Getting Started with the Grove System from SEEED Studio! - Workbench Wednesdays 62

Here are the files you requested Duong .

Here is the python code I showed on the Pi.

pi_gove_excamples_from_wbw.zip

If you use all Grove parts, it works nicely together. I was designing PCBs that had a variety of sensors and peripherals and I wanted to stock standard headers to fit them all. Grove used an "oddball" connector that I didn't have in stock so it was tough to find reasons to use their sensors. At the time Grove didn't have as complete a set of sensors.

Oh, okay.  I was just wondering.  I guess I got used to using JST connectors because Adafruit and Sparkfun use them and I have a lot of their boards.  And now there are a lot of Grove adapter boards and shields.

The only real problem I've had with them is that there are two "standards" for the two pin JST connectors used for LiPo batteries.  Adafruit uses one +/- orientation in the housing and some RC toys reverse that connection.  Can make for some magic smoke if you buy the wrong battery type.

I do have a box of adapter cables for the JST-PH (Grove, Stemma) and JST-SH (Stemma-QT,QWIIC) 4 pin connectors and also have the discrete sockets for breadboarding.  I'll admit that I've never tried to crimp pins to build my own cables.

Personally I like MTA connectors, but I can also get other 1" headers anywhere. When I first tried to get Grove connectors, I couldn't find a dimensions drawing or a source for PCB mount connectors. Now at least I know where to get them and documentation is available. But by the time I got it all figured out I had accumulated a stock of sensor modules that used .1" headers. 

Which connector would you have preferred?

I really wish they had used a more standard connector. It has slowed my use of Grove modules. Maybe an adapter interconnect is an acceptable kludge.

I think I need to amend my comment above (can't edit it).  I just tried the SenseCraft firmware and the basic sensors seem pretty well integrated (the internal ambient light, microphone, 3 axis IMU plus the Grove soil moisture, temp/humidity, voc sensors included in the kit).  It auto identifies the Grove sensors sort of plug and play (I assume that it does that via I2C, but not sure how it recognizes the soil moisture sensor).  The more complex sensors, however, have some issues.  The LoRa is probably configured for their SenseCap network, so I'll need to figure out what I need to modify to have it work with my Things Network gateway.  And I need to figure out how to visualize the camera.  The Vision AI example doesn't work.  It can identify whether the camera is attached, but it always detects 1 person regardless of what I do.

Probably is worth a blog post when I get the time.  The good news is that the code is all up on github, so I should be able to see what it's doing and hopefully modify it.

Good episode.

Yes, I hate it when a simple demo does not work.

To me it shows a lack of interest in having the community buy and use the devices.

For playing with individual Grove modules, I like the M5StickC Plus which has a single Grove port, a small display, and battery.  It's ESP32 based, so you also get WiFi and Bluetooth.  What's nice is that you can buy adapter cables to interface the Grove port to Adafruit Stemma/Stemma-QT and Sparkfun QWIIC sensors.