This directory contains guides for integrating external hardware and software with Zendir Editor simulations. These guides cover various communication protocols and integration methods to enable bidirectional data flow between simulations and external systems.
Overview
- Integrating External Hardware or Software Provides an overview of the steps and considerations for integrating external hardware or software, including connection requirements, communication speed, and synchronous vs. asynchronous integration approaches.
Communication Protocols
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USB External Integration
Guide for using Universal Serial Bus (USB) serial connections to send and receive data from external hardware, including connection setup, bidirectional data flow, and proper connection management. -
TCP External Integration
Walkthrough of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) based external integration, covering both TCP client and server configurations for connecting simulations with external hardware or software. -
MQTT External Integration
Comprehensive guide for using Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol to send and receive data from external sources, supporting multiple active connections for IoT applications.
Integration Tools
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Process Runner
Overview of the Process Runner class for launching external scripts and software as separate processes, enabling Software in the Loop (SwIL) applications. -
Time Syncing External Hardware
Guide for building synchronous external hardware integration where the simulation and external device depend on each other, with the simulation ticking once per received packet.
MQTT-Specific Use Cases
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Controlling Simulations with MQTT
Tutorial for creating simulations that have their tick controlled via a remote source using MQTT, including starting, stopping, and configuring simulation parameters remotely. -
Configuring Simulations with MQTT
Guide for using MQTT to configure simulation parameters such as spacecraft orbits, camera payloads, and simulation duration, with example implementation for planetary imaging spacecraft.
External Data Sources
- CelesTrak API Integration
Overview of integrating CelesTrak API to initialize orbits from the CelesTrak database, which provides orbit data for objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including functions for querying satellite data in various formats.