Download Digital Control Unit (DCU) Manual

Digital Control Unit
User’s Manual
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Build kinetic sculptures
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Build an automated battery tester
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Build a roving robot with sensors, controlled by a calculator or a laptop computer
Vernier Robotics and Control Kit
Vernier Software & Technology also sells a Robotics and Control Kit (order code RCK-DCU). It contains
connection hardware and assorted components, such as: motors (DC, servo, and stepper), a fan, a speaker, lamps and
holders, LEDs, and a buzzer for use with the DCU and LabPro analog output lines. The parts in this kit were
selected to be easy to use with the DCU and LabPro analog output. It includes a manual describing 14 projects for
student construction, programming and experimentation. Each project includes feedback and control extensions and
other challenges.
Using the DCU and the LabPro Analog Output Line with Logger Pro
Even though most of this manual discusses using special programs or home-made programs for controlling the
Digital Control Unit, you can also use the DCU with the Vernier Logger Pro program. Versions of Logger Pro from
3.3 and newer can control the DCU. Connect the DCU and an analog sensor to your LabPro and start up the Logger
Pro program. Choose Set Up Sensors from the Experiment menu. Click on the DCU icon (showing it connected to
the LabPro). A pull-down menu should appear. One item on that menu is Digital Output. Choose it. A dialog box
will appear which lets you select a sensor (or any other column of data) and set a limit. You can choose to have the
DCU turn on any lines you specify when the value goes above (or below) the limit.
Similarly, you can control the analog output line of LabPro in Logger Pro 3. Connect the LabPro voltage probe to
CH4. Start up Logger Pro and choose Set Up Sensors from the Experiment menu. Click on the voltage probe icon
(showing it connected to the LabPro). A pull-down menu should appear. One item on that menu is Analog Output.
Choose it. A dialog box will appear, which lets you set the waveform, amplitude, and frequency of the analog
output. This output will continue even after you close the dialog box. You can take data as the analog output
continues; in fact, it is easy to plot the voltage output from CH4 as it is changes.
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