Michael Dodaro

Programming writer

Homepage: http://gravatar.com/gmdodaro

Bing Search API

Posted in REST Web Services on February 22, 2018

Developers use the Bing API to add web search functionality to their applications. As shown in the following list, this API includes REST endpoints that search for various kinds of online content.  All of them work basically the same way, so learning how to query for one type builds proficiency in all of them.  The […]

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Making Mayhem with .NET Gadgeteer

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on June 21, 2012

Mayhem is an open source application that supports triggers, events, and reactions.  The core Mayhem application runs on a PC, but the events and reactions it uses are interoperable with just about any platform or device.  The guys making Mayhem say that non-programmers can use it to automate anything!  This seems an invitation to try Mayhem with .NET Gadgeteer. Here’s a screen shot […]

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XBee Control of .NET Gadgeteer Robot

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on June 8, 2012

The code in this brief example is part of an investigation into bandwidth and latency of XBee radios used for remote control.  I’d be interested in any other experiments with XBees.  If you have something, we can discuss a guest post.  There are several versions of this robot now.  The original by Eduardo Velloso uses light sensors and can be controlled […]

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Using XBee Radios with .NET Gadgeteer and the XBeeClient Libraries

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on May 25, 2012

Using the .NET Gadgeteer platform with XBee radios got a lot easier with the alpha release of XBeeClient libraries written by Paul Mineau.  XBee radios use low-bandwidth serial protocol that is useful in many applications.  This example implements an XBee network using three XBee radios that support a surveillance device.  The .NET Gadgeteer modules include a Gyro module and Relay module from Seeed Studio, and a Camera […]

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Autonomous Builders, Makers, and Shakers

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, Internet Media on May 23, 2012

More than 100,000 people, a San Francisco Bay area contingent of what is called the maker movement, gathered in San Mateo over the weekend of May 19-20 at Maker Faire. This franchised gathering with copies in other cities is billed as “A two-day, family-friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the maker movement“.  It used to be called do-it-yourself (DIY), […]

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.NET Gadgeteer Bluetooth to Control Relay Circuits

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on May 7, 2012

Here is a simple adaptation of Marco Minerva’s previous example: Controlling a Gadgeteer device using Bluetooth Module and 32feet.NET library.  This application uses the GHI Electronics Bluetooth Module to control the relays on a Seeed Relay Module.  You can use this scenario to turn on lights, start a motor, or start or stop any electrical […]

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XBee Radios in .NET Gadgeteer Devices

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, REST Web Services on April 27, 2012

XBee radios are inexpensive and they can be embedded in all kinds of devices.  XBees can be networked so that a failure of one radio does not impar communication between and among others in the network.  Their range exceeds that of Bluetooth connections.  The article Zigbee Networking with XBee Series 2 and Seeed’s Products provides a quick overview of XBee […]

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Mind Control of .NET Gadgeteer Device via Neurosky EEG Sensor

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, REST Web Services on April 18, 2012

This experiment leaves much to the imagination, but it does demonstrate how wave forms of the human brain can determine events on a device with an embedded microcontroller.  This code scenario is submitted for use in the Open Health and Fitness Data Aggregator project headed by Ira Laefsky. The Neurosky Mind Wave sensor is an economical electroencephalograph designed for extensibility with other applications.  For less […]

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.NET Gadgeteer Bluetooth Control of Motor Driver

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on April 10, 2012

A previous example .NET Gadgeteer Motor Driver with Two Motors and Potentiometer demonstrated the GHI Electronics Motor Driver L298 module.  This post uses a similar code scenario, but in this case we control the motors from a serial console that sends messages to a GHI Bluetooth module on the device.  This example also demonstrates how to reverse direction of the motors. The Bluetooth […]

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Eduardo Velloso completes Beta Driver for .NET Gadgeteer Bluetooth Module

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on April 3, 2012

Since the Bluetooth Module was released by GHI Electronics there have been numerous users who have found it difficult.  The starter driver was rudimentary.  Windows and other devices could not discover it or connect to it unless a developer who knew a lot about Bluetooth protocols implemented the Gadgeteer device.  The references available were manufacturer specifications. GHI Electronics invited the community to […]

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.NET Gadgeteer Relay Actuator via REST Web Service

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, REST Web Services on March 23, 2012

The .NET Gadgeteer Relay Module from Seeed Studio can be used to activate devices that are designed to run on common household electrical circuits of 120 volts AC or higher if necessary.  The four relays on the Seeed Relay Module are switches with the options, normally open or normally closed. You can power on or power off […]

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.NET Gadgeteer Motor Driver with Two Motors and Potentiometer

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 21, 2012

An earlier post describes how to use a potentiometer with the GHI Electronics Motor Driver L298 module.  This example connects two motors to the motor controller, and the motors run simple mechanical parts, as shown in the following video. There are two buttons that start and stop the separate motors, and a potentiometer controls the speed of […]

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.NET Gadgeteer Motor Control with Potentiometer

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 19, 2012

The GHI Electronics Motor Driver L298 Module provides a method for setting the speed of the two motors it can operate concurrently: MoveMotor(Gadgeteer.Modules.GHIElectronics.MotorControllerL298.Motor _motorSide, int _newSpeed). There is also a method that will ramp up the speed over a time interval: MoveMotorRampNB(Gadgeteer.Modules.GHIElectronics.MotorControllerL298.Motor _motorSide, int _newSpeed, int _rampingDelayMilli). These methods work pretty much as you would expect after […]

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Vijay Kumar on Flying Robots

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 16, 2012

Here’s a TED talk and demo that could help us imagine some exciting .NET Gadgeteer projects. Link to original video on TED. See also Devhammer’s Den (infrared) LED array used with .NET Gadgeteer to control an IR remote control helicopter.

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Saving Sensor Data as Comma Separated Values (csv) on the SD Card

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 15, 2012

Data is often persisted in text files as comma separated values. This kind of data can be viewed and analyzed by Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software.  Applications based on the .NET Micro Framework and .NET Gadgeteer can easily save data in this format using a module such as the GHI Electronics SD Card module. […]

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Posture Regulator with LED Alert – Silent

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 10, 2012

This is a second iteration on the device using a Seeed accelerometer as posture sensor that sends alerts when the user’s posture lapses from the position desirable for working extended periods in the seated position.  The previous version used a buzzer on a relay circuit as an alert.  It produced a sound that could drive one to distraction.  This version uses a LED that simply […]

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Posture Regulator using .NET Gadgeteer Accelerometer from Seeed Studio

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on March 9, 2012

People who work in technology often spend many hours at the computer, which can make it difficult to maintain good posture.  I’ve been advised by a physical therapist to keep my chest high with my head and neck upright.  The problem is that fatigue tends to make me slouch. Then my neck is out of alignment, […]

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How to Initialize the .NET Gadgeteer WiFi Networking Module

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, REST Web Services on February 23, 2012

Initializing the GHI Electronics WiFi RS21 module involves some different issues than initializing the Ethernet_J11D Module.  It took several runs to get my WiFi module working.  I don’t know all the permutations of WiFi networking, so I used a trial-and-error approach. First, I plugged in the WiFi_RS21 module and added start-up code, equivalent to what I have been using with my ethernet module, […]

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GHI Electronics Music Module Play method using FileStream or MemoryStream

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers, Internet Media on February 15, 2012

If you have used the GHI Electronics Music Module, you have probably noticed that audio files larger than 600 K run out of memory and throw an exception.  The current driver implements a Play method that does not support playing audio from a FileStream or MemoryStream. The existing method takes a byte[] array parameter that requires the entire file to be loaded in […]

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GPS Module for .NET Gadgeteer by Seeed Studio

Posted in Embedded Microcontrollers on February 6, 2012

It may be helpful to discuss a few details about the initialization and output of the Seeed GPS Module for .NET Gadgeteer.  The first time I tried to use this module, I wasn’t patient enough to let the device initialize and start producing data. This example uses the Seeed GPS Module and prints to the Debug output window of Visual Studio.  Add the GPS […]

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