Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

Contents hide

1 Summary of Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

4 Step 3: Connecting to the Serial Port in CoolTerm

Summary of Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm

This article explains how to visualize Arduino sensor data by graphing it using CoolTerm, a serial port terminal application. It demonstrates using a sonar sensor (XL Max Sonar EZ/AE), but the method applies to any sensor outputting data separated by newlines. The process involves sending serial data from Arduino at 9600 baud, capturing it in CoolTerm, and saving it to a text file for graphing. The article includes steps for installing CoolTerm, preparing Arduino code, connecting to the serial port, and recording data.

Parts used in the Arduino Sensor Data Visualization Project:

Arduino board
XL Max Sonar EZ/AE sensor (or any analog sensor)
USB cable for Arduino connection
Computer with CoolTerm installed

Once you’re getting some values from sensors, for example using Arduino, (see my previous instructable), sometimes it’s nice to see the sensor data in a graph.

Here’s how in only a few steps!

I made this particular Instructables using a sonar sensor (XL Max Sonar EZ/AE) but you can do it with any data values that are separated in arduino by a carriage return and a line break:
To put it simply, the incoming sensor data should look like this in the Arduino Serial Monitor:

23
23
24
24
25
22
26

Separated by a newLine.

I made it at TechShop. !
www.techshop.ws

Step 1: Get CoolTerm

CoolTerm is a serial port terminal application.

Download it at : http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/31352/coolterm.

Open CoolTerm.

Step 2: CoolTerm and the Arduino code

I’m using a code similar to the AnalogInOutSerial example in the Arduino Examples, to read the incoming serial data from one sensor. See the image for code that would work (you might have to modify the map() function). At the moment, any sensor will work that inputs analog voltages, or any incoming values that are separated by a newline.

Serial.println(potValue); //print the sensor value to the debugger panel

Any code for one sensor would work, for instance the attached circuit and code would work for a photocell to measure light levels.

Instead of the photocell I’m using the Max Sonar Sensor to measure proximity.

Step 3: Connecting to the Serial Port in CoolTerm

With your arduino programmed and connected via USB and CoolTerm opened up, click OPTIONS.
Make sure the Baud Rate is set to 9600 (because remember in Arduino, we set it to 9600 using Serial.begin(9600);

NOTE: You cannot have two Serial ports open at the same time, so you cannot view the arduino serial monitor while you are using CoolTerm.

Step 4: Start Recording & Saving

Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm circuit

Now Click connect (see image).
You should see data scrolling through in the serial monitor.

Begin to record the data:
Click Connection –> Capture to Text File –> Start

You can specify where to save the text file.

For more detail: Visualize data from sensors using Arduino + coolterm