RPiBlog

Use Raspberry Pi with Java to create innovative devices that power the internet of things!

Raspberry Pi with Java: Programming the Internet of Things (IoT) fills an important gap in knowledge between seasoned Java developers and embedded-hardware gurus, taking a project-based approach to skills development from which both hobbyists and professionals can learn. By starting with simple projects based on open-source libraries such as Pi4J, hobbyists can get immediate results without a significant investment in time or hardware.

Later projects target simplified industrial use cases where professionals can start to apply their skills to practical problems in the fields of home automation, healthcare, and robotics. This progression prepares you to be an active participant in the IoT revolution that is reshaping our lives.

For the hobbyist:

● Hardware used in projects is affordable and easily accessible
● Follows a project-based learning approach with a gradual learning curve
● Projects are based on open-source code repositories with commercial friendly licenses

For the professional computer engineer:

● Uses an industry-standard platform that allows for high performance, secure, production-ready applications
● Introduces Java SE Embedded for large devices and Java ME Embedded for small devices
● Code is portable to a wide variety of ARM and MIPS based platforms
● Provides practical skill development with advanced projects in the fields of home automation, healthcare, and robotics

RabbitMax Flex is an open source add-on board, compatible with HAT specifications for Raspberry Pi 2 /3 boards and is designed specifically for rapid prototyping of Internet of Things (IoT) and home automation applications .

It includes headers for up to 5 I2C sensors, as well as an RGB LED, a buzzer, a relay, a button, infrared receiver and transmitter, and an optional slot for modular 16x2 LCD character display.

Getting started with RabbitMax Flex is super easy. No soldering is required. You can assemble the kit with your bare hands and start using it immediately on Raspbian, the most popular GNU/Linux distribution for Raspberry Pi. A comprehensive user's manual is also provided for learning about hardware programming using either C or Python. The developer has also released software and hardware documentation for the board, including KiCAD schematics & PCB layout, code samples, and more on Github.

RabbitMax Flex specifications:

● Relay – Songle SRD-05VDC-SL-C supporting 125V/250VAC up to 10A, 30VDC up to 10A
● Storage – EEPROM with some system information for identification
● IR – IR LED, IR receiver
● Misc – Buzzer, Button, RGB LED
● Expansion
        • Header for LCD character display + potentiometer for backlight adjustment
        • 5x 4-pin headers for I2C sensors
● Dimensions – Raspberry Pi HAT compliant

Watch the video below to learn more about this new open source hardware and software bundle. For more information on the new RabbitMax Flex jump over to the Indiegogo website.



Source: Indiegogo

Born out of MATRIX Labs MATRIX Creator is an round-shaped add-on board for Raspberry Pi with a huge number of sensors and features. It is an Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA-driven dev board designed for Raspberry Pi with a Atmel ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller, IMU, microphone array, IR, plus Z-Wave and ZigBee communications, and more to allow novice and expert software developers alike to build hardware applications easily.

The Raspberry Pi IoT daughter board, MATRIX Creator, enters the maker world with many "firsts" on the Raspberry Pi:

● The first Raspberry Pi add-on with support for NFC, as well as 802.15.4-compliant short-range wireless radios like Z-Wave, ZigBee, and Thread.
● It’s also the first RPi add-on with 8 MEMs microphone array.
● The board is further touted for being the first RPi add-on with a IR remote receiver/transmitter, and the first with both an ARM MCU and a Xilinx FPGA.

Software



To simplify hardware application development, the MATRIX creator includes MATRIX OS, which allows developers to build hardware applications in just a few lines of code using JavaScript, Python and C++. Users simply select a pre-existing app from the company’s app store, or use it as a foundation for creating their software; alternative, those who prefer coding their hardware from scratch may also do so. Furthermore, developers are able to leverage flexible MATRIX machine intelligence and computer vision libraries including face detection, face recognition, and gesture recognition, with more detection algorithms soon to come.

MATRIX Creator Technical Specifications

● Processor — Xilinx Spartan 6 FPGA; Atmel ATSAM3S2C Cortex-M3 MCU
● Wireless:
      ◦ ZigBee
      ◦ Thread
      ◦ Z-Wave
      ◦ NFC reader
● Sensors:
      ◦ Ultraviolet
      ◦ Pressure
      ◦ Humidity
      ◦ Temperature
      ◦ 3D accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer
● Other features:
      ◦ 8x MEMs microphone array
      ◦ RGBW LED light array
      ◦ IR RX/TX for remote controller compatibility
      ◦ Infrared ring for the Raspberry Pi NoIR camera
 ● Other I/O:
      ◦ 2x ADC channels
      ◦ 17x digital GPIOs
      ◦ SPI, I2C, UART

Buying

The Matrix Creator is available for sale at indiegogo with special computer vision kits available from $99 ($112 including shipping). More information may be found at the Matrix Creator product page and indiegogo page.

US-based Dexter Industries has come up with a new product called GrovePi-Zero and has already achieved its modest $3,000 Kickstarter goal. It is an add-on board specifically designed for the minuscule Raspberry Pi Zero.

GrovePi-Zero lets you use various sensors in the Grove family to enhance your projects: everything from a distance sensor, light sensor, temperature and humidity sensor, buttons, and displays. There are literally hundreds of Grove Sensors and I/O modules available for your project!

The GrovePi-Zero comes equipped with three analog ports, two digital ports, a serial port, and a 40-pin stackable header. A pair of LEDs is also available.

The GrovePi Zero comes with many options for programming. You can program for it in Python, C, Java, and Scratch. Apart from that you can also leverage their open source programming examples and libraries which makes it easier to connect Grove sensors and interact with the physical world.

To learn more about the new GrovePi-Zero do visit their Kickstarter page and make a pledge if you are interested.

MyPi is a feature rich embedded motherboard for use with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, and is specifically designed for use in Industrial IoT applications.

By using the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, the platform is fully compatible with existing Raspberry Pi ecosystem. This in turn will allow you to leverage the seemingly endless libraries of code, application notes and peripherals that are already available.

Product Features:
· Integrated 10/100 Ethernet Adapter

Raspberry Pi Zero's most important selling point is that it’s cheap, except it isn’t. Pi Zero has no way to access the internet without additional accessories as it does not have any networking capabilities built in.

You can use your WiFi dongle, but you will have to use an 'OTG' cable as Pi Zero does not have standard USB type A port. Also if you plan on using Bluetooth or other input devices like Keyboard and Mouse you will need a powered USB hub. This amount of hassle is discouraging to many users who are looking for speedier results.

RedBear has designed the perfect solution to this inconvenience. Pi Zero IoT HAT is an add-on board that provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for the Raspberry Pi. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11n (2.4GHz) + Bluetooth 4.1 (Dual Mode – Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy).

Why use Pi Zero IoT HAT when you can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles?

IoT HAT is more affordable

 You get both functions for the price of one dongle. And if you are using Pi Zero, you may also need to purchase:

1. USB OTG cable ($3-$5) - connect a normal USB device to the Pi Zero's micro USB port.
2. USB hub with power adapter ($15-$30) - if you need to connect more than one USB device 

The setup is more orderly

Because you do not need the USB OTG Cable and the USB Hub etc, the setup is faster and looks less cluttered. If you are running an IoT project, you could also remove the keyboard and mouse.

           This HAT will enable any Raspberry Pi with 40 pins including A+, B+ or Pi 2 IoT ready when connected to a RedBear’s IoT HAT. The wireless radio of IoT HAT is as good as that of the Pi 3 and all WiFi/Bluetooth software for Pi 3 are compatible. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth operate on the same 2.4GHz frequency, they share the on-board antenna or an external antenna when running.

Watch the video below to see how IoT HAT + Pi Zero can be used to control eight BLE peripherals.




Head over to Kickstarter to read more or to back the campaign. 

 myDevices, the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions company that “simplifies the connected world,” today announced a Raspberry Pi Call for Projects – in honor of Pi Day – in which makers will  build and submit creative IoT projects using myDevices’ Cayenne and Raspberry Pi.

Raspberry Pi Day Call for Projects

myDevices is sponsoring a Pi Day competition, in which the maker of the winning project will be provided an all-expenses paid trip* to demonstrate their project in myDevices’ booth at Maker Faire in San Mateo on May 21-22.  To enter, interested developers should:

1. Sign up for Cayenne at: www.cayenne-mydevices.com
2. Build a Raspberry Pi project using Cayenne to connect to the Internet and any variety of sensors, actuators, and extensions
3. Incorporate Cayenne features such as  customizable dashboard, scheduling, triggers and alerts
4. Provide a 150-word description of how the project was made from start to finish
5. Provide a video or pictures of the completed project in use
6. Submit project with Cayenne username to project@mydevices.com by April 28, 2016.

Winners will be announced on May 2, 2016. Three runner-up presentations will also be selected to receive a Raspberry Pi 3 and a year’s supply of cayenne pepper. *For rules and regulations, go to Cayenne Call for Projects folder located at community.mydevices.com

How People Pi

myDevices also released survey data about how developers and makers have been using its Cayenne solution with Raspberry Pis since its debut at IoT Evolution Expo on January 26, 2016.

“This survey was a fantastic way to gain insight into how makers and developers are putting our powerful and versatile Cayenne project builder to work,” said Ryan Smith, Director of Product. “Our agile, device-agnostic IoT platform has almost infinite applications. Coupling its ease of use with the innovation of the maker community will continue to generate exciting projects and our Pi Day competition for Maker Faire will allow us to reward this creativity first hand.”

The survey, fielded among 4,000 users of myDevices’ IoT project builder across 152 countries, found that 63 percent of Cayenne users connect their Raspberry Pis to automate a variety of devices in their homes, 34 percent for security projects, and 29 percent for lighting. Other types of projects built by respondents include: flight tracking, robotics, in-car entertainment, agriculture monitoring and consumer electronics prototyping.

“Just like AutoCad is the defacto solution for architects or Photoshop for graphic designers, we are witnessing an evolution in the IoT industry,” said myDevices CEO Kevin Bromber. “From newbies to engineers of sophisticated industrial applications, our end users have commented that Cayenne will soon become the industry standard for IoT project creation.”

Cayenne mobile apps are available for free download at: www.cayenne-mydevices.com

About myDevices

myDevices develops platforms and applications for the Internet of Things that “simplify the connected world.” myDevices provides customized solutions that allow companies who manufacture, sell and support connected devices to efficiently connect products, manage data, and interact with their customers. The company recently introduced Cayenne, the first drag-and-drop IoT Project Builder, for the developer community. myDevices is headquartered in Los Angeles and is a division of Avanquest. For more information please visit www.myDevices.com

What if setting up a Raspberry Pi for IoT projects can be achieved in a matter of minutes. That connecting your Pi to an online or mobile dashboard, with a breadboard ready to connect motion sensors, lights and relays can be completed shortly after that? You'd probably think its impossible.

Sure, you can go the long way and write an app, read tons of documentation, take the time to learn new programming languages, code, code and code some more. But why invest so much time in prepping your project, when you can be up and running in a fraction of a time and building your automation projects in minutes.?

So how is this all possible? myDevices IoT Project Builder called Cayenne. Cayenne was created for developers and makers eager to quickly build and prototype amazing projects with their Raspberry Pis. With your free Cayenne account, you can create an unlimited amount of projects. You also have full-fledged IoT maker capabilities so you can remotely control sensors, motors, actuators, including GPIO boards. Unlimited storage of data collected by your hardware components, triggers and alerts that provide the tools you need for automation and the ability to set up threshold alerts. You can create custom dashboards to showcase your project with drag and drop widgets that are also fully customizable.

Care to see if for yourself? Check out the Cayenne set up video.



Some of the highlighted features:

Flexible Dashboard

Customize your phone or online dashboard with drag and drop widgets.

Trigger Actions

Create triggers and alerts for devices, events, actions and more.


GPIO Control

Remote configure GPIO from a mobile app or dashboard.

Instant Remote Access

Automatically remote control and access your Pi from your phone or computer.


Easy Setup

Quickly connect your Pi to the Internet and hook up sensors, actuators, and extensions in minutes


If you looking to kick start your home automation project with Raspberry Pi Cayenne is a good place to start. You can join their beta program by clicking here.

They also have an active community where all Cayenne users can discuss their experiences, ask questions, report bugs, and request feature enhancements.