Electronic – arduino – Wireless accelerometer with Arduino

accelerometerarduinoxbee

I'm planning to build something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RGcYiV4hEE
But with an Arduino replaced with the easyUSB chip. Is there any simple solution for that.

Here there is an ADXL335 accelerometer which has analogue outputs and the data is being sent via an Xbee module. Essentially there is no microcontrollers used explicitly at the transmitter's end. I'm expecting this should be possible by just a correct configuration of the Xbee, reading the data on the analogue pins (say D0 to D2) and just setting the RTS pin to high.

On the receiver though, the Xbee, properly configured, is attached to an Arduino Uno board. Now I'm confused. Shall I try and write a program for the Arduino to read the data from the Xbee using the serial communication and then write it to the USB port on the computer or can I use the Arduino board in reset mode as just a serial to USB convertor and do everything on the computer? I'm expecting the latter should be easier, if possible!

Many thanks in advance,

Best Answer

Yes, you should be able to use Arduino board as a Serial to USB converter. You don't even need the ATmega chip for that. Just connect the power and the TX/RX pins of the XBee to the corresponding pins on the Arduino board and you're good to go.