Android app communication?

Projects Programming
1

Hi I plan on using an arduino UNO hooked up with this servo sheild:
http://yourduino.com/sunshop2/index.php?l=product_detail&p=407

The servo sheild V5 will be connected to 3 mg996r servos

Now I want to make an android app using JAVA that will either be on my phone or galaxy tab, and that device will be connected to the arduino through a serial connection(power cable usb). I already have an adaptor for connecting the arduino's usb to my android device.

I am confused at 2 points.

  1. How do I make the servo shield V5 communicate with the Arduino uno? Do I just plug in the V5 on top, and whatever code the Arduino has will be transferred automatically to the servo shield and therefore the servos?

  2. How would the app communicate to the arudino through that serial connection? I can make the app's user interface and have it installed in the phone/tablet, but how would I actually make it communicate with the arduino. For example: The app will have buttons which will move the servos, so if I press a button on the app how would that be able to communiate to the arduino to the servo sheild then to the servos to make them move?

Are there specific directories for doing something like this? I am aware there are apps for android which communicate to arduino through bluetooth, but how would it do it through the arduino's usb power cable(serial communication)?

2

The shield you linked only makes connecting devices easier. It has no intelligence. From a programming point of view, forget it exists.

  1. How would the app communicate to the arudino through that serial connection?

That is an Android question, not an Arduino question.

3

AWESOME, this saves me a ton, thank you, so now its just communicating with the app and the Arduino, and the Arduino and the servos. Also I found this guide online for communication with Arduino to serial or bluetooth by making a android app.

I'll use this as a template.