Android ADK

Neat demo of a chaotic feedback loop between the LED and photoresistor on the Google Android ADK shield from Google IO.

The next installment of Make's foray into development on the and Android ADK. This one focuses on hardware.

If you haven't been following along here's the past links:

Google ADK, Arduino, Mobile, Home Automation, Energy Saving, Robotics. What more could you ask for?

If you're in Chicago on July 21st I suggest you check it out!

IOIO supports Android Open Accessory (ADK)

Check it out. Android ADK boards are now available on the cheap, well, sort of. The IOIO, a cheaper and smaller alternative now supports the Open Accessory standard.

Arduino with iPhone via Ciao

I'm a little focused on Android here but it's nice to see some clever developers have been able to get control of their Arduino's through an iPhone.

The new iOS app called Ciao just hit the app store. It uses Apple’s bonjour network protocol to locate any ciao enabled arduino on the network.

Included are some simple sketches that use the ethernet library to make this happen so you'll need the appropriate Arduino ethernet shields.

When: Sunday, 5-June-2011, 3pm

Where: Noisebridge 2169 Mission St., 3rd floor

What: get our Android phones to play with Arduino (including the Google ADK)

Who: anyone (regardless of skill level) who cares to join in the fun, a google representative will most likely be on hand.

DIY NFC with Arduino and magnet wire

If you haven't been paying attention lately you might want to know that the next big thing in mobile is going to be Near Filed Communication (NFC). Google recently accounced their Wallet initiative and Apple is rumored to be working on something similar.

But what about those of use who don't have any NFC devices? Well if you've got an Android then take a look at Joe Desbonnet's "poor man's NFC" using an Arduino, some magnet wire, and any compass-equipped Android smartphone.

With a little effort, a simple coil of wire connected to the Arduino is able to send data, to another device!

Don't want to wait for a Android ADK hardware kit? Mario Bohmer decided to use an Arduino Uno and a USB Host Shield instead with just few steps.

Here the steps he took to make the setup work with the ADK:

Read and understand the ADK section in the Android Developers Guide.

Follow the installation process.

Don't use Googles USB_HOST_SHIELD library. I used a patched version which I found here. If you are having trouble compiling the demokit.pde it may result from a wrong pin definition in the patched USB_HOST_SHIELD library. Just open the Max3421e.cpp file and change #define INT PB1 to #define INT PORTB1 and #define RST PD7 to #define RST PORTD7. You might also try to use the newly released original version of the USB_HOST_SHIELD library which now supports the ADK, but I don't know if it works.

Strip down the demokit.pde to its bare essentials, meaning only the communication part.

Strip down the example Android app to the communication part and implement your own use cases.

Be sure to check out his blog for all the details.

Here's a great project for anyone new to the Android ADK or robotic hardware in general. The Easy Peripheral Controller is

A library of abstractions for commonly used peripherals (sensors and actuators) and MCU platforms like the ADK, to make it easier to connect from your Android app to the world.

Starting out with the ADK and Demo kit in its stock form, and some example code of how to create your own sketch for an Arduino based ADK board.