I am looking for the best method (system?) to interact with an Arduino remotely.
I have built a panorama head for my photography. Mounted on a tripod, it moves a camera through a horizontal arc, stopping at regular intervals to operate the camera shutter. This allows the camera to take precisely overlapping multiple images which are then stitched together to form one wide image. It uses a Nano, 2 servo motors, a 5-button panel and a 2 line display.
To use the device, I interact by using the buttons to respond to prompts on the display. Once the process begins, the display updates to show progress.
I would like to replace the buttons and display with a hand-held device (smart phone, tablet, etc). This would allow a far more compact electronics enclosure. This would require the remote to both send and receive data and continually update its screen.
The system would be used in remote locations where there is the possibility of no phone service.
MY QUESTION: What would be the best (and simplest?) method to do this? This will be a learn-as-you-go project for me, which is not a problem. I am retired and have plenty of time.
I am sorry if I wasn't clear at my first post with the terms best (simplest).
When I create a panorama image, I input the camera type and lens I am using along with width of the desired panorama (in degrees). The Arduino then calculates the how many frames are required to complete the panorama.
The objective is to remove all the controls from the electronics on the panorama head to allow for a much smaller enclosure and hence a more portable and convenient package.
I really want the simplest — easiest from a coding standpoint — method that can allow me to communicate with the Arduino remotely (5 - 10 feet) and provide a display of both my inputs and the Arduino's calculations.
I will have to learn how to code this as I go along. However, I am retired and have the time to do so. I had to do the same when I built the pano head.
This pano head was completed about 2 years ago and works quite well. All I want to do is change the interface from a keypad and display to a cellphone, tablet, or other hand-held device to allow for a much smaller enclosure and hence a more portable package.
The simplest will be to just COMMAND the camera controller. To actually CONTROL the camera controller, you need feedback from the controller. The feedback will tell you the last command was received correctly and is being processed. Further feedback will tell yo when the last command was completed and perhaps can be extended to report the camera position, etc.