Embedded Computing
  • About
  • Blog
  • Hardware
    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
      • Adafruit Platform
      • Arduino Plaform
      • BBC micro:bit
      • Espressif Platform
      • iLabs Platform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (MCU)
      • Seeeduino Platform
      • Teensy Plaform
    • Computer Platforms >
      • BeagleBone Platform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (SBC)
      • UDOO Platform
    • Peripherals >
      • Shields
      • Grove System
      • Sensors
      • Actuators
    • Displays >
      • E-Paper Displays
      • Reflective Displays
      • TFT Displays
      • LCD Displays
    • Legacy Platforms >
      • chipKIT Plaform
      • 4D Systems Platform
      • Intel Platform
      • LaunchPad Plaform
      • BoosterPacks for LaunchPads
      • LightBlue Bean
      • Maple Plaform
      • Mediatek Platform
      • Microsoft Azure IoT DevKit
      • Particle Platform
  • Software
    • Exploring RTOS with Galaxia >
      • Event Library
      • Semaphore Library
      • Mailbox Library
      • Timer Library
      • Clock Library
      • SWI Library
      • Task Library
    • Ultra-Low Power with EnergyTrace >
      • Ultra-Low Power with MSP430
      • Ultra-Low Power with Energia MT and Galaxia
    • Using Integers Instead of Reals
    • Going Python?
  • IoT
    • IoT Platforms: Which Hardware?
    • IoT Services: Which Solution? >
      • Recommended IoT Solutions
      • Platform-Specific IoT Solutions
      • Other IoT Solutions
      • Not tested IoT Solutions
      • Notification Solutions
    • Get Date and Time from Internet with NTP
    • Fast and Easy WiFi Connection with QR-Code
  • Tools
    • How to Start?
    • Reference >
      • Asking for Help
      • Boards Pins Maps
      • Ruler
      • Boards and Plugs
      • I²C Logic Level Converter
      • Standards for Connectors
    • Training >
      • Texas Instruments Workshops
      • Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Microcontroller Input/Output — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.10x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Multi-Threaded Interfacing — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.20x
      • Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x
      • Systems Thinking with Texas Instruments Robotics System Learning Kit
    • Books >
      • Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad
      • Getting Started with Arduino
      • Arduino Cookbook
    • IDE >
      • The Battle of IDEs
      • More Options
      • Assessing the Next Generation of IDEs
      • Tools for Documentation
    • Equipment >
      • Saleae Logic Analyser
      • Rigol DS1102E Oscilloscope
      • XDS110 Debug Probe with EnergyTrace​
      • Segger J-Link Programmer-Debugger
      • Nordic Power Profiler Kit II
  • Projects
    • Libraries >
      • Master I²C Software Library
      • Date and Time Library
      • highView Library Suite
      • Others Libraries
    • smartDevices >
      • I²C smartColours Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartRFID Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartLED Display
      • I²C smartControls Smart Device
      • I²C smartWiFi Smart Device
      • I²C smartBLE Smart Device
      • I²C smartNode Smart Device
    • IoT Projects >
      • Typie-Walkie with LoRa and E-Paper Screen
      • Typie-Walkie with E-Paper Screen
      • Remote e-Paper Pictures Panel
      • Remote e-Paper Messages Panel
      • Industrial IoT Project
      • Remote Contactless Temperature Monitor
      • Using Node-RED for IIoT
      • Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Updated Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Weather and Security Station with Blynk
      • SensorTag to Blynk Using Node-RED
      • Pervasive Reporting
    • AI Projects >
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
    • Other Projects >
      • Driving a Large E-Paper Display with a Compact Xiao RP2040
      • Low-Power E-Paper Weather Station
      • Portable Particulate​ Matter Monitor
      • FRAM-based E-Paper Screen Controller
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
      • A Low Power Weather Station
      • Digital Volt-Amp-Watt Meter
      • Mobile Measurement with LCD Display
      • Screen with SRAM for GUI
      • Volt-Amp-Watt-Meter for Grove
      • Multi-Touch Project with CapTIvate

BLuno — BLE with Arduino Uno

The BLuno board sports the same form-factor as the original Arduino Uno, except it includes a Bluetooth Low Energy module, the CC2540 SoC from Texas Instruments.

Picture
As fully compatible with the Arduino Uno board, the board uses the original Arduino IDE, on Windows, Mac OS X or Linux. Sketches can be uploaded by USB cable. However, I didn't manage to upload them wirelessly through Bluetooth.

All the Bluetooth connection is managed by the dedicated PlainProtocol library. Just download and install it as a standard Arduino library. DFRobot provides reference for simple and advanced usage.

Thanks to its compatibility with the Arduino IDE, BLuno is fully supported by embedXcode, the template for embedded computing on Xcode.

To manage the Bluetooth connection, DFRobot provides a dedicated library, PlainProtocol as well as two well-written tutorials, one for simple use and the other for advanced use. 
Picture

Accessory Shield

RFRobot has designed the Accessory Shield for the BLuno with a wide range of sensors and actuators, including:
  • a 128x64 OLED screen,
  • a buzzer,
  • a temperature and humidity sensor,
  • a 1.5A relay,
  • a potentiometer,            
  • a RGB LED,                          
  • and a joystick.

Picture
A remote application for smartphones is available to drive all the sensors and actuators through BLE, one for Android and the other for iOS. Unfortunately, the application isn't fully translated into English but the code source is available.

The application allows to send a text to the display, control the red-green-blue LED, play the buzzer, switch the relay on and off, read the joystick commands, display the potentiometer value, acquire the temperature and relative humidity. 


Picture
Check that your phone supports Bluetooth 4.0 or BLE, for both hardware and software. BLE requires Android 4.3 or iOS 7:
  • Android application for Bluno (APK) (Android 4.3 or later)
  • BLuno iOS on App Store (iOS 7.0 or later)
Only the latest iPhones supports BLE, nominally the 4S, 5C and 5S. 

Source code is available:
  • BLuno Android source code
  • BLuno iOS App source code (iOS 7.0 or later)
  • BLuno iOS basic testing code with library

The temperature and relative humidity sensor in blue 
and the display on the smartphone, through Bluetooth
Picture

An Affordable Introduction to the Web of Things

DFRobot has done a great job on making Bluetooth easy to use. Thank to the standard and well-known ATmega328P, the user has only to focus on the Bluetooth module and protocol.

Now, the real challenge may lay on developing the iOS or Android applications.

Step-by-step tutorials explain how to update the BLE firmware on the BLuno and how to configure the Bluetooth connection for Android-, OS X- and iOS-based devices. I ran though both procedures easily and successfully.

The main board is sold USD35, a highly competitive price when compared with the standard Arduino Uno board sold at USD30. With the shield priced at USD25, the full package goes for USD60. 

The BLuno provides an affordable introduction to the Web of Things, here based on Bluetooth connectivity. 
Picture

Pros

  • Hardware and software fully compatible with Arduino Uno
  • Plug-and-Play application for Android and iPhone devices 
  • embedXcode support

Cons

  • Still 8-bit MCU
  • ATmega328P not low-power

Wrap-Up

  • Perfect introduction to the Web of Things and Bluetooth connectivity
  • Well priced
  • Hardware and software fully compatible with Arduino
  • Check your smartphone supports both hardware and software BLE before!

Links

  • Website
  • Wiki for main board and shield 
  • Hardware
  • Software

Photo
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.