Hi. I need to make a project for my uni and I am thinking to use Arduino to do it. Before I buy it I’d like to know if Arduino can do what I need as below (I’ll do my best to describe what I’d like to do, sorry if all sound a little bit confusing):
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Can Arduino (+ shields) automatically recognize an android smartphone when it get near it (let’s say 5m)? If a particular smartphone is “willing” to be found by Arduino (not all smartphones that are nearby), how can it do so (via Bluetooth, with an app?)?
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Can Arduino detect if an ibeacon/eddystone (attached to an object) get near it?
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Can Arduino send a message via wi-fi to an android app (the smartphone can be far away from the Arduino)?
Any help is appreciated, thanks.
With the exception of #3, IMO the Arduino is ill suited for your project.
#2, Maybe something along the line of: http://accent-systems.com
Ray
So Ray you think #1,2 are not doable with Arduino or it's very difficult to do so? I understand that there are commercial solutions out there that can easily do what I need, but the thing is that I have to do a project that needs some involvement from my part, a little bit of programming, something to write a project report about. Thanks.
Lampada:
So Ray you think #1,2 are not doable with Arduino or it's very difficult to do so? I understand that there are commercial solutions out there that can easily do what I need, but the thing is that I have to do a project that needs some involvement from my part, a little bit of programming, something to write a project report about. Thanks.
I rarely use the term "not doable" since with enough time and enough money one can typically do any project! :o
Recognizing a smartphone would require recognizing an RF signature and there are many frequency bands that would need to be monitored. Recognizing WiFi clients may be a bit easier by using a WiFi module that can be placed into "promiscuous" mode; clients do not advertise like an AP. The same general problem exists for BlueTooth. Essentially, it comes down to having an RF module that can surf all of the supported bands and upon finding a signal making an informed decision that the device is a smartphone.
Once recognizing a specific target phone, the device would need to utilize BlueTooth for communication. This is done all the time ... two phones exchanging files, etc. But moving that internal phone logic to an external BlueTooth module commanded by an Arduino becomes a bit more problematic, IMO, because generally BlueTooth communications require the devices to have been previously paired through a manual operation.
Identification of a BlueTooth handset that has previously been paired with a BlueTooth module connected to an Arduino is definitely something that can be done.
#3 is straight forward provided both the Arduino WiFi and the cellphone WiFi are connected to the same AP. If you are wanting to use the cellphone radio and a browser for Internet connectivity, then the Arduino WiFi would need port-forwarding to the Internet through the AP. Instructions are available on the 'net on how to configure your local WiFi AP/router for such a situation. While straight-forward, the approach is a bit convoluted if you do not have a static IP.
Ray
Thanks Ray. Since RF recognition seems a bit difficult, is there a way the smartphone user can let Arduino know that he/she is near it, without needing pairing through a manual operation? Can an app in the smartphone do that through bluetooth? Some other way?
About ibeacon/eddystone, is there a way Arduino "listen" only for them, or do they fall in the same category in the frequency range as phones?
Sorry if my questions are a bit "noobish", I don't have any experience whatsoever with Arduino, bluetooth and the rest, I am doing some reading around but cannot find definite answers for what I'm looking.
Lampada:
Thanks Ray. Since RF recognition seems a bit difficult, is there a way the smartphone user can let Arduino know that he/she is near it, without needing pairing through a manual operation? Can an app in the smartphone do that through bluetooth? Some other way?
Yes, I suspect. Better answered by a Bluetooth developer...
About ibeacon/eddystone, is there a way Arduino "listen" only for them, or do they fall in the same category in the frequency range as phones?
Unknown.
Sorry if my questions are a bit "noobish", I don't have any experience whatsoever with Arduino, bluetooth and the rest, I am doing some reading around but cannot find definite answers for what I'm looking.
No prob.
The "trick" is to converse with developers of smartphone apps since they live & eat API calls. Onve you know if an API is available, you can answer yout own Arduino question.
Ray
Ok, I'll do that, thank you Ray for your help.