Make your own sensor

You can make your own sensor with simple control functions using the ADC port and OUT port on CM-510/CM-530.

[ WARNING ] Connecting poorly designed circuits may damage the controller.  Please be sure to acquire sufficient knowledge about circuits beforehand.

PIN Information

Below is a pin diagram of CM-510’s external port.

1. OUT : 5V Output
2. VCC (5V)
3. ADC : Can read analog signals made by users.
4. GND
5. NC : Not used

Below is a pin diagram of CM-530’s external port.

1. OUT1 : 3.3V Output (Maximum Allowed Current 0.3A)
2. VCC (5V)
3. ADC : Can read analog signals made by users.
4. GND
5. OUT2 : 3.3V Output (Maximum Allowed Current 0.3A)

Controlling User’s Device

[ External Output Control ]

Below is an example of an LED circuit to turn the LED on and off using the OUT port (pin 1) .

(You need to adjust the amound of resistance depending on the type of controller and/or the type of LED.)

A high signal can be sent to the OUT port using RoboPlus Task.

1. Select the user's device in the writable parameter such as LOAD and CALCULATE, then select the port on which the device is connected.

2.  Then, set the high signal to the readable parameter using a constant.

• When the code above is executed, high signal will be sent to the OUT port of the device connected to PORT 3, and the LED will turn on.

[Reading the ADC Value]

Most of the sensors used in robots, such as IR sensors and distance sensors, support analog output. The CM-510 can use its external ports to read the sensor’s analog output signals.  These sensors may be designed by the user or bought from a store.

• Below is an image of a tilt sensor. When the sensor is tilted, it prints the tilted value as the analog singal.

• The left pin of the tilt sensor is 5V VCC. The center is an analog signal output pin, and the right pin is GND.  This sensor can be used by connecting its pins to the corresponding pins on CM-510’s external port.  To try for yourself, please refer to the pin information for CM-510’s external ports.

• You can incorporate the sensor’s analog output to your robot's movements as in the example below.