Optimization tests

.vscode/arduino.json

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
-    "configuration": "cpu=atmega2560",
-    "board": "arduino:avr:mega",
+    "board": "arduino:avr:uno",
     "programmer": "avrisp",
-    "port": "COM9",
+    "port": "COM7",
     "sketch": "transmitter\\transmitter.ino"
 }

.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
             "intelliSenseMode": "gcc-x64",
             "includePath": [
                 "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\cores\\arduino",
-                "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\mega",
+                "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\variants\\standard",
                 "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\OneDrive - Baku Higher Oil School\\Documents\\Arduino\\libraries\\MFRC522\\src",
                 "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\AppData\\Local\\Arduino15\\packages\\arduino\\hardware\\avr\\1.8.6\\libraries\\SPI\\src",
                 "C:\\Users\\sabzi\\OneDrive - Baku Higher Oil School\\Documents\\Arduino\\libraries\\Servo\\src",
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
             "defines": [
                 "F_CPU=16000000L",
                 "ARDUINO=10607",
-                "ARDUINO_AVR_MEGA2560",
+                "ARDUINO_AVR_UNO",
                 "ARDUINO_ARCH_AVR",
                 "__DBL_MIN_EXP__=(-125)",
                 "__HQ_FBIT__=15",

itemlist_retriever.py

@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 import json  # used to convert string obtained from database to a dictionary
 import time  # used to sleep the program for a certain amount of time
 from serial import Serial  # used to connect to the serial port
+from serial.tools import list_ports  # used to list all the serial ports
 import mysql.connector  # used to connect to the database
 from credentials import CREDENTIALS  # used to store the credentials for the database
+from os import name as os_name  # used to check the operating system
 
-PORT = "COM9"  # change this to the port that the arduino is connected to
-BAUDRATE = 9600  # change this to the baudrate that the serial port is using
-
+BAUDRATE = (
+    9600  # baudrate of the serial connection to the arduino, change this if needed
+)
 
 # used to store the previous items that were retrieved from the database
 # this is used to check if the items have changed during the next iteration of the loop
@@ -34,20 +36,43 @@ def fetch_all_items(self):
 
 
 class SerialConnection:
-    def __init__(self, port, baudrate):
-        self.port = port
+    def __init__(self, baudrate):
+        self.port = self.find_ARDUINO_serial_port()
         self.baudrate = baudrate
-        self.ser = Serial(port, baudrate)
+        self.ser = Serial(self.port, self.baudrate)
         print("Connected to serial -- success")
 
     def write(self, data):
         self.ser.write(data.encode())
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def find_ARDUINO_serial_port():
+        if os_name == "nt":
+            for i in range(0, 256):
+                try:
+                    port = "COM" + str(i)
+                    ser = Serial(port)
+                    ser.close()
+                    return port
+                except:
+                    pass
+        elif os_name == "posix":
+            for port in range(0, 256):
+                try:
+                    port = "/dev/ttyUSB" + str(port)
+                    ser = Serial(port)
+                    ser.close()
+                    return port
+                except:
+                    pass
+        else:
+            raise Exception("Unknown OS")
+
     def read(self):
         try:
             return self.ser.readline().decode().strip()
         except:
-            return ">>>>> ERROR <<<<<"
+            return ">>>>> ERROR - Serial read failed - possible cause: serial port not connected"
 
     def close(self):
         self.ser.close()
@@ -61,7 +86,7 @@ def __init__(self, db, ser):
 
 def main():
     db = DatabaseConnection(CREDENTIALS)
-    ser = SerialConnection(PORT, BAUDRATE)
+    ser = SerialConnection(BAUDRATE)
     items_dict = db.fetch_all_items()
     prev_items = items_dict
     iter_cnt = 0

transmitter/transmitter.ino

@@ -15,18 +15,18 @@
 // RST             D9           D8
 // 3.3V            3.3V         3.3V
 
-#define servoPin 10 // Set servo pin 
-String previousUID = "0"; // Do not change //
+#define servoPin 8            // Set servo pin
+String previousUID = "0";     // Do not change //
 String previousRFIDUID = "0"; // Do not change //
-String fromSerialUID = "0"; // Do not change //
-String fromRFIDUID = "0"; // Do not change //
-String readSerialFlag = "0"; // Do not change //
-int printCounter = 0; // Do not change //
-int pickUpTimeout = 1500; // Set timeout for picking up item
-int serialBaudRate = 9600; // Set serial baud rate
-int optimizationDelay = 50; // Fine tune this value to optimize performance
-Servo myServo; // Do not change //
-MFRC522 card(9, 8); // SDA, RST set up for MEGA
+String fromSerialUID = "0";   // Do not change //
+String fromRFIDUID = "0";     // Do not change //
+String readSerialFlag = "0";  // Do not change //
+int printCounter = 0;         // Do not change //
+int pickUpTimeout = 1500;     // Set timeout for picking up item
+int serialBaudRate = 9600;    // Set serial baud rate
+int optimizationDelay = 50;   // Fine tune this value to optimize performance
+Servo myServo;                // Do not change //
+MFRC522 card(10, 9);          // SDA, RST set up for MEGA
 
 void setup()
 {
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ void setup()
 
 void loop()
 {
-// Check if there is a new RFID from DB
+  // Check if there is a new RFID from DB
   if (readSerialFlag == "0")
   {
     // if there is a new RFID from DB, set flag to 1
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ void loop()
   // printCounter is used to print message every 10 iterations
   printCounter++;
 }
- 
- // function to read RFID from DB via serial
+
+// function to read RFID from DB via serial
 String readSerial()
 {
   String fromSerialRFID = "";