How to create a mesh with coordinates given from an Arduino?

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Hello guys, I would like to build a Laserscanner with Arduino, which gives me the coordinates of the scanned object. Then I need to create the Mesh/Modell for this particular object (This isn't the problem; Hardware already works fine). In the script down below you can find a simulation of this process. So my question is: How can I create a mesh/modell in Unity with those coordinates as vertices of the mesh/modell? It would be really nice if someone could help me, because this project is very important to me.

Arduino code: (sorry it's in german)

 int abstand = 0;
 int rotXY = 0;
 int rotZ = 0;
 
 void setup()
 {
     Serial.begin(9600);
 }
 
 void loop()
 {
 
 
     for (int i = 0; i < 200; i++) {   //200 = Steps für eine Umdrehung (Verdoppel und Vervierfachbar) i = Sensor Hoch und Runter
       for (int j = 0; j < 200; j++) {
         abstand = random(0, 1023); //0-1023 entspricht 4-30 cm j = Drehteller
         rotXY = j;
         rotZ = i;
 
 
       String erg = "";
       erg.concat(abstand);
       erg.concat("|");
       erg.concat(rotXY);
       erg.concat("|");
       erg.concat(rotZ);
       Serial.println(erg); 
       delay(100);
       }
     }
       delay(5000);
 }

Unity code: (sorry it's in Spanish)

  SerialPort stream = new SerialPort("COM3", 9600);
     public string receivedstring;
     public GameObject carrito;
     public Vector3 rot;
     public Vector3 rot2;
     public string[] datos;
     public string[] datos_recibidos;
 
 
     void Start()
     {
         stream.Open(); //Open the Serial Stream.
     }
 
     void Update()
     {
         receivedstring = stream.ReadLine(); //Read the information
         stream.BaseStream.Flush(); //Clear the serial information so we assure we get new information.
 
         string[] datos = receivedstring.Split(','); //My arduino script returns a 3 part value (IE: 12,30,18)
         if (datos[0] != "" && datos[1] != "" && datos[2] != "") //Check if all values are recieved
         {
             datos_recibidos [0] = datos[0];
             datos_recibidos[1] = datos[1];
             datos_recibidos[2] = datos[2];
       
 
             //Read the information and put it in a vector3
 
             //Take the vector3 and apply it to the object this script is applied.
             stream.BaseStream.Flush(); //Clear the serial information so we assure we get new information.
         }
     }

Answer 1

Answer by Llama_w_2Ls · Dec 30, 2020 at 10:32 AM

You can set the mesh of a gameobject by changing the mesh property of its mesh filter. First you would have to construct the mesh using the Mesh class, and then assign its corresponding points and order of points (i.e triangle indicies). Like so:

 [RequireComponent(typeof(MeshFilter))]
 [RequireComponent(typeof(MeshRenderer))]
 public class CreateMesh : MonoBehaviour
 {
     public Vector3[] Points;
     public int[] TriangleIndicies; // order of points
 
     private void Start()
     {
         // Pseudocode for getting the points and the order
         // (I assume you already handled this bit yourself)
         Points = Arduino.GetPoints();
         TriangleIndicies = Arduino.GetTriangleIndicies();
 
         // Set the mesh of the gameobject to the arduino-constructed mesh
         GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh = ConstructMesh();
     }
 
     public Mesh ConstructMesh()
     {
         Mesh mesh = new Mesh
         {
             vertices = Points,
             triangles = TriangleIndicies
         };
 
         return mesh;
     }
 }

This can be put on any empty gameobject and should automatically add a mesh filter, mesh renderer, and draw the mesh given by the arduino data. Hope this works! @unity_slcKZ-2Fhcmm0Q

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unity_slcKZ-2Fhcmm0Q · Jan 02, 2021 at 08:19 PM 0

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Hello @Llama_w_2Ls, Thank you for helping me out. But I have another question: The vertices have to be an array of those points but in my code, they are just simple coordinates. This is why I get the error: " Error CS0029 Cannot implicitly convert type 'UnityEngine.Vector3' to 'UnityEngine.Vector3[]' ". So how do I fix that? In other words: How can I "convert" those coordinates to an Array.

Thanks in advance

PS: I'm glad there are people like you in this world. Thank you so much!

Llama_w_2Ls unity_slcKZ-2Fhcmm0Q · Jan 02, 2021 at 08:51 PM 0

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You don't really need to use an array. You could use a list and for each set of coordinates you have, you can add it to the list. __Note: The 'List' type only exists in the namespace System.Collections.Generic, so make sure to add using System.Collections.Generic; at the top of your script.

     private List<Vector3> Coordinates = new List<Vector3>();
 
     private void Start()
     {
         // Gets the coordinate from the arduino (Pseudocode)
         Vector3 coordinate = Arduino.GetCoordinate();
 
         Coordinates.Add(coordinate);
     }

And then where you create the mesh, you can convert your list of coordinates into a Vector3 array, by writing Coordinates.ToArray(), which returns an array of Vector3's. Hope you solve it from here. @unity_slcKZ-2Fhcmm0Q

PS: I'm glad there are people like you in this world. Thank you so much!

This means a lot to me. Thanks

How to create a mesh with coordinates given from an Arduino?

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