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To start off you see that we used two different software platforms to operate the Pandora box. On the left you see Processing software and on the right side you see the Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment). Processing is a free software that runs on a computer. This is a Java-like software that works similar to the more popular Arduino software. We decided to use this software because it makes it easier to interface with the Xbox kinect sensor that is normally used in combination with an Xbox game console, and to interact with the serial connection with the Arduino Mega - board. We use this software to receive the depth data from our Xbox Kinect V1 sensor. This sensor reads a 640 by 480 from the object that you want to scan. The Processing script running on the computer acquires this data from the sensor and processes into a 10X10 matrix that is evenly spread across the whole image from the sensor.
Next the Processing code sends this 10X10 array to the Arduino over a duplex serial connection. This basically means that the Processing sends one line at a time. When the Arduino fully processed the line and saved it into its global variable, the Arduino responds to the computer by telling what the next row it wants to receive.
When all the 10 lines are received by the Arduino-board, it starts to recreate this object by pushing the blocks row by row. It does this by setting all the servo's to their designated calculated height. Next it spins the locking servo of that row to squize the dowels of the cells between the the lockingplate and the middleplate. After that it moves the stepper motor for a distance.
When all of the cells on the different rows are set to height and locked, so the 3D object is represented by the cells, the Processing can send a new 10 by 10 matrix for a new object.
Next the Processing code sends this 10X10 array to the Arduino over a duplex serial connection. This basically means that the Processing sends one line at a time. When the Arduino fully processed the line and saved it into its global variable, the Arduino responds to the computer by telling what the next row it wants to receive.
When all the 10 lines are received by the Arduino-board, it starts to recreate this object by pushing the blocks row by row. It does this by setting all the servo's to their designated calculated height. Next it spins the locking servo of that row to squize the dowels of the cells between the the lockingplate and the middleplate. After that it moves the stepper motor for a distance.
When all of the cells on the different rows are set to height and locked, so the 3D object is represented by the cells, the Processing can send a new 10 by 10 matrix for a new object.
If you are interested in learning more about the code we used for the Pandora project, feel free to visit our GitHub Repository