Altitude Logger

Community Projects
1

I am trying to make a small (for radio controlled glider use) altitude logger using the Qwiic OpenLog module and the Qwiic MS5637 pressure sensor. I have it working now with the code running on a Qwiic Redboard and the pressure sensor and openlog modules connected to the Redboard. I’d like to eliminate the Redboard and run the code on the openlog module. I am under the impression that I CAN do this as both the Redboard and the openlog use the same Atmel processor. Here are my questions.

  1. Can I do this?

  2. If so, how do I load my sketch onto the openlog Qwiic? Do I need to interface via FTDI?

  3. If the answers to the above questions are yes, what else do I need to know. Will the same sketch that runs on the redboard work the same on the openlog? Does it need to be modified in any way?

  4. If I have the openlog connected via FTDI interface, does the IDE treat it the same as the redboard?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

2

Hi rodadams94,

That is a neat idea to shrink this circuit and it certainly will work. I will answer your questions in more detail below:

  • - Yes, this will work with the right code.
  • - You will need to use a 3.3V FTDI or similar USB-to-Serial adapter. Connect that to the serial header on the OpenLog labeled BOOT with either some wires or male headers soldered to those pins. If you want to avoid soldering headers or wires to those pins, IC Hooks like [[these](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9741) work great for creating temporary connections. [[This section](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/openlog-hookup-guide#hardware-hookup) of the Hookup Guide for the standard OpenLog will help identify the connections.
  • - You will need to use a different sketch than the one you have running on the RedBoard since the Qwiic OpenLog has some pre-installed code acting as the firmware. You will need to modify that code found [[here](https://github.com/sparkfun/Qwiic_OpenLog/tree/master/Firmware/Qwiic_OpenLog) to integrate the MS5637's input.
  • - Essentially, yes. When uploading the modified firmware you will select the COM port of the FTDI Breakout for your port and your board should be set to "SparkFun RedBoard" or "Arduino/Genuino Uno"
    • ](https://github.com/sparkfun/Qwiic_OpenLog/tree/master/Firmware/Qwiic_OpenLog)

    It might take a few tries to get it all working properly and logging but do not worry too much about messing up your code since you can restore the stock firmware by simply re-uploading the unmodified Qwiic OpenLog Firmware.

    I hope this helps you get started shrinking this circuit to work on your RC glider.](OpenLog Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn)](IC Hook with Pigtail - CAB-09741 - SparkFun Electronics)

    3

    Mark,

    Thanks for the quick reply. Nice to know I’m on the right path. You confirmed something that I suspected. I’ll need to integrate “my code” with the openlog code that is already on the openlog board. Thanks for the github link to that code. Now, i have a couple more questions, and then I’ll try to figure it out on my own.

    1. There are several sketches as well as some hex files on the github page you provided. I have no idea what the hex files are. Will I be using one (or more) of the INO files and adding my code to that? If so, do you know which one of the INO files I need to use?

    2. The pressure sensor has some library code that it needs. Will I load it in my new sketch (that includes the openlog stuff) like I’m doing with the sketch for the redboard?

    3. When you refer to the firmware on the openlog board, is that the same thing as the sketch that I need from the github link, or is the firmware something else?

    4. Last question. When this is all done, will I just have a single sketch, that contains all needed library, firmware, code, etc. that I will upload to the openlog ?

    Thanks for the help. I’ll let you know how it goes.