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  • Author Author: Catwell
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Android-ADK, Arduino, and robotics at Google IO

Catwell

(2011)

 

The frontiers for Arduino developers have been widened since Google announced the release of their Android Open Accessory Development Kit. This new USB micro-controller is based on the Arduino Mega2560 and Circuits@Home USB Host Shield designs. This micro-controller board can be controlled as an Android USB accessory by supporting devices. (The Android 3.1 platform (also back ported to Android 2.3.4))
 

image
(screen capture, via Google IO session videos)
 
“Shields” access the ADK boards’ input and output with customizable firmware to define their functionality. The shields can be bought or created and programmed for customizable applications.
 
A gargantuan application of this new ADK board was demonstrated at the Google head quarters where a colossal labyrinth and ball game was played by tilting a Xoom tablet.
 
This video is unavailable.

(via mrmeng at YouTube)
 
The Android Open Accessory Development Kit includes a USB micro-controller board that will be implemented as an Android USB accessory, an Android Demo ADK Shield that includes a joystick, LED outputs and temperature and light sensors, all of which can be customized.
 
In the form of software, it includes, a library based on the Arduino USB Host Shield library to allow transactions between the board and USB devices. An Android accessory protocol library which shows how to enumerate the bus, how to find an Android device that supports accessory mode and begin communication with this device and an Arduino Sketch C++ program that defines firmware for the ADK board. Many other third party libraries are also supported which is to be expected out of a project that mixes the great open source Arduino with the technology of Google’s Android.
 
Read more about this development at the Google IO Developer's Conference pages. There you can find countless articles, video, and examples.  However, do not think this accessory will be as cheap as it looks. The Arduino dev boards are clocking in at $400 USD each. With time, I am sure the prices will come down. Accessability for all is the ultimate goal of the endeavor, despite the price being a major hurdle.
 
Cabe
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  • Hi Cabe,

    Neat post.  I could see potential in using the ADK for controlling robot swarms or search and rescue robots.  It will be interesting to see what people can do with this technology.  If I can find some time, I might look into it.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

    Like having a standard, following one systems environment can help spur innovation and development. Similar to how Arduino's limited platform can do so much with the help of its community pushing its capabilities.

     

    It is almost like people want to test the limits of all rules. Hopefully Android/Google IO will result in the same mass appear of Arduino.

     

    Cabe

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  • in reply to DAB

    Like having a standard, following one systems environment can help spur innovation and development. Similar to how Arduino's limited platform can do so much with the help of its community pushing its capabilities.

     

    It is almost like people want to test the limits of all rules. Hopefully Android/Google IO will result in the same mass appear of Arduino.

     

    Cabe

Children
  • in reply to Catwell

    Hi Cabe,

     

    By making the ADK public domain, they have sowed the seeds for others to pick up thier start and go forward.  This exactly how the PC and the Adruino made it easy for others to explore new domains for their devices.

    From my observations, the only thing that a closed system provides you with is a vehicle to unemployment.  I have seen it happen time after time.  It will continue that way.  People want the freedom to play with the hardware and the software.  Plus there is nothing a manufacturer can create that dedicated people cannot reverse engineer.

     

    Just my Opinion.

    DAB