Uploading protocol

@barrie

Uploading the new sketch is quite sufficient all by itself.

@will Thank you. That eliminates one suspect.

@barrie 

Uh oh ... that sounds ominous. What's happening ?

Hi @barrie,

   I agree with @will's answer with regard to memory holding program code ... merely downloading the revised program code is normally fine, and I would just use it.

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The only suggestion I would add ... the term 'memory' in context of microcontrollers can refer to many different types and places, depending upon what you are doing, not just the program memory. Even so, "999 times out of 1000" the download process will reset everything without a problem.

But occasionally, a single 'bit' of memory, which might be a (say) a flipflop in the processor can end up in an unexpected state ... and it may stay in that state until the power is removed.

Hence, if things are playing strangely, then one of the simplest 'debug' things to try, is turn off the power for a couple of seconds, and then try again.

In most cases, it makes no difference, and you still have to find the 'real' problem, but it is a simple trick to eliminate a possibility.

Best wishes, Dave

@davee And what about stray radiation?

Well! Dare I say it. Almost time to Celebrate. After a bug ridden day I finally got my small kinetic art display to perform by proximity of the observer. I now have to tweek the manoeuvres. The next phase is to add complementary LED lights. All with a loveable little nano.

Hi Ron @zander,

  I am not sure what you mean by 'stray radiation'

  If you referring to the effect of ionising radiation/particles, then this is one of the possible reasons why  my power down suggestion is appropriate.

To briefly explain:

   One of the causes of a 'memory' content to be corrupted (e.g. a zero becomes one or vice versa) can be the result of cosmic ray or emission from a radioactive decay. It can also cause a thyristor-style latch up to occur with similar consequences.

In some cases, this can result in the device being permanently damaged, but commonly it just results in a corruption which can be 'fixed' by cycling the power.

Hope this helps. Best wishes, Dave

@barrie 

If you still have room after that you could add some memory and an MP3 player too.

@davee Yep, that's it.

@will Crikey, what a great idea. it would be easy to put sound effects on a chip recorder and synchronise it with the movements. How do you check remaining Eprom memory? 

Posted by: @barrie

@will Crikey, what a great idea. it would be easy to put sound effects on a chip recorder and synchronise it with the movements. How do you check remaining Eprom memory? 

Since you're just starting out, it may be easier for you to use an SD card to store the music. You can find whatever music, voice or sound effect files and just store them on the card.

There's a project on the Arduino project hub which should help you work your way through the process and help you decide if it's worth the extra trouble 🙂

https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/ronfrtek/arduino-mp3-player-07ad15

Posted by: @barrie

Well! Dare I say it. Almost time to Celebrate. After a bug ridden day I finally got my small kinetic art display to perform by proximity of the observer. I now have to tweek the manoeuvres. The next phase is to add complementary LED lights. All with a loveable little nano.

Do we get to see a video???

My Library Makers Group is doing a pair of animatronic eyes and one member is working with a pair of HC-SR04 sensors working in triangulation so the eyes follow the observer.  Sounds like similar problems had to be conquered.  

VBR,

Inq

@will Thanks for that link. It was very interesting. It got me buzzed with an overflow of ideas.

By the way I have an interesting bug. I multiplied a float by an integer and got a silly answer. 

do all numbers have to be the same type? OR is it something else?

Posted by: @barrie

By the way I have an interesting bug. I multiplied a float by an integer and got a silly answer. 

do all numbers have to be the same type? OR is it something else?

No, it should have converted the integer to a float and then do multiplication, unless you have some odd type casting going on.  Show us the full equation and identify what variable types are in it.

BUT... what is the variable type you're placing the answer in?  That might give you some interesting (bizarre) results.