This is a fantastic update....With access to the PC's com ports ARC can control other serial devices remotely over Bluetooth (or hard wired) like servo control boards (Lynxmotion SSC-32) and dare I say Arduinos.... Brilliant....

This looks great. Thanks once more DJ.

However pardon my ignorance. I know a Com port on a computer is a communication port and a serial port. I know the EZB V4 can now send and receive serial commnads through it's UART ports. How is this Com command different from the UART commands and what can this now command do for me?

@Dave, This is for controlling the Computer's COM port, not the EZ-B COM port. also, slightly different protocol. The UARTs are TTL serial, a standard computer com port is RS232 (although adapters are cheap).

This allows for ARC to control serial devices connected directly to the computer.

Alan

@Dave..... Being able to use the pc com ports allows to send information back and forth to other devices sans ezb4... Meaning you can control other devices without using the ezb4 at all.... However, most likely when I use the com port functions it will be in conjunction with the ezb4... After all nothing compares to the ezb4's advanced features....

Much faster and user friendly compared to pyserial. Amazing work DJ .

OK, I think I see now. However to control these other devices and the computer it's self I expect you need to send the commands ARC. Would the script command look much like the SendSerial or Uart command? I guess I could download this new release and find out for my self (but where would be the fun in that for you guys? )

EDIT: Never mind answering this. I just downloaded it and it's all there in the Script editor.

Hats off DJ, just brilliant, Com ports, yay! I have use for this !

Could one use these adapters to make a wireless RS-232 connection to a serial device?

http://www.usconverters.com/wireless-serial-adapters Adapters

I dont know a lot about this yet but it looks like there are also converters that will allow you to go through your computers USB port:

USB Adaptors

Yeah I saw those. A lot of cool options with this version update!

Can you use Bluetooth... you PC probably has it built in? The other device will obviously have to have it too....

Yeah the device does not. I operated it in the past with a USB to serial cable .

The install screen is all fancy! <Iggy Azalea> "It's sooo fancy, you already know, you're in the fast lane, from the splash screen to the final installation-e-o"

Can anyone give an exemple on how can we control other devices (let's say, a Bluetooth speaker, or so...) using This feature? I'm lost here... ??

@tevans Bluetooth speakers are driven by windows... when active they just bypass your laptop or pc speakers so the sound/music comes out the Bluetooth speakers instead...

The new com port commands have nothing to do with that. What they do is allow you to control/read serial devices attached to your PC via one of your pc's com port...like a gps, sending and receiving data from an arduino, controlling a servo board like the lynmotion ssc-32.... Practically any device that uses a serial port attached to your pc... Remember it has to be a serial device. Bluetooth speakers do not use a serial interface....

I mentioned Bluetooth because some serial devices like the Lynxmotion SSC-32 servo board can be connected to your PC via Bluetooth (Bluetooth X-bee module). Using the new com serial commands you can control the servos attached to this board over Bluetooth via ARC. ARC would be controlling the servos directly without the ezb....

Ah! I get it. That's cool.. But of course, would make no sense using the ARC withouth the ez-b... Why complicate, if things are going simple.. LOL?

Tevans, there are thousands of features in ARC that you would not consider simple. However, many of our more advanced users such as NASA would find then simple, such as this feature. Use the features you find easy

Point is, Ez robot makes it easy. You may have no use for the com port commands being discussed here. But for those who do, we made it easy. Get it?

If I hadn't given all of my home automation gear (virtually all of it serial port driven) to Josh Starnes, i would have immediate use for com port support.

In my opinion, the more ways we have to share data between ARC and 3rd party devices, the more flexibility we have in designing advanced robots.

Serial integration could have been done through the SDK, but having it built into ARC's script engine makes things so EZ.

Alan

Yeah DJ! Got it! Mabe my learning curve should be forced a little bit more in that matter! LOL! I'll try something... Greetings!

Tevans, lots of time to learn don't be too hard on yourself for not getting features like this. I dig your enthusiasm to pick it all up! Gives me a smile when Im able to help people

Thanks DJ,

With controllable COM Port, this is going to be a great features. You've open up another great possibilities in EZ-B's world.