Week 13
Networking and Communications
Assignment
Design and build a wired and/or wireless network connecting at least two processors.
For this week assignment I decided to connect four RGB boards and try to have my computer talk to all of them through wire. I did the array board in the output week but I think for my final project I will be using the RGB boards. At first my instructor and I thought I could just make four of Neil´s boards but then we realized that I needed to change it a bit. I would eventually want to be able to connect an input board so here is the board I designed.
I also needed to make a small board in order to connect the RGB to power that I get from connecting it to the computer. I can´t use battery since my RGB board does not have a regulator.
Then I connect the RGB board to the FabISP board that is also connected to the computer and then I can program the board. First I programmed the board in order to see if the board was working. The colors are a bit off but I will continue to use it for this week. Then I tried programming in Arduino. Here are some notes that I found helpful to have in front of me.
I found this website with Arduino code for RGB. I copied it and used it to write my own program. I started by doing a simple test to see what color was on each pin on my board. I found out and put it in my code.
I want to use serial communication in order to talk to all the boards. First I want to send the ID and then the color code - 1 character each.
I was able to have the board read a letter from me and send it back so there is communication. Now I need to program the other boards and see if I can connect them all in a line and have the computer talk to all of them.
