Python® and Go Direct® Sensors
Connect Vernier Go Direct sensors to your Python project or create custom data visualizations using our Python library.
Overview
With our godirect module for Python, students can connect to and read measurements from a Go Direct sensor within a Python program. Students can write Python programs to visualize Go Direct sensor data or integrate that data into a larger Python project. The godirect module supports connection to a single Go Direct sensor via USB or Bluetooth® wireless technology.
Requirements
- Python 3.x for Windows®, macOS®, or Linux
- To connect to your Go Direct device using Bluetooth® wireless technology, you will need a Bluegiga BLED112 Bluetooth® Low Energy Dongle
Installation
Use pip (Python package manager) to install the godirect module so that it can work with Go Direct sensors over USB and Bluetooth® wireless technology. Run the following command in your command line terminal:
pip install godirect[USB, BLE]
There is further documentation on the godirect module project page.
Using the godirect Module with Go Direct Sensors
After installing the godirect module, open and run our getting started examples. Under the hood, they all use the the godirect module to communicate with the Go Direct sensors. However, to make getting started easy, we created a layer of functions. That layer is named gdx. You can connect to and collect data from a Go Direct sensor using the commands in the steps below.
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Download the gdx examples, which include the gdx functions layer, to your computer.
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In each example—and in the programs that you write—import the gdx functions into your program and create a gdx object:
from gdx import gdx gdx = gdx.gdx() -
Find and connect to a Go Direct sensor, select sensor channels from which to gather data, and start collecting data:
gdx.open_usb() or gdx.open_ble() gdx.select_sensors() gdx.start() -
Read sensor data, formatted as a list:
measurements = gdx.read() -
Before ending your program, stop data collection and close the program’s connection to the Go Direct sensor:
gdx.stop() gdx.close()
For the getting started examples and other supported commands, see https://vernierst.github.io/godirect-examples/python/
Examples
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Basic Connection Setup and Data Collection
This example shows you how to use the basic gdx functions to collect data with a Go Direct sensor.
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Setting Defaults and Passing Arguments
This example shows how to avoid using prompts (and instead pass arguments) to select the active sensors and set the measurement period.
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Showing Sensor Information
This example shows how to use the gdx functions to list information for all sensor channels on a Go Direct sensor. This includes sensor channel number, sensor description, units, and incompatible sensor channels.
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Connecting to Go Direct Sensors via Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
This example uses a connection via Bluetooth® wireless technology and demonstrates how to use the gdx functions to collect data with a Go Direct sensor.
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Exporting Sensor Data as CSV File
This example provides some ideas for using sensor data with the built-in csv Python module.
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“Live” Freebody Diagram
Use VPython and the GoDirect Python library to create a “live” free body diagram of a ring with three forces acting on it.