New to accelerometer code, a few questions?

hi, have seen couple of accelerometer tuts, , more or less using based going.

i have modified suit accelerometer , add output serial monitoring values.

i have accelerometer mounted on 'tube' on pvc.. mimic final 'mounting' orientation , use.

with wire/cable going arduino duemilanove per circuit outline in sketch comments:

code: [select]

/*
accelerometer: de-accm3d [buffered 3d accelerometer]
http://www.dimensionengineering.com/de-accm3d.htm

original code:
http://www.arduino.cc/en/tutorial/adxl3xx
created: 07.02.08
(by david a. mellis)
modified 06.13.10
(by jerry dugan)

the circuit:
analog 1: z-axis
analog 2: y-axis
analog 3: x-axis
analog 4: ground
analog 5: vcc

example code in public domain.

*/

// these constants describe pins. won't change:
const int groundpin = 18;             // analog input pin 4 -- ground
const int powerpin = 19;              // analog input pin 5 -- voltage
const int xpin = 3;                   // x-axis of accelerometer
const int ypin = 2;                   // y-axis
const int zpin = 1;                   // z-axis (only on 3-axis models)

void setup()
{
 // initialize serial communications:
 serial.begin(9600);
 
 // play tone when ready
 tone(8, 350, 250);
 // provide ground , power using analog inputs normal
 // digital pins.  this makes possible directly connect the
 // breakout board arduino.  if use normal 5v and
 // gnd pins on arduino, can remove these lines.
 pinmode(groundpin, output);
 pinmode(powerpin, output);
 digitalwrite(groundpin, low);
 digitalwrite(powerpin, high);
}

void loop()
{
 // print sensor values:
 serial.print("x: ");
 serial.print(analogread(xpin));
 // print tab between values:
 serial.print("\t");
 serial.print("y: ");
 serial.print(analogread(ypin));
 // print tab between values:
 serial.print("\t");
 serial.print("z: ");
 serial.print(analogread(zpin));  
 // print axis value totals:
 serial.print("\t");
 serial.print(analogread(xpin) + analogread(ypin) + analogread(zpin));
 
 unsigned int total = (analogread(xpin) + analogread(ypin) + analogread(zpin));
 serial.print("------>");
 serial.print(total);
 if (total < 1000){
    tone(8, 550, 250);
 }  
 serial.println();
 // delay before next reading:
 delay(100);
}


im little unsure original author meant section/comments:

code: [select]

// provide ground , power using analog inputs normal
 // digital pins.  this makes possible directly connect the
 // breakout board arduino.  if use normal 5v and
 // gnd pins on arduino, can remove these lines.
 pinmode(groundpin, output);
 pinmode(powerpin, output);
 digitalwrite(groundpin, low);
 digitalwrite(powerpin, high);
}

i have:

accelerometer pwr analog pin5
accelerometer gnd analog pin4
accelerometer x axis analog pin3
accelerometer y axis analog pin2
accelerometer z axis analog pin1


my goal two-fold..  i want able 'track' whenever 'sword' (accelerometer) being swung @ relatively decent speed, , of course execute event/function..  (later might add multi swing/force checking, 1 'threshold' enough going)

secondly.. i'd learn/figure out how detect abrupt stop swung , hit something

i hope havent lost anyone.. trying give decent background communication purposes.

onto 'results' , best way handle this.

the values of given axis around 340-360 (when output serial monitor in arduino ide) , of course 1 value/axis of 3 around 470-490.. 'higher valued 'axis' depends on orientation/mounting of board.

more or less after plain totaling of axis values.. under 'around' 1000 verified swing/movement..swinging harder gave me lower total..

i not feel accurate way of doing since orientation not known (think swordplay/fighting..etc)

and orientation , way might held..etc.. swing in direction needs trigger event/function....and id take 1 step closer detecting abrupt stop or 'hit' event.

id imaging id need write sort of 'timer' watchdog check sudden increase/decrease in force in 'under' ms time frame?

ie:

value of swing 900 something.. if value reaches 100 in under milisecond threshold consider hit/abrupt stop event?

anyone input chime in.. comments (positive) appreciated.


thanks

bump..

anyone?  am alone here.. lol

on side note.. there other 'arduino' forums..that re more active? lots of members/traffic?

thanks

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