I've picked up a cubieboard, fixed the operating system to do what I want, now I am at my next step. Firmata interface between an apk and and the corresponding c library on the arduino. What I am after is a little outside the specs of firmata. I have two devices I'd like to connect to the arduino, sd card slot, and a ds1307 rtc. I'd like firmata to employ these two additions, in order to facilitate scheduling and a format that auotmates everything in case the cubieboard fails, the arduino maintains at minimum safe settings for the specific automated network.
Specificially I'd like to use this in a greenhouse, but I have plans beyond that once I get it set up. The cubie board I got comes with a snazzy touchscreen, and I've figured out kiosk mode.
So that leaves a few issues. First up is firmata and getting a simple test apk running, the second is doing this with no cubie for a period of time. I have 8 gb of space on the card, so it'd be nice if it created a log and uploaded files to the cubie for more permanent storage on a sata drive that is turned on only for such transfers. I have a battery backup on it's way and still have yet to figure out a pmu for the cubieboard, but I think that could be solved quick enough.
What I am digging about this is if I get some sort of base arrangement for android, it could be done across a wide range of som's, with less fiddling around.
I've given arduino commander a try, but it fails with my due mostly (though I did get it to work with pin 13), and I like the due because of the increased digital channels over other models. That and I don't think it's open source, it's lacking a plug-in architecture, otherwise I'm sure by now it'd have every model worked in. I would still have been disappointed with the setup.
Either way what I am seeking is the way to program schedules, both real time and automated instruction sets, and have the apk designate a minum set of functions, with timed triggers and set ranges associated with various desired pin functions (servos, triacs/relays,
I'm wondering thoughts on the subject, I have yet to check for breathing room for firmata on the due but I am assuming there's enough space for what I am thinking for the uploaded sketch, so would seem a matter of approaching this one step at a time.
Anyways I have one other feature I was wanting to work in, the two co-dependent devices must talk to each other and monitor status, and be-able to reset each other or even upload the modified firmata sketch under certain circumstances.
The cubieboard will have the same rtc, and if I want could possibly synchronize from time to time with the internet (or optionally be online all of the time). I'm pretty sure the 8gb nand gives me plenty of space, plus I have an sd card and have integrated a webcam to snap photos or video.
I've got an array of sensors, and an idea of the sort of automation wanted, I'd like to manage a pair of 600w digital ballasts, they'll do hps/mh, and feature 10vdc dimming.
I chose the wider digital channels because I want the system to be aware of it's own power consumption, this way an input value of the circuit can be set, and then the connected devices managed as best as possible to never exceed limitations.