databot™ is based on the Arduino Open Source software and hardware. Let’s get going with some Arduino programming and teach databot™ a few new tricks!
If you are interested in learning how to take control of databot™, update its software, change the native software configuration from Phyphox or Google Science Journal, or any other number of hacks you have in mind, here’s how you get started!
First, you will need to install the Arduino IDE – a free software that databot™ is based on. To talk to databot™, you simply need to download and setup the Arduino software.
Follow these three simple steps to get up and running – install drivers, install and setup your Arduino software, upload a “sketch” – an Arduino program – to databot™ and you are off and running!
As you may have noticed, databot™ is packing around a lot of technology – sensors, lights, power – the works. One specialized piece of technology built into databot’s Power Board is a special chip, the CP2104 from Silicon Labs, that facilitates communications between devices. This “facilitator” requires some software, called a driver, that enables databot™ to talk to a variety of computers running different operating systems. Your next step? Download and run the correct installer for your computer and operating system. Simple and fast, get to it! databot™ is waiting!
databot™ is based on Arduino. The Arduino story is an exciting one, if you’re not familiar with it, you can get a quick run down by going through our online learning module Intro to Arduino. Check it out when you have a minute.
In a nutshell, Arduino is an open source initiative with an enormous global community using it for education, invention, industry, and fun.
To begin your great databot™STEM adventure install the Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment). It is available for Win / Mac / Linux platforms – so databot™ works just about everywhere!
STEP 1: Find the Library Manager!
Once you have installed your Arduino IDE, run the program and you will see five menu groupings as shown to the right: Arduino, File, Edit, Sketch, Tools, and Help!
databot™ has a special library that you need to add to your Arduino IDE so you can have quick access to all the pre-built sketches (Arduino programs are called Sketches) that run databot™.
Begin by going to the Tools menu and select Manage Libraries.
STEP 2: Install the databot™ Library!
After clicking on Manage Libraries, a Library Manager window will open similar to what you see to the right. Enter the search term “databot” and the databot™ library will appear.
Select Install and the Arduino IDE will do the rest – AWESOME SIMPLE, RIGHT?!
IMPORTANT NOTE: The databot™ library is updated occasionally with new example sketches and features. If you are working on lessons and activities and you see a reference to a Sketch that you are not seeing, you may need to update your library. To update your library, simply repeat this process and select “Update.”
If you have successfully installed the IDE and added your databot™ library, you are ready to go. Let’s hook up databot now and try it out!
Now that you are set up with the Arduino IDE software and you’ve installed the databot™ Arduino library, let’s try it out!
Step 1: Connect your databot™ to your computer using the supplied mini USB cable.
IMPORTANT: You must do these updates and program changes using a physical connection with the cable.
Step 2: Run your Arduino IDE and select the correct Arduino Board type.
Go to the Tools menu, select the Board Manager option, and then select the Arduino Uno (earlier versions may display Arduino/Genuino Uno) from the list of boards displayed.
Step 3: Select the correct port for your databot™.
Go to the Tools menu, select the Port option, and then select the active displayed port. On MacOS, it may be labeled “Slab” for the Silicon Labs driver from the list of ports displayed. Here it is displayed at Port: “/dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART”
Your port may be displayed somewhat differently depending on the type of computer you are using. Windows machines will typically just show COM3 or another number. If there is more than one displayed, you may have to try the following steps with each driver to find the correct port.
Once you complete this step your Arduino IDE is successfully connected to databot™!
Note: If you are unable to see a device on a port then your drivers may not have installed correctly. You may need to revisit the driver process or contact us for help.
Step 4: Select a sketch from the databot™ library:
Go to the File menu and navigate to the following sketch and select it:
Examples/databot/IDE/databot_lux
Note: You will see additional folders for sketches within Examples. The IDE folder has all the Sketches designed for use with the IDE. If you are using Google Science Journal, you will select sketches from the Science Journal folder and so on. Additional software support for other apps, Scratch, and other platforms will show up as new folders as support for them is implemented. A simple update of the databot library will immediately reflect all new supported platforms.
Step 5: Transfer the databot_lux sketch to databot™!
When you select the databot_lux file, it will open and display similar to what you see to the right.
Click the arrow pointing to the right at the top of your sketch window. This is the “upload” icon and will transfer this sketch to databot™. Upon upload to databot™ the sketch will be running and reading light data!
Note: When you upload sketches to databot™ you will notice the Transmit (green) and Receive (blue) LEDs flashing. databot™ is listening and learning! Point this out to students when they are uploading sketches to highlight the programming process.
Step 6: Look at the data with the serial plotter!
There are two ways to view the data using the IDE, one is using the visual “Serial Plotter” which will display the data received in a graph.
Go to the Tools menu and select the option for the Serial Plotter. Your data should begin displaying in a line graph as shown to the right. Put your hand in front of databot™ and cover the light sensor. You will see the data change.
Note: The Arduino sketch determines the speed at which the data from databot is transmitted. Make sure the speed settings match. In this case to the right, you will notice the rate is set to 9600 Baud in the lower right hand corner of the plotter. This matches the lux sketch speed setting which will look like this in your sketch:
Serial.begin(9600);
Different tools and sketches may require a different speed setting.
Step 7: Look at the data with the serial monitor!
The second method for viewing data is using the visual “Serial Plotter” which will display the data received as a stream of numbers.
Go to the Tools menu and select the option for the Serial Monitor. Your data should begin displaying as shown to the right. Using the Serial Monitor you can capture numeric data and copy it into a spreadsheet or other program for analysis.
If you own a databot™ that is pre-configured for a particular use such as Phyphox or Google Science Journal, you may want to change the target software from time to time. Once you are setup with the Arduino IDE as described above, you can easily change databot™‘s behavior by uploading a new sketch.
Phyphox Step 1: Set Name
Look for the sketch cube_set_name in the Phyphox directory. Upload it to your databot.
Phyphox Step 2: Upload Master Sketch
Look for Master_Phyphox and upload it. It’s ready to talk Phyphox.
For continued instructions on using Phyphox after uploading, go here.
Google Science Journal: Upload Master Sketch
Look for Master_GSJ and upload it – it’s ready to talk Science Journal!
For continued instructions on using Google Science Journal after uploading, click here!
You have successfully completed your software installation and are now ready to begin explorations with databot™ and the Arduino software! Explore the other example sketches and get comfortable with loading and transferring sketches to your databot™. Once you are comfortable, jump into the activities and start exploring. Have fun!
