Moving Beyond Arduino: Build an IoT Connected Device, includes Particle Photon

DIYers, artists, and hackers: Are you ready to move beyond the Arduino -- to the next stage of development using the more powerful and fuller featured Particle Photon device?

This class is for you!

We will examine the similarities and differences between the Arduino and the Particle Photon, and learn how to transition smoothly to the new platform.

Prerequisites:

• Previous experience with Arduino device (basic)
• Laptop with recent Mac OS or Windows 10 with current updates
• Smartphone (iPhone or Android)

Weʼll learn about the Photon and explore its powerful cloud connection services which will open up new avenues to share information.

Then, using your new Photon device (provided as part of the workshop), we will build several applications using the Web IDE (Integrated Development Environment) to create remote and web based sample applications.

During the last part of the class we'll take your questions. We will also preview Particleʼs newest “Mesh Network” devices that add a further dimensions for more advanced development.

What Will Be Covered In This Class

• How is the Photon similar to Arduino
• How is the Photon different from an Arduino
• When should you use a Photon versus an Arduino
• How to setup a Photon, “claim” a device and build an applications with
  the Web IDE
• Build 3 sample cloud connected applications
• Diagnose Particle problems and error codes
• Use Particle Console to monitor your particle Photon status and
  messages
• Monitoring your Photon from a smart phone or a web browser
• Learn about Particle documentation, developer, community forum and
  development platform alternatives

At the Completion of this Course You Will Know the Following

• How a Particle Photon devices is different from the Arduino
• Create an account and familiarize with website resources
• Setup a new Photon and “claim” the device
• How to use the Web IDE to create a sample application
• How to use libraries to add support for special devices and functions
• How to use the Particle Console to monitor a Photonʼs health and
  diagnose problems
• Where to find additional resources

Cost: $50
Included: Particle Photon, breadboard, USB cable and parts for sample applications, handouts

Class participants will be paired to help each other out. There will also be an assistant to help with problems.

Instructor:
Bob Vinci is an embedded software engineer who has worked in commercial and research software and hardware development for many years. His company, Optimus Systems, provides design, development and consulting services for IoT, IIoT and embedded applications. Bob's expertise includes HVAC, radiation detection, analog and digital signal processing, instrumentation, process controls, audio/video, and multi-spectral data capture.

email: robert@optimussystems.net
Web: www.OptimusSystems.net
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/optimussystems

Location: Cambridge Hackspace can be difficult to find. The map, below, helps. But we also have a more detailed map at the top of our regular Open Project Night listing: https://www.meetup.com/Cambridge-Hackspace/events/svhdxmyzcbdc/