Information about firmata

  • Firmata is a generic protocol for communicating with microcontrollers from software on a host computer.(http://firmata.org/wiki/Main_Page)
  • For using PC/Mac software like processing to control the Arduino ports directly without the need to learn to programme in Arduino, this is the better choice.
  • However if you want more customization, as you have more Knowledge about Arduino, you can use the SlipOSC Processing to have more customization.
    • Eg. if you are using an IMU / AHRS , any extra IC which needs custom drivers.
    • Using SlipOSC, you have to do your own programming on Arduino for each customization.

Pre-requisite:

  1. Basic Arduino knowledge
  2. Basic Processing knowledge

Objectives:

  1. Using processing to directly control Arduino pin outs and read sensor Values.

Descriptions:

  1. Open Processing and goto Sketch->Import Library->Add Library...
    (I have earlier version of processing and it doesn't have this option) 
  2. Type firmata in the search bar and click install
  3. Prepare Arduino for using Firmata by going to Arduino Environment
    Goto File->Examples->Firmata->StandardFirmata, open and upload the programme to Arduino
  4. Goto processing and open the Examples of the Firmata Processing under Contributed Libraries

  5. Try the examples. (You need to connect the buttons/sensors/servos accordingly)
  6. If you have Arduino UNO as the examples in Arduino, you'll need to change the pwm/servo examples' pin number from 4,7 into the pin numbers with "~"

See also:

Appendix:

  1. Installing Firmata for older versions of processing
    Please refer to http://playground.arduino.cc/Interfacing/Processing 

     

    1. Download the suitable version for your processing and extract the folder to <Your Document Folder>/Processing/libraries/

    2. Restart processing. (close and open)