Embedded Computing
  • About
  • Blog
  • Hardware
    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
      • Adafruit Platform
      • Arduino Plaform
      • BBC micro:bit
      • Espressif Platform
      • iLabs Platform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (MCU)
      • Seeed Platform
      • Silicon Labs 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? >
      • Matter with Silicon Labs MG24
    • 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 >
      • Remote E-Paper Weather and Message Board
      • 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 >
      • Air Quality Monitoring
      • 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

IoT with LightBlue Bean and Node-RED

The LightBlue Bean is a nice and compact board developed by Punch Through Design. It features a Bluetooth Low Energy radio and now offers an extension for Node-RED to connect it. 

Read my review of the LightBlue Bean. 

Install

The installation process is fully detailed at the Node-RED Setup Guide page.

  • First, install Node.js 0.1.0 for Mac OS X. This is the release required by LightBlue.
Picture
  • Second, download and install Node-RED and the modules for LightBlue.

    

Develop

To launch Node-RED, 
  • Open a Terminal window and launch
$ node-red
  • Open http://localhost:1880 on Safari.

Safari displays the main window.
Picture
Just drag and drop the modules from the left pane to the workspace. Double-click to configure them, and add links between them.

  • The Clock element activates the flow every 10 seconds.
  • The myBean element connects to the LightBlue Bean and reads the temperature.
  • The Temperature Threshold is actually a function. The code compares the temperature with two values and defines an action accordingly.
  • The Email element sends an e-mail with a message.

The last element, msg payload helps and debugs the program.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
When configuring an element, the right pane displays the relevant help.

Other modules allow to save data to the disk, read files, receive mails and tweets, parse text. 

Surprisingly, there are no modules to display the data as graphs.
Picture

Play

To run the program, click on the Deploy red button.

The program connects to the LightBlue Bean and, if the conditions are met, sends an e-mail.
Picture

Conclusion

I really enjoyed the Node-RED GUI and the close integration of modules for the LightBlue Bean. It was fast and easy. I'd like to see more modules, for example to display graphs for the values acquired by the Bean.

Punch Through provides extensive documentation and many examples.  

The router can also run on the Raspberry Pi and the BeagleBone Black.
Picture

Pros

  • Local network with BLE
  • Server can be on Mac OS X or Linux

Cons

  • No more actions?
  • No Windows support, yet?

Wrap-Up

  • Fast and easy
  • Can run on Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone Black

Links

  • Punch Through Design website
  • Node-RED for Bean Setup Guide 
  • Documentation and Examples

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