Android + Arduino + USB Host + Simple Digital Output
Simplest possible digital output with Android and Arduino. This article will discuss the bare minimal requirements for development of an Android USB digital output device. The goal is to demonstrate the easiest possible use of the technology. For additional background information on Android development, Arduino, and MicroBridge, check out these links:
First, make sure you have setup the development environments for Arduino and Android:
- Android Device (1.6+)
- 3x LED Lights
- 3x 330 ohms resistors
- Power supply
- Hook-up wire
- Android ADK Board*
- – OR –
- Arduino compatible and USB Host shield
*Supported boards include:
Connect the 330 ohm resistors in series with the anodes of the LEDs to the desired digital output pins, and the cathodes of the LEDs to ground. The example uses digital pins 2, 3, and 4, but can be used with any IO pin that doesn’t interfere with the SPI communication with the USB Host Board. For most boards, these are pins 10 – 14. The resistors, in this case, are being used to prevent current overdraw to the LEDs. Here is a diagram of the completed circuit (created with Fritzing):
Next, upload the Arduino sketch to the microcontroller. The sketch uses the Microbridgeimplementation by Niels Brouwers. Microbridge uses Android Debug Bridge (ABD) forwarding over TCP, rather than the official Google Android ADK. You can checkout the source for the Arduino sketch from Github, or just copy and paste the following into the Arduino IDE.
git clone git://github.com/mitchtech/android_adb_simple_digital_output.git
Finally upload the app to the device (or browse to this page on the device and download the apk above). Connect the Android device to the USB Host board/shield, and start up the app.