How to calculate projectile locus of a circle where the two motors controlling the "gun" can only move 30° in the X and 30° in the Y?

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
This could be considered a homework problem, but beyond the math it's for a specific application. There are various shapes I want to make from polar curves. One of the most simple ones is a circle:
r = cos(θ) or
x = cos²(θ) and y = cos(θ)*sin(θ).

Say I want to take increments of theta by 0.0314 to pi. That would make this table:
θXY
0.03
0.9961​
0.0626​
0.06
0.9843​
0.1243​
0.09
0.9649​
0.184​
0.13
0.9382​
0.2408​
0.16
0.9046​
0.2938​
0.19
0.8646​
0.3421​
0.22
0.8189​
0.3851​
0.25
0.7681​
0.422​
0.28
0.7131​
0.4523​
0.31
0.6548​
0.4754​
0.35
0.594​
0.4911​
0.38
0.5318​
0.499​
0.41
0.469​
0.499​
0.44
0.4067​
0.4912​
0.47
0.3459​
0.4757​
0.50
0.2876​
0.4526​
0.53
0.2325​
0.4225​
0.57
0.1817​
0.3856​
0.60
0.1359​
0.3427​
0.63
0.0959​
0.2944​
0.66
0.0622​
0.2415​
0.69
0.0354​
0.1847​
0.72
0.0159​
0.1251​
0.75
0.004​
0.0634​
0.79
0​
0.0008​
0.82
0.0038​
-0.0618​
0.85
0.0155​
-0.1235​
0.88
0.0348​
-0.1832​
0.91
0.0614​
-0.2401​
0.94
0.0949​
-0.2931​
0.97
0.1348​
-0.3416​
1.00
0.1805​
-0.3846​
1.04
0.2312​
-0.4216​
1.07
0.2861​
-0.452​
1.10
0.3444​
-0.4752​
1.13
0.4052​
-0.4909​
1.16
0.4674​
-0.4989​
1.19
0.5302​
-0.4991​
1.22
0.5925​
-0.4914​
1.26
0.6533​
-0.4759​
1.29
0.7117​
-0.453​
1.32
0.7668​
-0.4229​
1.35
0.8177​
-0.3861​
1.38
0.8635​
-0.3433​
1.41
0.9037​
-0.2951​
1.44
0.9374​
-0.2422​
1.48
0.9643​
-0.1855​
1.51
0.9839​
-0.1258​
1.54
0.9959​
-0.0642​
1.57
1​
-0.0016​
That makes this locus:

1600109939143.png

Relevant equation, I think:
[width of control surface]*sin(degrees) = linear distance

Say I want to create a 100 foot diameter circle. That means the grid needs to be about 141x141 feet.
I think I need to consider the z-axis. Any suggestions?

If it helps, here is the 30° X and Y constrained apparatus:
20200914_140730.jpg

And this paper might be related, but I could be just overthinking this all: On the locus formed by the maximum heights of projectile motion with air resistance.
 
Last edited:

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
For each plane
StartEnd
30°
050 feet
2*pi*(radius=50')*(θ/360) = arc length


Or actually, 1° = 1.67 feet. Hmm, how to tie this in...
 

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
Last, I think, have to figure out how many steps (integers) can be done by the stepper motor to see how bad of a resolution results:
Stepper
0​
?100
Degrees
0​
0.9​
1.8​
2.7​
3.6​
4.5​
5.4​
6.3​
7.2​
8.1​
9​
9.9​
11​
12​
13​
14​
14​
15​
16​
17​
18​
19​
20​
21​
22​
23​
23​
24​
25​
26​
27​
28​
29​
30​
Distance
0​
0.03​
0.06​
0.09​
0.12​
0.15​
0.18​
0.21​
0.24​
0.27​
0.30​
0.33​
0.36​
0.39​
0.42​
0.45​
0.48​
0.51​
0.54​
0.57​
0.60​
0.63​
0.66​
0.69​
0.72​
0.75​
0.78​
0.81​
0.84​
0.87​
0.90​
0.93​
0.96​
0.99​

This, I think:

1600114661103.png

Side note, I am using the microstepping capability of the motors. It's just I also want the torque to be decent too.
 
Last edited:

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
So now it's more of an Arduino question:

Code:
const int dirPin = 2;
const int stepPin = 3;

  // fullstep  = 50
  // 1/2 step  = 100 → MS1 high
  // 1/4 step  = 200 → MS2 high
  //      ↓
const int steps = 100;     

const int wait = 3;   // milliseconds

void setup()
{
  pinMode(stepPin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(dirPin, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
  // Set motor direction clockwise
  digitalWrite(dirPin, HIGH);  // Forward

  int var = 0;
  while (var < steps)
  {
    digitalWrite(stepPin, HIGH);
    delay(wait);
    digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW);
    delay(wait);
    var++;
  }

  // Set motor direction counterclockwise
  digitalWrite(dirPin, LOW);

  // Backward
  var = 0;
  while (var < steps)
  {
    digitalWrite(stepPin, HIGH);
    delay(wait);
    digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW);
    delay(wait);
    var++;
  }
}
How to translate `digitalWrite` and delays into steps...
 

ci139

Joined Jul 11, 2016
1,898
your circle won't get to equitable radial segments unless you add Z rotation corrections

? why bother such mess in a first place

? why not just ±90° Z ±?° "X" . . . (( considering you got a stepper motors - so you can achieve any ±2πN by it))
 

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
your circle won't get to equitable radial segments unless you add Z rotation corrections
How are Z rotations factored in mathematically?

? why bother such mess in a first place
Sorry, with what?

? why not just ±90° Z ±?° "X" . . . (( considering you got a stepper motors - so you can achieve any ±2πN by it))
I don't follow what you mean. Please explain a bit more.
 

MrAl

Joined Jun 17, 2014
11,388
How are Z rotations factored in mathematically?


Sorry, with what?


I don't follow what you mean. Please explain a bit more.
Hi,

I think we already have enough crop circles thank you very much :)

Do you have to work in 3d then?
If so and you have to rotate in 3d space, look up the rotation matrix for 3 dimensions.
 

ci139

Joined Jul 11, 2016
1,898
How are Z rotations factored in mathematically?
physically + mathematically -- then you work out the best adjustment . . . but such will be an overkill ...
Sorry, with what?
... because you need 2 rotations only instead of 3 (3 would be a bigger mess or the particular 2 that you plan to use right now)
+Plus : what this thing suppose to do AND how precisely/reliably it should operate (? are people health risks involved ? falling objects)
I don't follow what you mean. Please explain a bit more.
why you use a "cryptic" apparatus of X Y (both horizontal) axis ... instead of the Z (vertical) + "X" (horizontal)
 

Thread Starter

Adamelli

Joined Sep 14, 2020
66
This is a solution that is working:

Code:
const int dirPinX = 2;
const int stepPinX = 3;
const int dirPinY = 4;
const int stepPinY = 5;

const int A = 100;
float deltaH = PI/1000;
float deltaX = 0;
float deltaY = 0;

  float h = 0;
  float x1 = 0;
  float x2 = 0;
  float y1 = 0;
  float y2 = 0;
 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
 
  pinMode(stepPinX, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(dirPinX, OUTPUT); 
  pinMode(stepPinY, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(dirPinY, OUTPUT); 
 
  int i = 0;
  while(i < A/2)
  {
    digitalWrite(dirPinX, LOW);
    
    digitalWrite(stepPinX, HIGH);
    delay(10);
    digitalWrite(stepPinX, LOW);
    delay(10);
    i++;   
  }
}


void loop()
{

 
  while (h < 2*PI)
  {
    fx1();
    fx2();

    fy1();
    fy2();
    
    deltaX = deltaX + x2 - x1;
    if(abs(deltaX) > 1)
    {
      stepX();
      deltaX = 0;
    }

    deltaY = deltaY + y2 - y1;
    if(abs(deltaY) > 1)
    {
      stepY();
      deltaY = 0;
    }
    
    h += deltaH;
  }
 
}

void fx1(){
x1 = A*cos(h)*cos(h);

}

void fx2(){

x2 = A*cos(h+deltaH)*cos(h+deltaH);

}
void fy1(){
y1 = A*cos(h)*sin(h);

}

void fy2(){

y2 = A*cos(h+deltaH)*sin(h+deltaH);

}
void stepX()
{
    if(deltaX < 0)  // Set motor direction clockwise
    {
      digitalWrite(dirPinX, HIGH);
    }
    else
    {
      digitalWrite(dirPinX, LOW);
    } 
    digitalWrite(stepPinX, HIGH);
    delay(10);
    digitalWrite(stepPinX, LOW);
    delay(10); 
}

void stepY()
{
    if(deltaY < 0)  // Set motor direction clockwise
    {
      digitalWrite(dirPinY, HIGH);
    }
    else
    {
      digitalWrite(dirPinY, LOW);
    } 
    digitalWrite(stepPinY, HIGH);
    delay(10);
    digitalWrite(stepPinY, LOW);
    delay(10); 
}
 
Top