Programming the Intel Edison: Getting Started with Processing and Python

305 Pages·2015·17.05 MB·English

by  Donald Norris

About the Author
Donald Norris has a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA specializing
in production management. He is currently teaching undergrad and grad courses
in the IT subject area at Southern New Hampshire University. He has also
created and taught several robotics courses there. He has over 30 years of
teaching experience as an adjunct professor at a variety of colleges and
universities.
Mr. Norris retired from civilian government service with the U.S. Navy,
where he specialized in acoustics related to nuclear submarines and associated
advanced digital signal processing. Since then, he has spent more than 20 years
as a professional software developer using C, C#, C + +, Python, Node.js, and
Java, as well as 5 years as a certified IT security consultant.
Mr. Norris started a consultancy, Norris Embedded Software Solutions (dba
NESS LLC), which specializes in developing application solutions using
microprocessors and microcontrollers. He likes to think of himself as a perpetual
hobbyist and geek and is always trying out new approaches and out-of-the-box
experiments. He is a licensed private pilot, photography buff, amateur radio
operator, avid runner, and, last but very important, a grandfather to a brand new
baby girl—here’s to you, Evangeline.

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Evangeline.
CONTENTS AT A GLANCE
1 Introduction
2 Getting Started with the Intel Edison Arduino Board
3 Working with Processing and the Intel Arduino IDE
4 Edison-Controlled Robotic Car
5 Connecting to Edison Linux with the Command-Line Prompt
6 Debian Linux and Python Basics
7 Python Classes, Methods, and the libmraa Library
8 Hardware Interfaces
9 Web Server and Database
10 Wearables
Index
CONTENTS
Preface
1 Introduction
The Edison Computing Module
Intel Arduino Development Board
Intel Edison Breakout Board
Sparkfun Block for Intel Edison–Console
Summary
2 Getting Started with the Intel Edison Arduino Board
Intel Edison Arduino IDE
Powering the Arduino Development Board
USB Communications
Blink Sketch
Modifying the Blink Sketch
Summary
3 Working with Processing and the Intel Arduino IDE
The Processing Language and the Intel Edison Arduino IDE
Processing Language Basics
Input and Output Statements
Data Variables
Average Voltage Measurement Sketch
Switch Demo Sketch
Mini-Servo Sketch Example
Ping Sensor Sketch
Summary
4 Edison-Controlled Robotic Car
BOE-BOT Car
How an Analog Servo Works
Continuous Rotation (CR) Servos
Servo1 Sketch
Autonomous Operation
Operating the Robot Car
Summary
5 Connecting to Edison Linux with the Command-Line Prompt
Intel Edison Breakout Board
Setting Up Your First USB Communications Session
FTDI Drivers
Windows Drivers
Connecting to the Client Computer
Updating/Upgrading the Edison Firmware
configure_edison Application
Date and Time
Web Server
Python
C/C++
Node.js
Summary
6 Debian Linux and Python Basics
How to Install the Debian Linux Distribution
Step-by-Step Edison Debian Load Procedure
WiFi Setup
SSH
Basic Python
Python Help
Data Types, Variables, and Constants
User-Defined Functions
Interpolated Sensor Measurements
Summary
7 Python Classes, Methods, and the libmraa Library
Basic OO Concepts
The Class
Installing the libmraa Library
mraa Version Check
Blink Program
Servo Control Program
CR Servo Control Program
Analog Motor Control Program
EMC Class Implementations
Summary
8 Hardware Interfaces
Serial Protocols
UART Serial Protocol
I2C Serial Protocol
SPI Serial Protocol
I2S Serial Protocol
Parallel Protocols
GPIO
SD Card Interface
Clock Outputs
Summary
9 Web Server and Database
LAMP
Apache Web Server and the PHP Scripting Language
MySQL Database Installation