Send pyControl Output to Arduino

[kaylanguyen1]

I currently have a behavior box set up with a lever press on one side and a feeder on the other, where the lever press is connected with pyControl and the feeder is connected to an arduino which is connected to DAC_1 of the pyControl board. We would like to send an output signal from pyControl to the arduino whenever the lever press is pressed, so that the arduino can activate the feeder. I came across a similar question on the old Google Groups where they said to modify the all_states function in the task file, is that still how we resolve this situation? I've attached my current hardware definitions file and one of our task files. Thank you!

pasta_box_test1.py
pasta_hardware_finalized.py

[alustig3]

Are you having trouble with the feeder not getting activated at all like you expect? Or are you saying you would like it to be activated in more situations than it currently is?

Your task logic right now seems to me like the feeder activated after 1 lever press and will remain activated until the pasta is grabbed, but only if the pasta grab occurs before a lick, otherwise it will remain activated. When else would you like to activate the feeder in the task?

It seems odd that the feeder can remain active even when not in the reward state. Would turning off the feeder when exiting the reward state make more sense?

# right lever 1 time, no time limit -> reward
# max rewards = 30

from pyControl.utility import *
import hardware_definition as hw

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# States and events.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

states = ["init_trial", "reward"]

events = ["lever_press", "lick", "session_timer", "reward_sol_timer", "pasta_grab"]

initial_state = "init_trial"

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Variables.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

v.session_duration = 60 * minute
v.reward_duration = 70 * ms  # Reward delivery duration (ms) [left, right]

v.n_maximum_rewards = 30  # Number of rewards possible
v.n_rewards = 0  # Number of rewards obtained.
v.n_pasta = 0

v.n_right_press_required = 1  # Number of right press required for reward
v.n_right_press = 0  # Number of right presses in sequence so far

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Define behaviour.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Run start and stop behaviour.


def run_start():
    set_timer("session_timer", v.session_duration)


def run_end():
    # Turn off all hardware outputs.
    print("Stopping Experiment.")
    hw.off()


initial_state = "init_trial"

# State behaviour functions.


def init_trial(event):
    if event == "lever_press":
        v.n_right_press += 1
        print("lever pressed! Presses in sequence: {}".format(v.n_right_press))

        if v.n_right_press >= v.n_right_press_required:
            hw.PlexonPulse1.on()  # should trigger disk rotation
            v.n_right_press = 0
            goto_state("reward")


def reward(event):
    if event == "lick":
        v.n_rewards += 1
        print("Total rewards: {}".format(v.n_rewards))
        print("Rewards left: {}".format((v.n_maximum_rewards - v.n_rewards)))

        set_timer("reward_sol_timer", v.reward_duration)
        hw.center_poke.SOL.on()
    elif event == "pasta_grab":
        v.n_pasta += 1
        print("Total rewards: {}".format(v.n_pasta))
        goto_state("init_trial")
    elif event == "reward_sol_timer":
        hw.center_poke.SOL.off()

        if v.n_rewards >= v.n_maximum_rewards:
            print("End of Session")
            stop_framework()
        else:
            goto_state("init_trial")
    elif event == "exit":
        hw.PlexonPulse1.off()  # stop disk rotation


# State independent behaviour.


def all_states(event):
    # When 'session_timer' event occurs stop framework to end session.
    if event == "session_timer":
        print("End of Session")
        stop_framework()

Sorry, I'm not quite understanding the task, could you please provide more explanation?

[kaylanguyen1]

Yes, we're having trouble getting a signal sent from pycontrol to the arduino whenver the lever press is pressed. We already have the arduino set up to control the feeder (it's a rotating disk with some holes to hold pasta), where it makes the disk rotate whenever it receives an input signal. We tried running pycontrol with the arduino, and although we were able to see the lever press plotted on pycontrol's GUI, our pasta disk never rotated. I believe we fill the feeder to where the number of pasta is equivalent to the number of lever presses we want the mouse to do, so that initially there is no pasta available, but they will get one once they do the lever press. Let me know if this makes sense, sorry about the confusing task file I'm not sure who wrote it!

[alustig3]

ha no worries :)

how are you connecting the pyControl DAC output to your Arduino? Make sure the GND is shared between the two systems, not just the DAC signal.

Are you able narrow down the source of the problem, i.e. can you confirm that the arduino side of things is independently working as expected if you give it a known signal?

Can you confirm with an oscilloscope or multimeter that the pyControl DAC is outputting a signal like you expect? If you don't measure a signal from the DAC_1, can you try changing to DAC_2 and seeing if you can get a signal there?

maybe use a modified examples/blinker.py to confirm you're getting a signal out of the pycontrol breakout

# A simple state machine which flashes the blue LED on the pyboard on and off.
# Does not require any hardware except micropython board.

from pyControl.utility import *
from devices import *
import hardware_definition as hw

# Define hardware (normally done in seperate hardware definition file).

blue_LED = Digital_output("LED_BLUE", inverted=True)

# States and events.

states = [
    "LED_on",
    "LED_off",
]

events = []

initial_state = "LED_off"

# State behaviour functions


def LED_on(event):
    if event == "entry":
        timed_goto_state("LED_off", 1 * second)
        blue_LED.on()
        hw.PlexonPulse1.on()
    elif event == "exit":
        blue_LED.off()
        hw.PlexonPulse1.off()


def LED_off(event):
    if event == "entry":
        timed_goto_state("LED_on", 1 * second)


# Run end behaviour


def run_end():  # Turn off hardware at end of run.
    blue_LED.off()
    hw.PlexonPulse1.off()