Guest Tutorial #1: Particle.io Board and p5.js with Tega Brain | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Learn how to connect microcontrollers wirelessly to a server and use P5.js to create data-driven animations.

Key Insights

• 👻 Environmental sensing with microcontrollers and P5.js allows for the collection and visualization of data from various sensors in real-time.
• 🖐️ The Particle board is a suitable microcontroller for environmental sensing due to its Wi-Fi compatibility and GPIO pins.
• 🛟 Using APIs and the load JSON function in P5.js, data can be retrieved from the microcontroller's server and used to create interactive animations or visualizations.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How can microcontrollers be used to collect data from sensors placed in different locations?

Microcontrollers can be equipped with sensors and connected to Wi-Fi, allowing them to collect data from the sensors and transmit it wirelessly to a server or the internet. This data can then be accessed and used in various applications, such as data-driven animations.

Q: What are some examples of environmental data that can be collected using microcontrollers?

Microcontrollers can collect data on pollutant levels, noise levels, light levels, and motion. They can also be used to sense animal populations or monitor specific locations, such as bird boxes.

Q: What are the advantages of using the Particle board for environmental sensing?

The Particle board is a microcontroller that is compatible with Wi-Fi and has multiple general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. It also comes with a platform that simplifies data management on the server, making it easier to collect and utilize sensor data.

Q: How can P5.js be used to create data-driven animations using the collected sensor data?

P5.js can retrieve data from the cloud or server and use it to animate visual elements in real-time. For example, the collected data can be used to change the size or behavior of an ellipse in an animation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The tutorial introduces the concept of environmental sensing and how microcontrollers can be used to collect data from sensors placed in different locations.

• Two microcontroller boards, the Particle board and the Photon board, are discussed, with a focus on their ability to connect wirelessly to the internet and stream data to P5.js.

• The tutorial walks through the process of setting up the circuits on the microcontrollers, connecting them to Wi-Fi, and using P5.js to retrieve and visualize the collected data.