Kinected Arduino

I wanted to use my Kinect sensor as a input for my Arduino for some up coming projects, I think its one of the best sensors out there, its a pity there isn’t a Arduino Shield available for Kinect. So for now I have to use my computer, however I could not find easy/good ways of doing it. I wanted something very simple and Arduino user friendly ~~and no windows involved.~~ After much searching and frustration I came across the simplest way for the Arduino and Kinect to be friends.

Kinect output of X,Y and Z left and right hands displaying on 20x4 Arduino powered LCD.

Using Processing, OpenKinect, and this tutorial and library it was very easy for a Arduino novice. The Arduino IDE is based off Processing, so it’s very easy to go from one to the other. Geting Processing and the Arduino to talk was easier than expected using this tutorial and a line of code in Processing like this:

myPort.write(“/1/4/”+ handX +”/”);

With similar lines on the Arduino end:

case 4:

{

getSerial();

int X= serialdata;

break;

}

Now that the Arduino has the X, Y and Z values you can control any real world elements, such as a your lights, or a servo etc. You can even get Processing to calculate the angle between your hands, so when your turn your hands (like when driving a car) it will send a 0-360º value to the Arduino for added control.