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Android partners with Arduino for open Accessory standard

Posted by Jason Short on May 10, 2011 at 10:20am

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While iPhone remains closed to HW developers who aren't iHome or Belkin, Google is courting DIY innovation with Arduino and open hardware connectivity standards.

 

I'm sure there aren't lousy encryption chips or other obstacles in the way of hackers who want to hook up custom hardware to their Android device. I just wish Apple would get with it and give open access to their USB ports! 

 

Bravo Google!

 

 

 

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Comments

  • Scott Plunkett May 11, 2011 at 8:36pm
    @Dano - keep working on that Android GCS!! Looking forward to it!!
  • Scott Plunkett May 11, 2011 at 8:34pm
    This one is actually VERY different from the IOIO board from Sparkfun, and comes with this "shield." The shield includes a joystick, LED outputs, and temperature and light sensors - worth $400??? Obviously not. Interestingly, as this IS Open Hardware, the gerber files are available for download so I fully expect Sparkfun and company to have copies of the ADK USB Host Board at WAY less than that, and likely not bundled with a shield you may or may not even want. Check out this link for the full lowdown -> http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/usb/adk.html
  • Dano May 11, 2011 at 9:19am
    Well dang.... this comes out as were just finishing up the Android based GCS....
  • Inopia May 10, 2011 at 10:51pm
    You can buy a max3421e shield directly from Oleg through his site circuitsathome.com, and get an Arduino from your regular vendor. This will run the ADK firmware just fine, although you might need to fiddle a bit with the pin assignment (I got it running yesterday). No need to spend 290 Euro for the japanese board. Also Microchip: http://www.microchip.com/get/6CTU.

    Note that I already had this working a couple of months ago using exactly the same hardware: code.google.com/p/microbridge. The difference is that ADK added their own USB protocol, which means it will only work on 3.1/2.3.4 devices and upward, whereas my work, IOIO, and PropBridge will work on any device currently on the market.

    So while it's good that Google is standardizing this, if you want to play with this now rather than tomorrow I'd still recommend getting an IOIO from Sparkfun.
  • Bill Griggs May 10, 2011 at 10:08pm
    This could be the game changer. Now folks will be flying Quads with something other than an iPhone.
  • hamish May 10, 2011 at 3:51pm

    brilliant !!  haha !  And there I was fiddling with the serial ports and things like microbridge!

     

    It's such a pain to use the 3rd party serial API's or microbridge, so I guess $50 isn't toooooo bad

  • Troy May 10, 2011 at 1:37pm
    Google and Android embrace open source when it serves them and turns a blind eye other times.

    I grabbed a Entourage Pocket Edge on Woot last week hoping to use it as a ground station. It runs Android and has an e-ink screen that would be good for using in direct sun light. I don't have it yet but doing some more digging it looks like Entourage keeps it locked down and only begrudgingly releases parts of there code. I should have done more home work before clicking buy. Glad I only spent Woot prices.

    I would really like to have e-ink in the field but afraid I will be stuck with my net-book for a while longer.

    http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/08/14/exclusive-entourage-release...

    http://www.entourageedge.com/
  • Moderator
    Roberto Navoni May 10, 2011 at 12:14pm

    Yes could be possible ... :) I don't like the google approach to Arduino .. i don't see on the board the arduino name ... could be write in small letters :) ,and in the instrution they write for choose APK in the ide select arduino 2560 ?!?  In the past i spoke with google about my project in zurich they told me that they don't are interested to my technology after one year they going with their google cars all around the world :) Mhhh keep atention Massimo ...

    Best Roberto

  • mquintilian May 10, 2011 at 11:53am

    @Robero Navoni 

    I'm hoping that they will just use the android for sensor data and possibly heavy processing libraries

  • Moderator
    Roberto Navoni May 10, 2011 at 11:36am

    I think that this kind of approach produce only a lot of confusion !

    Develop firmware on android is not so simple as develop firmware using Arduino ide.

    For doing any kind of application using android , or windows ce or iphone dev kit you need only a simple serial port o bluetooth dongle with  spp support .And use a simple protocol old as the world ... stx,  type of message, lenght , payload,crc , etx. 

    Stop no other strange thinks ..

    Best

    Roberto

    I hate when start to introdue a lot of abstraction layer between the hardware and simple application as power on or off a led :(

     

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