TABLE OF CONTENTS

The board

The VM167 is connected using USB and has multiple inputs/outputs you can connect buttons or other hardware.


Read more here: https://www.velleman.eu/products/view/?id=384006

Requirements

- I experienced the software could not be run on x64. I resolved that by removing 64-bit python and replacing it with 32-bit. If you find a way to run it on 64-bit - please inform us on how to achieve that.

- To run the DLL on the players they also need to install the VM167 SDK. If you find a way which is easier - please inform us on how to achieve that.

Connecting to the board

You can find the SDK and communication routines (API) here (as of 2022-07-29): https://www.velleman.eu/support/downloads/?code=WMI167


When installting the software you can find a useful demo application and code examples in various languages under 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Velleman\VM167 SDK'.

Initializing the board

import ctypes

VM167 = ctypes.WinDLL(PATH_TO_VM167_DLL)



cards = VM167.OpenDevices()



while(cards < 1):

    if(cards == 0):

        DISEScript.Log("error", "Card open error. Retrying.")

    if(cards == -1):

        DISEScript.Log("error", "Card not found. Is the card installed correctly?")

    DISEScript.Sleep(1000)

    cards = VM167.OpenDevices()



connected = VM167.Connected()



if(connected == 0):

    DISEScript.Log("error", "No cards connected.")

if(connected == 1):

    DISEScript.Log("info", "Card at the Card Address 0 found.")

if(connected == 2):

    DISEScript.Log("info", "Card at the Card Address 1 found.")

if(connected == 3):

    DISEScript.Log("info", "Cards at the Card Address 0 and 1 found. Using default Card Address")

#We need to set which pins should be inputs and which should be outputs. Read the docs for more info.
VM167.InOutMode(CARD_ADDRESS, 0, 1)

#This sets a digital output channel (a pin). Read the docs for more info.
VM167.SetDigitalChannel(CARD_ADDRESS, DIGITAL_PIN_OUTPUT)


Reading the pin value and setting a Dise trigger

currentValue = True if VM167.ReadDigitalChannel(CARD_ADDRESS, DIGITAL_PIN_INPUT) == 1 else False

DISEScript.SetTrigger(TRIGGER_NAME, currentValue)