Combining Arduino, Android, and the Cloud Part 2

In this 3 part series we look at how to create an Android app to monitor and control multiple WiFi enabled Arduinos using the cloud. In part 2 we will look at how to grab the Arduino data from the cloud using a custom Android App.

To download the Android App .aia file to load into MIT App Inventor II use the following link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26591541/CloudHomeAutoEx.aia

Combining Arduino, Android, and the Cloud Part 1

In this 3 part series we look at how to create an Android app to monitor and control multiple WiFi enabled Arduinos using the cloud. In part 1 we will look at how to send data to the cloud from an Arduino MKR1000 and an Arduino ESP8266.

//**********************Arduino ESP8266 Code****************
/*
 This sketch was created for a tutorial called Combining Arduino, Android, and the Cloud Part 1 
 That was presented on the ForceTronics YouTube Channel. This code is public domain for anybody to 
 use or modify at your own risk

 Note that this code was leveraged from a Sparkfun example 
 on using their cloud service Phant
 */

// Include the ESP8266 WiFi library. (Works a lot like the
// Arduino WiFi library.)
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
// Include the SparkFun Phant library.
#include <Phant.h>

//Set your network name and password
const char WiFiSSID[] = "Yournetwork";
const char WiFiPSK[] = "Yourpassword";

//define constants for pin control and node number
const int LED_PIN = 5; // Thing's onboard, green LED
const int ANALOG_PIN = A0; // The only analog pin on the Thing
const int NODE_NUM = 1; //node identifier

//declare phant address and security keys
const char PhantHost[] = "data.sparkfun.com";
const char PublicKey[] = "yourpublickey";
const char PrivateKey[] = "yourprivatekey";

//specify the rate that you post data to cloud
const unsigned long postRate = 15000;
unsigned long lastPost = 0;

void setup() 
{
  initHardware(); //setup arduino hardware
  connectWiFi(); //Connect your WiFi network
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
}

void loop() 
{ //loop until it is time to post data to phant cloud
  if (lastPost + postRate <= millis())
  {
    if (postToPhant())
      lastPost = millis();
    else
      delay(100);    
  }
}

//function used to connect to WiFi network
void connectWiFi()
{
  byte ledStatus = LOW;
  // Set WiFi mode to station (as opposed to AP or AP_STA)
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  // WiFI.begin([ssid], [passkey]) initiates a WiFI connection
  // to the stated [ssid], using the [passkey] as a WPA, WPA2,
  // or WEP passphrase.
  WiFi.begin(WiFiSSID, WiFiPSK);
  
  // Use the WiFi.status() function to check if the ESP8266
  // is connected to a WiFi network.
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED)
  {
    // Blink the LED
    digitalWrite(LED_PIN, ledStatus); // Write LED high/low
    ledStatus = (ledStatus == HIGH) ? LOW : HIGH;
    
    // Delays allow the ESP8266 to perform critical tasks
    // defined outside of the sketch. These tasks include
    // setting up, and maintaining, a WiFi connection.
    delay(100);
    // Potentially infinite loops are generally dangerous.
    // Add delays -- allowing the processor to perform other
    // tasks -- wherever possible.
  }
}

//function that sets up some initial hardware states
void initHardware()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
}

//this function takes data and posts it to the cloud
int postToPhant()
{
  // LED turns on when we enter, it'll go off when we 
  // successfully post.
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
  
  // Declare an object from the Phant library - phant
  Phant phant(PhantHost, PublicKey, PrivateKey);
  //These functions build data and field string that will be sent to phant cloud
  phant.add("adcdata", analogRead(ANALOG_PIN));
  phant.add("wifinode", NODE_NUM);
  
  // Now connect to data.sparkfun.com, and post our data:
  WiFiClient client; //declare client object that will post the data
  const int httpPort = 80; //specify port to post through
  
  if (!client.connect(PhantHost, httpPort)) //attempt to connect to phant
  {
    // If we fail to connect, return 0.
    return 0;
  }
 //Send post to phant
  client.print(phant.post());
  
  // Read all the lines of the reply from server and print them to Serial
  while(client.available()){
    String line = client.readStringUntil('\r');
    //Serial.print(line); // Trying to avoid using serial
  }
  
  // Before we exit, turn the LED off.
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
  
  return 1; // Return success
}

//**********************Arduino MKR1000 Code****************
  /*
 This sketch was created for a tutorial called Combining Arduino, Android, and the Cloud Part 1 
 That was presented on the ForceTronics YouTube Channel. This code is public domain for anybody to 
 use or modify at your own risk

 Note that this code was leveraged from the Arduino WiFi101 examples and from a Sparkfun example 
 on using their cloud service Phant
 */


#include <SPI.h>
#include <WiFi101.h>

char ssid[] = "YourNetwork"; //  your network SSID (name)
char pass[] = "YourPassword";    // your network password (use for WPA, or use as key for WEP)
int keyIndex = 0;            // your network key Index number (needed only for WEP)

int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;

//define some constant variables for pins and node number
const int LED_PIN = 6; // Thing's onboard, green LED
const int ANALOG_PIN = A0; // The only analog pin on the Thing
const int NODE_NUM = 2; //node identifier

//define areas for phant cloud address and security keys
const char PhantHost[] = "data.sparkfun.com";
const char PublicKey[] = "YourKey";
const char PrivateKey[] = "YourKey";
String _pub;
String _prv;
String _host;
String _params;
static const char HEADER_POST_URL1[] PROGMEM = "POST /input/";
static const char HEADER_POST_URL2[] PROGMEM = ".txt HTTP/1.1\n";
static const char HEADER_PHANT_PRV_KEY[] PROGMEM = "Phant-Private-Key: ";
static const char HEADER_CONNECTION_CLOSE[] PROGMEM = "Connection: close\n";
static const char HEADER_CONTENT_TYPE[] PROGMEM = "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\n";
static const char HEADER_CONTENT_LENGTH[] PROGMEM = "Content-Length: ";

//timing for posting to the phant cloud
const unsigned long postRate = 15000;
unsigned long lastPost = 0;

void setup() {
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT); //setup LED pin
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial) {
    ; // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
  }

  // check for the presence of the shield:
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    // don't continue:
    while (true);
  }

  // attempt to connect to Wifi network:
  while (status != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    // Connect to WPA/WPA2 network. Change this line if using open or WEP network:
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);

    // wait 10 seconds for connection:
    delay(10000);
  }
  Serial.println("Connected to wifi");
  printWifiStatus();
}

void loop() {
  if (lastPost + postRate <= millis())
  {
    if (postToPhant())
      lastPost = millis();
    else
      lastPost = millis(); //Even if we fail delay whole cycle before we try again    
  }
}

int postToPhant()
{
  // LED turns on when we enter, it'll go off when we successfully post.
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
  
  // Declare an object from the Phant library - phant
  phant(PhantHost, PublicKey, PrivateKey);
  //These calls build the web communication strings with Phant
  phantAdd("adcdata", analogRead(ANALOG_PIN)); //specify field and data used in that field
  phantAdd("wifinode", NODE_NUM);
  
  WiFiClient client; //Create client object to communicate with the phant server

  if (!client.connect(PhantHost, 80)) { //Attempt to connect to phant server using port 80
    // If we fail to connect, return 0.
    return 0;
  }

  //Send post to phant server
  client.print(phantPost()); 
  
  // if there are incoming bytes available
  // from the server, read them and print them:
  while (client.available()) {
    String line = client.readStringUntil('\r');
    //Do something with data
  }
  client.stop();
 // Before we exit, turn the LED off.
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
  
  return 1; // Return success
}

void printWifiStatus() {
  // print the SSID of the network you're attached to:
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());

  // print your WiFi shield's IP address:
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);

  // print the received signal strength:
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
  Serial.println();
}


//This is from phant library, initializes variables
void phant(String host, String publicKey, String privateKey) {
  _host = host;
  _pub = publicKey;
  _prv = privateKey;
  _params = "";
}

//From phant library, builds string of field and data
void phantAdd(String field, int data) {

  _params += "&" + field + "=" + String(data);

}

//From phant library, builds the string used to post data to phant over web services
String phantPost() {

  String params = _params.substring(1);
  String result;
  //String result = "POST /input/" + _pub + ".txt HTTP/1.1\n";
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_POST_URL1); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_POST_URL1 + i);
  }
  result += _pub;
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_POST_URL2); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_POST_URL2 + i);
  }
  result += "Host: " + _host + "\n";
  //result += "Phant-Private-Key: " + _prv + "\n";
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_PHANT_PRV_KEY); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_PHANT_PRV_KEY + i);
  }
  result += _prv + '\n';
  //result += "Connection: close\n";
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_CONNECTION_CLOSE); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_CONNECTION_CLOSE + i);
  }
  //result += "Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded\n";
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_CONTENT_TYPE); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_CONTENT_TYPE + i);
  }  
  //result += "Content-Length: " + String(params.length()) + "\n\n";
  for (int i=0; i<strlen(HEADER_CONTENT_LENGTH); i++)
  {
    result += (char)pgm_read_byte_near(HEADER_CONTENT_LENGTH + i);
  } 
  result += String(params.length()) + "\n\n";
  result += params;

  _params = "";
  return result;
}

How to Build an Android App to Control Your WiFi Enabled Arduino

In this video we look at how to make a simple Android App to control your Arduino via WiFi

To download the Andriod App .aia file to load into MIT App Inventor: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26591541/HomeAutoEx.aia


Arduino Code from video:
//This sketch made for a video tutorial on the ForceTronics YouTube Channel
//The tutorial shows how to make a simple Android app to control an Arduino wirelessly via WiFi
//This sketch leverages code from the Arduino example programs "AP_SimpleWebServer" and "WiFiWebServer"
//This sketch is free and open to be used and modified

#include <SPI.h> //What is used to communicate witht he WiFi chip
#include <WiFi101.h> //Wifi library fro Arduino MKR1000 and WiFi shield

int lControl =  6; //Digital pin that LED is connected to on the MKR1000
char ssid[] = "YourNetwork";      // your network SSID (name)
char pass[] = "YourPassword";   // your network password
int keyIndex = 0;                 // your network key Index number (needed only for WEP)

int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS; //status of wifi

WiFiServer server(80); //declare server object and spedify port, 80 is port used for internet

void setup() {
  //Uncomment serial for debugging and to see details of WiFi connection
 // Serial.begin(9600);
 // while (!Serial) {
     // wait for serial port to connect. Needed for native USB port only
//  }

  // check for the presence of the shield:
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
  //  Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    // don't continue:
    while (true);
  }

  // attempt to connect to Wifi network:
  while ( status != WL_CONNECTED) {
 //   Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
 //   Serial.println(ssid);
    // Connect to WPA/WPA2 network. Change this line if using open or WEP network:
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
    // wait 10 seconds for connection:
    delay(10000);
  }
  server.begin();
  // you're connected now, so print out the status:
 // printWifiStatus();
}


void loop() {
  WiFiClient client = server.available();   // listen for incoming clients

  if (client) {                             // if you get a client,
   // Serial.println("new client");           // print a message out the serial port
    String currentLine = "";                // make a String to hold incoming data from the client
    while (client.connected()) {            // loop while the client's connected
      if (client.available()) {             // if there's bytes to read from the client,
        char c = client.read();             // read a byte, then
       // Serial.write(c);                    // print it out the serial monitor
        if (c == '\n') {                    // if the byte is a newline character

          // if the current line is blank, you got two newline characters in a row.
          // that's the end of the client HTTP request, so send a response:
          if (currentLine.length() == 0) {
            // HTTP headers always start with a response code (e.g. HTTP/1.1 200 OK)
            // and a content-type so the client knows what's coming, then a blank line:
            client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
            client.println("Content-type:text/html");
            client.println();
            client.print("Value at A0 is ");
            client.print(analogRead(A0));
            client.print("<br>");
            // The HTTP response ends with another blank line:
            client.println();
            // break out of the while loop:
            break;
          }
          else {      // if you got a newline, then clear currentLine:
            currentLine = "";
          }
        }
        else if (c != '\r') {    // if you got anything else but a carriage return character,
          currentLine += c;      // add it to the end of the currentLine
        }

        // Check to see if the client request was "GET /H" or "GET /L":
        if (currentLine.endsWith("GET /H")) {
          digitalWrite(lControl, HIGH);               // GET /H turns the LED on
        }
        if (currentLine.endsWith("GET /L")) {
          digitalWrite(lControl, LOW);                // GET /L turns the LED off
        }
      }
    }
    // close the connection:
    client.stop();
   // Serial.println("client disconnected");
  }
}


void printWifiStatus() {
  // print the SSID of the network you're attached to:
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());

  // print your WiFi shield's IP address:
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);

  // print the received signal strength:
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
}

Programming Arduino Zero, MKR1000, or any SAMD21 Arduino via Registers

In this video we look at how to program registers on Arduino's based on the SAMD21 MCU, like the Zero and MKR1000. To do this we will leverage the Atmel ASF data structures. This is a great way to access capabilities in the SAMD21 that are not covered by Arduino libraries. The link to the ASF documentation is http://asf.atmel.com/docs/3.16.0/samd21/html/annotated.html

Arduino code from video:

bool tog = false; //variable to toggle digital output

int cDiv = 1; //varible to hold clock divider

int count = 0; //variable to track when to switch clock freq

void setup() {

  PM->CPUSEL.reg = PM_CPUSEL_CPUDIV(1); //Sets CPU frequency: power management struct, CPUSEL union, register variable

  pinMode(3, OUTPUT); //set D3 to output

}

void loop() {

  if(tog) tog = false; //if tog is true turn it false

  else tog =true;

  digitalWrite(3,tog); //set digital output

  count++;  

  if(count > 6) { //check if it is time to change clock frequency

    if(cDiv == 1) cDiv = 4;

    else cDiv = 1;

    PM->CPUSEL.reg = PM_CPUSEL_CPUDIV(cDiv); //PM_CPUSEL_CPUDIV_DIV4_Val

    count = 0;

  }

}