Kazuaki Harada
Lets make automata part 1
Lets make automata part 2

Thomas Kuntz
The Widow's Jar
Babylon Vampire

Uri Tuchman
I make an automata

2 (more or less) projects. Put together a Bliss Kolb paper crow. Interesting kit, I have two others to assemble plus a laser cut out kit. 

The most important is the project with the Jim Larson (can't express my thanks enough) code. Hard to make out, but the yellow LED is lit indicating the passive infrared (PIR) is in a "High" state because it has detected motion in the preceding 8 minutes  When the PIR has not detected motion in the preceding 8 minutes it returns to a low state. When the PIR returns to a  "Low" state it triggers the servo motor on. The servo remains activated as long as the PIR is in low state. 

Ron

An anti-frustration fyi: 2 of the five PIR modules I purchased through Amazon tested bad. And, no joke, one  was the first out of the box and the other was one I purchased previously. Some have on-board manual timing and sensitivity potentiometers and there are  variances I had to play with in testing. For a switch operated automata, this won't be a problem.

I had already invested in a servo tester and had similar results with the cheap plastic SG90, and tested the one I'm using just  to be sure. The servo tester is a bit of a PIA, the pins are at 90 degrees to the diagram and I haven't seen a good diagram, YouTube  appears to be the place where people are kind enough to share how to use the thing.  Many of the instructions are for using it with RC modules so you have to find the ones that show you how to test with only the tester. I'll get something typed up and put in the files.

Ron

Good news, Ron! So glad it's working. Keeping track of all the little gotchas will be really helpful for anyone trying to replicate your work. Very valuable.

Do you have a servo hooked up, or would it be easier to just light up a led? It looks like the led comes on whenever power is applied to the PIR. Is that what you observe? If so, we can move the PIR power to another pin so we can use the led.

Also, are you running the code I sent you that's marked "original"? I have a some modifications that should make the action happen after 5 seconds of no motion.

            -jimL

Jim, I have zero expectations and deep gratitude for what you can do when able. We all have lives and I would simply assume things had come up.

Got the Adafruit, a great source for Arduino, Pi etc., PIR tester to work for me after:
A) Finding a post informing me that the PIR on module adjustment needs to be made after the module has activated
B) Reducing the time between scans
C) Re-attaching the module back up to the rthe computer and in the Arduino programming app under |Tools| turning on |Serial Monitor| to echo the "Motion detected and Motion ended"

Fun, huh?

So now we know the PIR is working.

Jim, I have zero expectations and deep gratitude for what you can do when able. We all have lives and I would simply assume things had come up.

Got the Adafruit, a great source for Arduino, Pi etc., PIR tester to work for me after:
A) Finding a post informing me that the PIR on module adjustment needs to be made after the module has activated
B) Reducing the time between scans
C) Re-attaching the module back up to the rthe computer and in the Arduino programming app under |Tools| turning on |Serial Monitor| to echo the "Motion detected and Motion ended"

Fun, huh?

So now we know the PIR is working.

Hi Ron -

I'm on West Coast time and a late riser, so I'm just starting to look at this. Sorry for the delay. Let me see if I can get a really simple test for you to use.

              -jim

Hi Jim and all. It's 2:08 PM EST. I've been working straight through since my last post at 11:24 AM EST. I've been testing on the simplest code I can find, and the PIR doesn't appear to be switching out of "High." I've swapped in three different PIR modules, covered the module with a black high density foam box, and walked out of sight of the PIR module for ~ :06 3 times.

I've spent the past :90 looking for code that will test/light up one LED when the PIR is in "High" and a second LED  when it is in "Low" just to test the PIR module. This is why I walked away from this last time. I need to know code to test the component to see if it or my code is the problem. And I don't know how to code. 

For the life of me as a former mechanic, I don't understand why there is an assumption the PIR will return to a low state and no one else has ever needed to check both states. "IF" I could see LED being triggered in both states, I would know it is coming out of "High" and  returning to low OR play with the sensitivity until either it does, or doesn't meaning the PIR is bad.  Jeez I feel stupid . . .

Arggggggggggg

Hi Jim and all. It's 2:08 PM EST. I've been working straight through since my last post at 11:24 AM EST. I've been testing on the simplest code I can find, and the PIR doesn't appear to be switching out of "High." I've swapped in three different PIR modules, covered the module with a black high density foam box, and walked out of sight of the PIR module for ~ :06 3 times.

I've spent the past :90 looking for code that will test/light up one LED when the PIR is in "High" and a second LED  when it is in "Low" just to test the PIR module. This is why I walked away from this last time. I need to know code to test the component to see if it or my code is the problem. And I don't know how to code. 

For the life of me as a former mechanic, I don't understand why there is an assumption the PIR will return to a low state and no one else has ever needed to check both states. "IF" I could see LED being triggered in both states, I would know it is coming out of "High" and  returning to low OR play with the sensitivity until either it does, or doesn't meaning the PIR is bad.  Jeez I feel stupid . . .

Arggggggggggg

Ops,meant to add this.

On Sat, Jan 16, 2021 at 06:03 PM, Jim Larson wrote:

Your scheme for tracking changes is a good one. I would add a version number or date code to the file name since I do my work mainly on Linux and last modified dates don't always work as I expect them to when viewed in Windows. Like you, I often find that the comments I thought were "obvious" really need more explaining. Maybe we can keep each other on track here?

LOL, I know I need others! I probably just as often do both a date because sometimes a couple of weeks pass between working on things and version number as I work through stuff that day At work, I "hack" at VBA in Excel, one eyed person and all that. I grew tired of doing the same things ad nauseam and started on macro recording. The in-line notes and comments were from other superior Excel users passing on their hard earned lessons.

R

Hi Jim,

I would like to suggest the following links for the Wiki page;

The House of Automata (Michael and Maria Start)
Website: https://thehouseofautomata.com
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/69mechanikAutomata

Many thanks,
David

Hi Ron -

Glad you're excited! Hope you won't be disappointed.

Let me know when you have the base (original) version of the code working. We'll start with that and modify it in steps.

Your scheme for tracking changes is a good one. I would add a version number or date code to the file name since I do my work mainly on Linux and last modified dates don't always work as I expect them to when viewed in Windows. Like you, I often find that the comments I thought were "obvious" really need more explaining. Maybe we can keep each other on track here?

             -jimL

Hi  Jim, thanks!!! I'm kinda shaking my head at the idea that anyone would ask for help and then not take on some of the responsibility for success . . . of course.

On the base code: "I think so." but will make sure. More to follow, hopefully will report tested later today.

For me, this is great, I have added a couple of notes.

Yes, That's exactly what I was trying to manipulate. You probably figured out I track changes by file name suffix numbers. I often also append the date though tend to rely on seeing the "last modified" date in a file explorer. I'm also the first to admit how often I kick myself for failing to keep good notes in the code.To try to assist in change management, I've added to the top block notes:
/* 13 JAN 2010
/* == Revisions by Jim Larson (JL)  ==
/* Notes updated by Ron Kellis

and after line 30 (long unsigned int pause = 5000;)
/* == JL revisions  13 JAN 2010 == */

Ron

Hi  Jim, thanks!!! I'm kinda shaking my head at the idea that anyone would ask for help and then not take on some of the responsibility for success . . . of course.

On the base code: "I think so." but will make sure. More to follow, hopefully will report tested later today.

For me, this is great, I have added a couple of notes.

Yes, That's exactly what I was trying to manipulate. You probably figured out I track changes by file name suffix numbers. I often also append the date though tend to rely on seeing the "last modified" date in a file explorer. I'm also the first to admit how often I kick myself for failing to keep good notes in the code.To try to assist in change management, I've added to the top block notes:
/* 13 JAN 2010
/* == Revisions by Jim Larson (JL)  ==
/* Notes updated by Ron Kellis

and after line 30 (long unsigned int pause = 5000;)
/* == JL revisions  13 JAN 2010 == */

Ron

The wiki page Videos and Links has been updated by Jim Coffee.

Compare Revisions

Hello Jim,

Thanks so much for your recognition of the new team at Automata Magazine. Although I play a small role It is exciting to be a part of this international group and gratifying to to see the Automata Magazine continue.
I am still on a learning curve with social media and I welcome any input and suggestions.

I also want you to know Jim how much I enjoy the Forum and appreciate your dedication. I read it daily and marvel at the ingenuity that is so generously shared.

Warmest regards,
Sharon Fraser
Sarnia, On, Canada