A re-implementation of the Phybox experiment box for the classroom. The original Phybox only works with legacy operating systems such as Windows XP. This repository contains firmware for a custom ESP-based build that is compatible with the original Phybox meters, but works with modern operating systems like iPadOS/macOS (or Windows 11 in the future).
This project should be considered a proof-of-concept (for now). It was developed specifically to support the force meter and was not actually tested with any other measurement device.
A brief synopsis of this project and also part of a reverse engineering process of the phybox can be found here.
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├── apps/
│ └── OpenPhyboxSwift | Swift iPadOS & macOS app
├── assets/ | Assets, like icons, screenshots
├── documentation/
│ └── synopsis/ | A short synopsis of this project in german
└── firmware/ | Firmware code for the ESP32
The firmware for the ESP32 is written in C++ with the use of the Arduino framework using the PlatformIO toolchain.
By using a 7-pin DIN connector, we can connect any original Phybox meter and measure its voltage with an external ADC chip. Since the Phybox devices need an operating voltage of ±15V, a buck converter is used to convert the 5V coming from the ESP to the required ±15V.
The voltage is regulated using a voltage divider. This voltage divider consist of a 27k Ohms and a 100k Ohms resistor.
