Connecting Arduino to ARC
Programming Arduino
On the previous step, you were instructed to download a firmware soucecode zip file for the Arduino that you'd like to use. Extract the contents of your zip file somewhere on your hard drive. I create a Arduino folder in My Documents and keep them in there.
Enter the folder with your Arduino firmware source file. I'll use the Arduino Mega as an example, but the process is the same for the other Arduino versions.
Do you have Arduino IDE programming software installed? If so, double click on the *.INO file and it will load the project into the Arduino IDE software. Otherwise, download Arduino software from HERE.
When the software loads, the main file will be the EZ-B firmware. The only field that really matters for you to notice is the BAUD_RATE. You will need to know the BAUD_RATE when connecting to ARC in the next step of this tutorial.
Connect your Arduino to the PC via the USB cable
Let's configure the Arduino IDE for your Arduino board. In my example, I'm using the MEGA so I selected that. If you're using an UNO or Duemilanove, select that instead.
Specify the COM PORT for your Arduino to be programmed
Press the UPLOAD button, which will compile and program the Arduino to become an EZ-B
There you go, the Arduino has been programmed and is now an EZ-B. The next step will demonstrate how to connect ARC to the EZ-Arduino. Or is it EasyDuino? OR EZDuino?
Remember, you don't have to perform these steps each time. The Arduino will remember the programming when it is turned off and back on again. The program is inside of the Arduino memory until it is reprogrammed. So, feel free to close the Arduino IDE program and move to the next step.
How are builders communicating between ARC and the supported platforms? When using an EZB you have WiFi connectivity from your computer running ARC. I have never touched an Arduino but I do know you can buy shields for them. Would I connect through one of these?
Dave, My thoughts as well, at the moment I have it hardwired through the USB cable connected to the PC, but this is just to try things out. Thinking about a Bluetooth connection via Arduino Bluetooth shields boards to make it remote??
Cem, then maybe you didn’t select the correct baudrate? Follow each step of the tutorial and you should be good
DJ, After loading the Beta version I can connect the ARC to the Arduino Uno+ and all works fine, and have the baudrate at 57600. Have a servo on D3 and working OK.
You might of misunderstood what I was trying to say above, regarding having to have the USB lead hardwired from the Arduino to the PC/Laptop. Where I think Dave was asking can you use it wireless like with the EZ-B V4 or IoTiny using wifi, without the USB lead. That's why I mentioned about may be this can to done via the Arduino Bluetooth shields board??
Yah - that's the good and bad with arduino. You can use it wirelessly if you know how to do it. There's no standard with Arduino so there's nothing i can directly support. You'll have to modify the code to use a different UART interface for wireless shields. Take a look at the most recent firmware sourcecode that i updated today (Feb 4, 2019). I put comments in the code header so you can see what i mean. Just change the COMMUNICATION_PORT from Serial to Serial1 or Serial2, where ever the shield is connected
Why wouldn't connecting a Bluetooth to I/O pins 0 and 1 that are replicas of the USB serial pins and then pairing the Bluetooth with your PC Bluetooth to get the virtual serial port work without modifications to the firmware?
FYI It works fine over bluetooth... You have to modify the arduino source code to use 9600 baud not 57600
That's not bad RichardR, Cool! I'm surprised the Bluetooth virtual serial port won't run higher on the PC, bummer.