Failed to read "n" uint8 value(s) from the device error while reading serial information.

Hello,

I am trying to read information from a scale that sends out a signal via an RS232 cable. I am reading this signal with a RS232 adapter that is connected to an Arduino Mega 2560. The connections are correct and we know this because we have gotten the code to run on multiple occasions.

The main issue is that the code occasionally will display the error message "failed to read "n" uint8 value(s) from the device" where "n" is the number of bits that the Arduino is trying to read from the scale. The baudrate on the scale and the code are both set to 19200, so we know this is not the issue.

Usually I use 63 for "n", but have also used 32 and other factors of 8. It has worked with 63, 32, and 56.

Here is the code I am using:

raw_data = zeros(3, 63);

g_finder = []; % Initialize as empty array

raw_weights = strings(1, 3); % Use strings to store raw weight data

for j = 1:4

if app.scale_list(j) ~= 0

raw_data(j, :) = read(Serial_Scale_list(j), 63);

g_finder = find(raw_data(j,:) == 103); % Assign new value to g_finder

% Process data for each scale

for k = 1:1

if numel(g_finder) >= 2 && g_finder(2) >= 8

raw_weights(k,1) = char(raw_data(k,(g_finder(2)-8):(g_finder(2)-1)));

% Convert the string to a number and append to mass_and_time_archives array

mass_archives(k, location) = str2double(raw_weights(k,1))/density_list(k);

time_archives(1, location) = (now - initial_time) * 24 * 3600; % Convert to seconds

% Calculate flow rate if there are at least two data points available

if location > 7

flowrate_archives(location, k) = (mass_archives(k, location) - mass_archives(k, location - 5)) / ...

((time_archives(1, location) - time_archives(1, location - 5)) / 60);

end

location = location + 1;

disp(raw_weights(k));

pause(1);

end

break; % Exit the loop after processing one set of data for this scale

end

end

end

Essentially, the scale outputs ASCII characters, that convert to something like the weight followed by a g, for example one output may be "1272 g" which has the raw ASCII value of "49 50 55 50 32 103 ". Since every weight has a "g" or a "103" at the end, I am finding in the output of the scale where the value 103 appears and reading a set amount of characters before that to get the weight output. Later the code determines the mass flow rate by taking the change in mass divided by the change in time.

This code is part of an app that I am building, although it returns the same issue when it is run independently (without the variables that are part of the rest of the app's code, of course), where it sometimes runs and sometimes does not while returning the same error message.

Like I said, the code occasionally works, which is why I am stumped as to what could be causing this problem. If anyone has any ideas they would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Andrew]

Ive been having this issue too and i am not sure how to solve it

Answer 1

[MULI]

Hi Andrew,

I understand that you are experiencing intermittent errors when trying to read data from a scale via an RS232 connection using an Arduino Mega 2560.

The error message "failed to read 'n' uint8 value(s) from the device" indicates that the Arduino is not consistently receiving the expected amount of data.

• The error message suggests a timing issue where the Arduino is attempting to read data before it's fully available. Consider adding a small delay before reading data to ensure the buffer is filled.
• Increase the buffer size in the Arduino code to handle more incoming data, which might help if the data is being sent in bursts.
• Implement error handling in your code to retry reading if an error occurs. This can help the system recover from transient communication errors.
• Verify that the scale consistently sends data in the expected format. Any deviation might cause reading errors.

Here's a modified version of your code with added error handling and a delay:

raw_data = zeros(3, 63);  
g_finder = [];  
raw_weights = strings(1, 3);  
for j = 1:4  
    if app.scale_list(j) ~= 0  
        % Retry mechanism for reading data 
        success = false; 
        attempts = 0; 
        while ~success && attempts < 3 
            try 
                pause(0.1); % Small delay before reading 
                raw_data(j, :) = read(Serial_Scale_list(j), 63);  
                success = true; 
            catch 
                attempts = attempts + 1; 
                disp('Failed to read data, retrying...'); 
            end 
        end 
         
        if ~success 
            disp('Failed to read data after multiple attempts.'); 
            continue; 
        end 
         
        g_finder = find(raw_data(j,:) == 103);  
         
        for k = 1:1  
            if numel(g_finder) >= 2 && g_finder(2) >= 8  
                raw_weights(k,1) = char(raw_data(k,(g_finder(2)-8):(g_finder(2)-1)));  
                mass_archives(k, location) = str2double(raw_weights(k,1))/density_list(k);  
                time_archives(1, location) = (now - initial_time) * 24 * 3600;  
 
                if location > 7  
                    flowrate_archives(location, k) = (mass_archives(k, location) - mass_archives(k, location - 5)) / ... 
                    ((time_archives(1, location) - time_archives(1, location - 5)) / 60);  
                end 
                 
                location = location + 1;  
                disp(raw_weights(k));  
                pause(1);  
            end  
            break;  
        end  
    end  
end 

You can refer to this example that shows how to enable callbacks to read streaming ASCII terminated data from an Arduino

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2024a/matlab/import_export/read-streaming-data-from-arduino.html

Hope this answers your query!