ITEAD WiFi IR Repeater Preview

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In the blog, we released several articles about ITEAD open source smart home system explaining how to achieve the lighting control and monitoring of the power socket. Next, we want to achieve intelligent control on appliances such as TV and air conditioner in the house.

Here we would like to introduce "ITEAD WiFi IR repeater", which is a hardware device that can be connected to the router via WiFi, and then it can control household appliances through infrared signals. In this way, we can connect cellphone to WiFi and send commands to the repeater to remotely control these appliances.

There are four infrared emitting diodes on the board to achieve omnidirectional emission so that a device can control the appliances in the whole house. There are infrared receiver diodes on the board as well, with which you can learn a variety of codes of remote control buttons – IR carrier frequency width is between 10KHz and 80KHz, which can store 100 key codes and they will not be lost when power down.

WiFi function supports both AP (Access Point) mode and ST (Station) mode,which can be used as hot spot and can be connected directly with cellphones and other control devices or connected to control devices on the same segment via the router. Under ST mode, by mapping configuration via the router, communication between Ethernet and repeater can be achieved, thus to remotely control the appliances in the house through web or cellphone can also be realized.

Although the hardware of IR repeater is not open source, the protocol between repeater and device is open, so the users can write the software or make the devices on their own. By sending commands, it can control the repeater for actions of encoding learning, storing and emitting,etc. so as to achieve control on home appliances with infrared remote control.

We're still collating the product manual and making a small DEMO to show control via cellphone. It is expected that the product will be launched in next week, so stay tuned.

 

RASPBERRY PI SIM900 GSM/GPRS MODULE ADAPTER KIT

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Previously we released a Raspberry PI LCD Adapter Kit, which allows you to connect the LCD module of ITDB02-2.4E and ITDB02-2.8 directly to the Raspberry PI development board and provides a library example which is modified based on Henning's UTFT library. After the release, we received a lot of positive feedback which makes us very happy. Although this is only a quite small thing, not even to speak of technical difficulty, yet this gadget can actually bring convenience to many people.

According to the feedback received, many guys hope to add GSM / GPRS functions on the raspberry pie, which can be achieved with our SIM900 GSM / GPRM module. Therefore, now we would like to introduce a "Raspberry PI SIM900 GSM / GPRS Module Adapter Kit", with which you can connect SIM900 GSM / GPRS module directly to the Raspberry PI and break out pin headers from the pins, allowing you to continue to use other unoccupied pins on the Raspberry PI – SIM900 GSM / GPRS module only uses TX and RX pins on Raspberry PI.

As there is a free operation library for SIM900 GSM / GPRM module in Arduino, it is quite convenient to use, we only need just a few simple functions to let Arduino make calls or send SMS alerts. Now, in order to match the newly released adapter kit, our engineers migrated the  library from Arduino to Raspberry PI and deleted some. For specific functions and function prototypes, please refer to our library function manual.

Here we will briefly introduce Raspberry PI SIM900 GSM / GPRS Module Adapter Kit and how to use the library.

First is about hardware connection, link one end of cable directly to pin of Raspberry PI according to the following figure and another end to the adapter board, insert the adapter board directly into the pins of SIM900 GSM / GPRS module, thus connection is done.

Next, we need to make some modifications to the system configuration, because the UART that we will need to use in Raspberry PI is occupied then by the system as default, and we need to release it.

Browse to the file location:

/boot/cmdline.txt

Open and edit the file with administrator privileges：

$ sudo vi /boot/cmdline.txt

After opening, change the following contents:

dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=ttyAMA0,115200 kgdboc=ttyAMA0,115200 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline rootwait

to：

dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=tty1 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline rootwait

The same way to modify / etc / inittab:

$ sudo vi /etc/inittab

Comment out or delete the following line (usually the last line):

# T0: 23: respawn :/ sbin / getty-L ttyAMA0 115200 vt100

Then save and exit, the modification is done. Next, download and unzip the SIM900 GSM / GRPS module operation library that we can provided. If the zipped folder is placed on desktop, enter into the folder:

cd /home/pi/Desktop/ITEADGSM

Install the library：

make install

Thus the library is installed. If you want to use the library later on, you only need to include GSM.h file in your project files and to add lITEADGSM parameters when compiling.
For example, to compile a sample file in the library folder on the desktop:

gcc GSMDemo.c -o GSMDemo -lITEADGSM

After compilation, you can run the program:

sudo./ GSMDemo

We will release this library to google code to facilitate updating to the latest version. If you encounter any problems during use, you can post questions on our forum, and we will try to help you fix them. If you have good suggestions, you can also send us feedback on the forum.

  ITEAD RPI SIM900 GSM Library (44.0 KiB, 40 hits)

To Control ITEAD Intelligent Switch via Ethernet

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Previously we introduced how to remotely control LED by using IBoard and LEWEI50 server, in fact, we only need to do a few modifications on it to achieve control on ITEAD intelligent switch.
ITEAD intelligent switch uses 433MHz wireless module for communication, so we need to add a 433MHz transmitter modules on IBoard, then you can send commands to ITEAD intelligent switch to control lighting in the house. For specific 433MHz wireless control protocol, you can refer to “ITEAD Intelligent Switch 433MHz Communication Protocol”
Each intelligent switch has a separate IDKEY, but this group of IDKEY was not printed on the product but in the factory code, so we need to read IDKEY of the switch to be controlled. We can use ITEAD Intelligent Switch Protocol library introduced last time (Click HERE).
ITEAD Intelligent Switch Protocol library uses interruption pin D2 as data input pin of 433MHz receiver module, which is IRQ pin of nRF24L01 interface on Iboard, the IRQ pin is to be connected to the DATA pin of 433MHz receiver module. Connection diagram is shown as below:

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Dragon Boat Festival Holiday Schedule

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Due to Dragon Boat festival, ITEAD STUDIO will have a three-day holiday from 10th to 12th of June. The schedule is shown as below:

Ordinary orders received from 3rd to 7th of June will be processed normally as usual, while for orders on 8th and 9th, we will try our best to deliver before holiday – but as it takes time to deal with packaging, we cannot guarantee that orders in these two days can be sent out before the holiday. Thank you for understanding. For the pending orders received before holiday and during the holiday, we will process on 13th, June – due to backlog of orders during the holiday and increase of orders in post office after the holiday, we estimate that orders may be processed slightly slower than usual. However, we will make our efforts to deliver as soon as possible.

For orders of PCB service, generally PCB production costs about a week, while the number of orders often increases before the holiday, thus it will need a longer time to be processed. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the orders of PCB service received from 3rd, June to be shipped  before the holiday. However, for files received from 3rd to 9th of June, we will arrange production, but the finished boards will be received and delivered after the holiday. For orders received during the holiday, we can only arrange the production after the holiday.

Above is our holiday schedule. For any inconvenience caused, we do hope you can understand, and you can arrange time for placing orders according to your own needs.

Makeblock 2WD Car With WIFI Bee

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Previously we demonstrated how to achieve control on Makeblock car with cellphone software “ITEAD Bluetooth Robot Panel” by using BTBee with MBoard. Recently, we introduced another WIFI Bee module with functions similar to BTBee which supports inserting XBee interface to achieve converting WIFI (Supporting IEEE802.11b/g/n) into serial port. Therefore, today we want to show you how to achieve control on Makeblock car with "" software by using WIFI Bee with Mboard.

First, we need to set up a Makeblock two-wheel drive car. Fix MBoard, and connect the motor to MBoard. Inset WIFI Bee directly into the XBee socket of Mboard. Since there is no network LED on WIFI Bee, we will insert an LED electronic brick into Mboard to observe network conditions. Connect LED electronic brick to EB5 of MBoard with the connection cable specifically for electronic bricks.

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To Remotely Control The LED with IBoard

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Previously we introduced how to remotely monitor temperature in the room by using IBoard with DHT11 temperature sensor and LEWEI50 platform. Now, we want to go further, we do not only monitor the sensor data, but also realize remote control – of light at home from the office for example. Here we will use IBoard with an LED electronic brick for demonstration.

For hardware, we still use the plug-and-play electronic brick module, and the LED electronic brick will be linked to A0 pin of IBoard with connection cable.

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ITEAD Wifi Robot Panel

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Previously we released a software "ITEAD Bluetooth Robot Panel" to simulate the operation interface for remote control of intelligent car / robot, which provided eight directional buttons, four function buttons, a governor bar and a toggle switch. Users can set the data sent out when pressing and releasing each button according to their needs so that they can control the car / robot with cellphone.

We received a lot of feedback after the software is released, and a lot of people like it. Especially for many engineers who are familiar with hardware and machinery, they will not suffer from cellphone software development any more. From the feedback, we found that lots of users want to have wifi connection mode, as Wifi has a longer range than Bluetooth with stronger applicability.

According to the users’ requirements, our engineers made some modifications to the previous "ITEAD Bluetooth Robot Panel" and developed a WIFI version control software "ITEAD Wifi Robot Panel". The user interface and the operation choices provided are exactly the same with the previous Bluetooth version. The only difference is that when you click "Settings" button, you can also set TPC connection in the setting interface in addition to setting the data sent when pressing and releasing each button.

The software supports working as TCP server as well as running as TCP client. If it works as a server, you can set the port number used for communication. If you keep it as blank, it will be randomly assigned, and the server's IP address and port number will be displayed after pressing "Start service". If it serves as a client, you need to fill the connected server’s IP address and port number, and the server will be connected after pressing the "Connect" button.

Due to limit of time and resources, we are not able to make it compatible with all Andriod cellphone models, thus this software may not be displayed properly in cellphones with some resolutions. If you have this problem, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can send us a screenshot about the problems with the cellphone model, and we will fix the problem in the next update. You can download the latest software HERE.

To Achieve Remote Monitoring On Ethernet With IBoard

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IBoard is a development board based on Arduino platform adopting W5100 chip with networking functions, SD card slot, XBee interface and nR24L01 wireless module interface. The electronic brick interface broken out from Iboard is used quite conveniently to connect to various electronic brick modules, and then you can connect Iboard to the router, finally you will be able to achieve remote operation on the web through the network platform.

Here, we use DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor as an example to demonstrate how to use LEWEI50 platform to achieve remote monitoring on temperature at home.

First, let me say something about hardware connection – we have always recommended the plug-and-play electronic brick module design. Connect DHT11 electronic brick module provided by us directly to A2 sensor interface of IBoard with connection cable as shown in the following figure. Thus the functional circuit is finished, and FOCA board connection in the picture is used for downloading program only which will be mentioned again later on.

In the example, the network service platform we used is LEWEI50. After registration, we can get our own User key and the corresponding gateway information, then log onto the account to view information about the newly-established equipment and sensor .  In the example, IBoard will upload the temperature information of DHT11 in a way of address information to the only marked graph in the server system, so that we can observe the real-time ambient temperature information of the sensor on LEWEI50 webpage. Account registration address is: http://en.lewei50.com/home/register.

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Arduino and LabVIEW Part II – Multi-Channel Data Acquisition System

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With regard to characteristics such as low speed, low cost and fast construction, we used Arduino and LabVIEW to achieve low-cost upper and lower computer data acquisition system. Arduino, as lower computer, is responsible for A / D conversion and data transfer; LabVIEW writes data acquisition software as upper computer; upper and lower computers use RS-232 serial interface to realize communication.

It is generally believed that the upper computer is the host, the lower computer is the slave, the host is the leadership, the slave works for the host in accordance with host’s wishes; while the slave can also send requests to the host actively, and the host will respond to the slave and work with it for the completion of a request.

The role of data acquisition system is to collect the analog signals output by sensors and convert them into the signals that can be recognized by computer and then send them to the computer, display or print out the calculated data in so as to achieve the monitoring of certain physical quantity, some of the data is also to be used by computer control system to control certain physical quantity in the production process. 

Iteaduino Leonardo As lower computer

In this data acquisition system, lower computer adopts Iteaduino Leonardo board, as shown in Figure 1.

Iteduino Leonardo needs to complete two functions: data acquisition and data transmission. Iteaduino Leonardo control board receives commands from upper computer through the serial port, completes the corresponding data acquisition and transmits the data back to the host computer.

Data collection is divided into analog acquisition and digital acquisition. Acquisition ways are set to two ways, one is to use pins A0 and A1in Arduino UNO which have analog input and another is to use pins 2 and 3 which have digital input. Analog acquisition adopts connection to GND, 3.3V and 5V to achieve different voltage values, while digital acquisition adopts connection to 5V and GND to achieve high and low levels. 

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Arduino and LabVIEW Part I – Serial Port to Control ON/OFF of LED

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This article will introduce how to use proteus simulation environment to achieve serial communication between Arduino UNO  and LabVIEW, and LabVIEW to control LED lamp of Arduino UNO through RS-232 serial,that is, to turn on or off the LED lamp.

1. Arduino UNO / Iteaduino UNO

In proteus simulation environment, use ATmega328P MCU to realize Arduino UNO development board based on Proteus , as shown in Figure 1.

Here, we need to set up the parameters of ATmega328P, we have marked with red boxes for those which need to be changed. The settings after modification are shown in Figure 2, among which the HEX file must be consistent with your own storage place.

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