A01NYUB with Mycodo BASH Command input (howto for beginners)

A01NYUB is an waterproof ultrasonic distance sensor from DFRobot. I use this to measure the water level in my main water tank. You can download the library and an example file through a GITHUB page. Library is in python and the example file also.

Since I am not a developer and not very keen with python programming and after a lot of tries to write a script to add the sensor in mycodo library through custom input with no luck (as instructions and example files proved not very helpful, to me at least), I came up with a workaround by using BASH Command input

If you face similar problem, here is what you have to do

First you need to make some changes.

Go to directory

“/home/username/DFRobot_RaspberryPi_A02YYUW/examples/” (replace username with username you chose when installing Raspbian)

Make a safe copy of the original file “demo_get_distance.py”

cp demo_get_distance.py demo_get_distance.py.bkp

then

sudo nano demo_get_distance.py

Delete all and Paste the following

# -*- coding:utf-8 -*-
'''!

  @file demo_get_distance.py
  @brief Get ranging data.
  @n Connect board with raspberryPi.
  @n --------------------------------------------
  @n sensor pin |         raspberry pi          |
  @n     VCC    |            5V/3V3             |
  @n     GND    |             GND               |
  @n     RX     |          (BCM)14 TX           |
  @n     TX     |          (BCM)15 RX           |
  @n --------------------------------------------
  @n
  @Copyright   Copyright (c) 2010 DFRobot Co.Ltd (http://www.dfrobot.com)
  @license     The MIT License (MIT)
  @author [Arya](xue.peng@dfrobot.com)
  @version  V1.0
  @date  2019-8-31
  @url https://github.com/DFRobot/DFRobot_RaspberryPi_A02YYUW
'''

import sys
import os
import time

sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))))

from DFRobot_RaspberryPi_A02YYUW import DFRobot_A02_Distance as Board

board = Board()

def print_distance(dis):
  if board.last_operate_status == board.STA_OK:
    print("%d" %dis)
  elif board.last_operate_status == board.STA_ERR_CHECKSUM:
    print("ERROR")
  elif board.last_operate_status == board.STA_ERR_SERIAL:
    print("Serial open failed!")
  elif board.last_operate_status == board.STA_ERR_CHECK_OUT_LIMIT:
    print("Above the upper limit: %d" %dis)
  elif board.last_operate_status == board.STA_ERR_CHECK_LOW_LIMIT:
    print("Below the lower limit: %d" %dis)
  elif board.last_operate_status == board.STA_ERR_DATA:
    print("No data!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
  #Minimum ranging threshold: 0mm
  dis_min = 0
  #Highest ranging threshold: 4500mm 
  dis_max = 4500

  board.set_dis_range(dis_min, dis_max)
  distance = board.getDistance()
  print_distance(distance)

Save and exit

These changes return one single value so mycodo can use store and display it.

Create a bash file in home directory for example. I named it A01NYUB.sh

Open it and Paste the following:

#!/bin/bash

python3 /home/username/DFRobot_RaspberryPi_A02YYUW/examples/demo_get_distance.py

replace username with username you chose when installing Raspbian

save and close

from a termina run

chmod +x /home/username/A01NYUB.sh

replace username with username you chose when installing Raspbian

And last step

on mycodo go to Setup/Input

Choose from the dropdown menu “Linux Bash Command: Return Value [Mycodo]”

In the window that opens

In Options section in the Command box paste

./A01NYUB.sh

In Custom options in the box User enter username you chose when installing Raspbian

And next to it in Current working directory type

/home/username/

replace username with username you chose when installing Raspbian

click save ad then click close

Activate the input you just added

Done

P.S. I know this is basic knowledge to most of you but if I had this earlier It could have saved me a lot of time trying. I suggest that somehow it is a good start for a more detailed manual for beginners like me

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I’ve had excellent luck using a LIDAR Time of Flight sensor to detect water level. Although there are several in the family, I’ve only gotten one to work to work correctly out of the box:

I’ve also tested VL6180 which really didn’t work well for water levels and I’ve tested the VL53L0X which appears to have a 20mm offset. At this point, I can’t say if that offset is constant or not.

Kyle will eventually test my code for the VL53L4CD and validate it (hopefully). A single board is ~$15 and I’m going to need 8 of them so I’m researching the least expensive source of boards.

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