Connected Devices
Contents
Local and remote
When thinking about remote I/O devices, and customers’ needs, we think of different classes of device:
- Local: Local devices connect to a PC using USB or Bluetooth.
- Remote: Remote devices connect to a PC using Wi-fi, LAN or the internet.
Defined function and Flexible function
Local and remote devices can be off-the-shelf devices or can be custom made. Some connected devices will have defined functions – for example a remote thermostat, or an Ethercat connected sensor– and others will have flexible functions - for example a Labjack input output controller. Flexible function devices have an Application Programming Interface – API – that allows developers to design electronic systems.
Open source and closed source API
Some flexible function devices have a closed source APIs – for example the LabJack. This can not be edited. Other devices have open source code and you can edit the code and make the device behave as you wish. A good example of this is the Arduino, MIAC, ESP32 and other Matrix products: the APIs are written in Flowcode embedded and you are free to edit them.
Defined function (AllCode) API devices
There are many of these. Immediately available from Matrix are the following:
| Hardware Platform | MIAC PIC | MIAC AllCode | Formula AllCode | Robot Arm v2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCU Type | PIC | dsPIC | dsPIC | dsPIC |
| Slave Type | AllCode | AllCode | AllCode | AllCode |
| Communications | ||||
| USB | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Bluetooth | Y | Y | Y | |
| WIFI | Y | Y | ||
| Programming | ||||
| Programming Method | mLoader | mLoader | mLoader | PC Loader |
| USB | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Bluetooth | Y | |||
| Firmware | Firmware | Firmware | Firmware | Firmware |
| Component Source | Component Source | |||
| Examples | Examples | Examples | Examples | Examples |
| USB Driver | USB Driver | USB Driver | USB Driver | |
| Basic I/O | ||||
| Digital Input Pins | 8 | 8 | ||
| Motor Output Pins | 4 | 4 | ||
| Relay Output Pins | 4 | 4 | 1 | |
| Analogue Input Pins | 8 | 8 | ||
| Protection | Y | Y | ||
| Features | ||||
| UART/RS232/RS485/Modbus | 1 | |||
| CAN | 1 | 1 | ||
| PWM | 2 | 4 | ||
| Display | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sensors | 1 | 1 | ||
| Motors | 2 | 4 |
These products have defined functions which simplifies their use: the I/O is defined by function not by pin output. This allows the creator to have an API command like ‘MOTOR 100’ rather than to define the PWM rate and then define which outputs are on.
Flexible function (SCADA Slave) API devices
Immediately available from Matrix are the following:
| Hardware Platform | Arduino Uno | Arduino Mega | ECIO28P | ECIO40P | E-blocks2 BL0032 | Raspberry Pi | ESP32 | Interface Board |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCU Type | AVR | AVR | PIC | PIC | dsPIC | Linux | ESP32 | PIC |
| Slave Type | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave | SCADA Slave |
| Communications | ||||||||
| USB | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Bluetooth | Y | |||||||
| WIFI | Y | Y | Y | |||||
| Programming | ||||||||
| Programming Method | AVRdude | AVRdude | mLoader | mLoader | mLoader | SD Card / SSH | ESP IDF | PICkit |
| USB | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| WIFI / Ethernet | Y | Y | ||||||
| Firmware | Firmware | Firmware | Firmware | Firmware | ||||
| Component Source | Component Source | |||||||
| Examples | Examples | Examples | Examples | Examples | ||||
| USB Driver | USB Driver | |||||||
| Basic I/O | ||||||||
| Digital I/O Pins | 14 | 54 | 19 | 30 | 47 | 26 | 32 | 17 |
| Analogue Output Pins | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Analogue Input Pins | 6 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 3 | |
| Features | ||||||||
| SPI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| I2C | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| UART/RS232/RS485/Modbus | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| CAN | 2 | |||||||
| Bluetooth | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| WIFI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Ethernet/TCPIP/Modbus TCP | 1 | |||||||
| PWM | 6 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The source code for all of these is available – so you can manufacture your own local and remote flexible function device for use with Flowcode App Developer.
Using an API device in App Developer
Fixed Function devices
1. Connect the device to the PC via USB. Start a new App Developer programme. You may be able to load a template for the device which will preserve the settings in Flowcode and save you some time.
2. You will need to ensure that you have the appropriate driver installed
3. Open a 2D Dashboard panel. Select COMPONENT LIBRARIES…..API
4. Click and drag a ,for example, MIAC Allcode API onto the panel.
5. In Project Explorer click on Components and you will see the API icons that you can use to construct your program.
6. Construct the program
7. Select DEBUG…Go and your program should run on the slave device.
Flexible function devices
For example with Arduino Uno
1. Take an Arduino, Connect it to the PC using USB. You will need to ensure that you have the appropriate driver installed
2. Load the Flowcode API programme for the Arduino Uno into Flowcode Embedded and compile it to the Arduino. Your Uno with flexible function API is now ready for use.
3. Start a new App Developer programme. You may be able to load a template for the device which will preserve the settings in Flowcode and save you some time.
4. Open a 2D Dashboard panel. Select COMPONENT LIBRARIES…..API
5. Click and drag a SCADA(Arduino uno) API onto the panel.
6. In Project Explorer click on Components and you will see the API icons that you can use to construct your program.
7. Construct the program
8. Select DEBUG…Go and your program should run on the slave device.
Additional API device examples
Matrix App Developer supports by default a selection of hardware devices with a built in API. Some devices have a basic or built in API and will not need firmware loading on to them, such as the PS2000 oscilloscope or K8055D Velleman I/O board. Other devices will need a API firmware loading on to them to allow the PC SCADA application to communicate with the firmware API. Most of the API's come as open source projects.
| Device | Manufacturer | Comms | Description | Embedded Firmware | Component Source Project | Runtime Example Project | USB Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTD2XX | FTDI | USB | General purpose USB driver chip | N/A | Available on request | Examples | FTDI Website |
| K8055D | Velleman | USB | General purpose USB I/O board | N/A | Available on request | Examples | Velleman Website |
| PS2000 | Pico Technology | USB | Oscilloscope | N/A | Available on request | Examples | Picotech Website |
| PL155-P | TTI | USB | Power supply | N/A | Available on request | Examples | TTI Website |
| TG5011 | TTI | USB | Signal generator | N/A | Available on request | Examples | TTI Website |
