Hide Notes 

Slide 1: A Practical Guide to Connecting Hardware to the Web Justin Mclean www.classsoftware.com
Slide 2: Who am I? • Director of Class Software for 15 years • Developing and creating web applications for 15 years • Programming for 25 years • Adobe solution partner • Adobe certified developer and trainer in Flex and ColdFusion • Based in Sydney Australia
Slide 3: Electronics Trends • Low cost • Small components • Complex components with simple interfaces
Slide 4: Computing Trends • • • • Easier to program Use of high level languages Software tools Open source
Slide 5: Are We There Yet? • Low cost fast devices • It’s easy to communicate between devices and computers • Can build complex systems from off the shelf components
Slide 6: Arduino Overview of the Arduino Platform
Slide 7: Arduino Platform • Open source hardware and software platform • Easy to program • Hardware is flexible, fast, low power and low cost
Slide 8: Arduino Hardware • Comes in a number of shapes sizes • Low cost • Easy to extend
Slide 9: Arduino Boards
Slide 10: Arduino Shields
Slide 11: Arduino Software Platform • • • • • Open source cross platform IDE Alpha but very stable Code in high level C like language Updated frequently Growing and active community
Slide 12: Arduino Code • C like high level language • Inbuilt functions to read and set digital and analog inputs and outputs • Includes libraries to perform common hardware or software tasks
Slide 13: Arduino IDE
Slide 14: Led Shield Demo
Slide 15: Issues • • • • Debugging can be hard No simulator Memory, power and speed limits Helps to have a little electronic knowledge
Slide 16: Connecting Arduinos How Arduinos communicate with the outside world
Slide 17: Connection Methods • • • • Direct to computer Wireless (XBee modems) Ethernet or WiFi The Cloud
Slide 18: Supported Languages • • • • • • • Flex and Flash Processing Python Ruby Java C, C++, C# and Objective C .NET
Slide 19: Direct Connection How to communicate with Arduinos and via PCs
Slide 20: Direct Communication • Most languages can’t talk USB • Solution: Socket to USB proxy
Slide 21: Layers of Communication • Library to communicate with proxy • Proxy to USB communication • USB to arduino
Slide 22: Computer Arduino Application Code Arduino Function Calls and Events Code Library TCP/IP Socket USB Proxy USB Cable Firmata Connection Diagram
Slide 23: Firmata Protocal • • • • Simple binary protocol Based on MIDI Easy to extend Standard Arduino software library
Slide 24: Arduino Demo
Slide 25: Issues • Works best with a persistent connection • If not persistent startup time and auto reset issues • Solution: custom bootloader • Needs a computer • Proxy must be running on machine Arduino is connected to
Slide 26: Xbee Modems Using Arduinos with XBee modems
Slide 27: XBee Modems • • • • • Hardware wireless modem Low cost Consume very little power Good range Easy to configure
Slide 28: XBee Modems
Slide 29: XBee Demo
Slide 30: Ethernet Using Arduino Ethernet Shields
Slide 31: Ethernet Shields • • • • Allow direct internet connection No dedicated computer needed Shields need a little config Can act as web server or client
Slide 32: Ethernet Shields
Slide 33: Ethernet Arduino Code • Web server code • Easy to modify
Slide 34: Ethernet Demo
Slide 35: Pachube An easier way to connect Arduinos
Slide 36: Pachube • • • • Store and share and acess realtime sensor data Simple and secure API to interact with all data and services Graphs and maps
Slide 37: Pachube
Slide 38: Pachube API • • • • Communicates HTTP Plain text (csv), XML or Jason REST based Large base of supported languages
Slide 39: Pachube Arduino Code • Runs on Arduino with ethernet shield • Sends values to Pachube • Request values via Pachube
Slide 40: Pachube Interaction • • • • Call Pachube API using HTTP call Parse XML XML is in EEML format Display or act on values
Slide 41: Pachube Demo
Slide 42: Pachube Triggers • Pachube can call an URL on value change • The URL can be a dynamic
Slide 43: Why do this? • Expose yourself to new ideas and new ways of solving problems • Involves interaction with the real world • Encourages creativity • Makes you a better programmer
Slide 44: It’s Fun!
Slide 45: Questions? • Ask now, see me after session or email justin@classsoftware.com
Slide 46: Useful Sites List of useful hardware and software sites
Slide 47: Software Sites • Arduino http://www.arduino.cc for software, user forum and playground Reference/Ethernet • Ethernet Shields http://arduino.cc/en/ • Pachhub http://www.pachube.com/
Slide 48: Hardware Sites • Spark Fun (US) http://www.sparkfun.com/ • Adafruit Industries (US) http:// www.adafruit.com/ • Electronic Goldmine (US) http:// www.goldmine-elec.com/
Slide 49: Other Sites • Lady Ada http://www.ladyada.net/ • Evil Mad Scientist http:// www.evilmadscientist.com/ • NY Resistor http://www.nycresistor.com/ • Make Zine http://makezine.com/