCycleCounter = LIGHT_BLINK_CYCLES; rightLightCycleCounter--; } else if (rightLightCycleCounter == 0) { Serial.print("(RL)"); digitalWrite(PIN_LEFT_LIGHT, LOW); digitalWrite(PIN_RIGHT_LIGHT, HIGH); rightLightCycleCounter = LIGHT_BLINK_CYCLES; leftLightCycleCounter--; } else { leftLightCycleCounter--; rightLightCycleCounter--; } break; } } /* Manage incremental changes to the servo position */ void updateGatePosition() { switch (crossingState) { case lowering: if (crossingPosition > CROSSING_POSITION_LOWERED) { crossingPosition -= CROSSING_DEGREES_PER_CYCLE; gateServo.write(crossingPosition); // Move to next position } break; case raising: if (crossingPosition < CROSSING_POSITION_RAISED) { crossingPosition += CROSSING_DEGREES_PER_CYCLE; gateServo.write(crossingPosition); // Move to next position } break; } } /* The code is interestng. Not sure I've seen so many case statements used and each one has an If statement inside ... oh well. the code has infrared sensors but in using reed switches and it has a timer that i don't need. This is the code but i dont know how to change it to what i have wired and get rid of the timer and lcd ect.. You need to decide on a couple of pins that the reed switch connects to. My personal preference is to have the switch go between the pin and ground, and use the internal pullup inside the controller. The detection of that pin will trigger the code. This is the piece of code that tells the sketch its detected a train. /* Helper to determine if the train is in the sensor */ boolean isTrainPresentAtSensor() { int sensorValue = analogRead(PIN_SENSOR); // Serial.println(sensorValue); if (analogRead(PIN_SENSOR) > sensorThreshold) { Serial.print("S"); return true; } else { return false; } } const int trainDetector = 8; // reed switch to detect train is present /* Helper to determine if the train is in the sensor */ boolean isTrainPresentAtSensor() { // Serial.println(sensorValue); if (digitalRead (trainDetector) == LOW) { Serial.print("S"); return true; } else { return false; } } The above should get your reed switch working. You'll need to add the const in about line 32 under the other declarations. Change the code at line 34 to a digitalRead for the reed switch and it should detect the train. I'm sure there will be some other snags, but see if that works for now and we can tackle the others later. A small tip I find useful for these sorts of projects. I tend to save the code with date_time in the name. If I find I've gone backwards at some point, I have the earlier copy to resort to, or copy from. Mark

andywest · Answer

You may want to change the title of your discussion to something more specific than "Please I need help any body". People are more likely to read and answer you that way. Adding relevant tags can also help. Also, do you have a specific question? What does your code do, and how is that different than what you expected?

theshay · Answer

well to be honest ive been trying to write the code my self since we last talked What i put together needs the two switches and servos added I was following a couple tutorials I can give you that it doesnt matter what ever is easier for you

andywest · Answer

That sounds like a nice gift. You included some code in your post. Did you write that? If so then I would say you have some clue. But we need more details about what's working and what isn't before we can help you. I get the lights to flash but im lost from there Does that mean that the above code is working fine, but you're not sure how to code for the audio?

theshay · Answer

int rd1LEDPin=2; //Declares rd1LED as int and set to 2 int rd2LEDPin=3; //declairs rd2LED as int and set to 3 int rd1onTime=250; //light 1 on time int rd1offTime=250; // light 1 off time int rd2onTime=250; //light 2 on time int rd2offTime=250; // light 2 off time void setup() { pinMode(rd1LEDPin, OUTPUT);// sets the second pin for output pinMode(rd2LEDPin, OUTPUT);// sets the third pin for output } void loop() { digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,HIGH); //turns led 1 on digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,LOW); // turns led 2 off delay (rd1onTime); //wait delay(rd2offTime); //wait digitalWrite(rd1LEDPin,LOW); //turns led 1 off digitalWrite(rd2LEDPin,HIGH);//turns led 2 on delay (rd1offTime);// wait delay(rd2onTime); //wait this is the part that works the lights flash I copied most of the code from a tutorial and im trying to put it together it took me 2 days to get the lights to flash properly by playing with the numbers i basically want two reed switches one to activate and one to deactivate I am a retired electrician so i know the basics what resistors to use with what led an so forth. I can wire it up but programming it is a whole different ball game and im clueless. I have less than a month to finish and im starting to panic. He will be 13 I really wanted to go above and beyond and do something special but im beginning to think i may have bitten off more than i can chew :-(

andywest · Answer

I'm not sure I have the complete picture, but it sounds like you have two switches. One switch causes the lights to flash, the gate to come down, and the sound to play. The other switch stops the flashing, moves the gate back, and stops the sound. Correct? Coding for the switches should be fairly easy. You'll want to connect to an available GPIO pin and use digitalRead() instead of digitalWrite(). Then you need to store the results in a variable so when you're going through the loop you can evaluate and determine whether to flash, ring the bell, etc. There is a lot of example code out there; here's a link that might help: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Button Several years ago I used an Arduino to simulate button presses on an RF remote for room lighting, so I know it's possible. I'll see if I can dig up the code. I have no experience controlling servos, but there are many people in this community who are knowledgeable about that aspect.

balearicdynamics · Answer

Great! Really, a nice scenario I finally I am closing my stuff tonight and thanks God tomorrow morning I can put your code on an Arduino, then test what's happens. I hope I have not delayed too much and this can be helpful to you. Enrico

Please I need help Writing code

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