Initiate/communicate with an arduino sketch?

[arnoldbail]

Definite NOOB here.
I would like to preload a sketch on the arduino . Then have it initiated via Pymata/Pi Co-op. The sketch would periodically, or during special events, alert the Raspberry Pi (Pymata?).

1. Is this possible?

2. Is there a method to initiate a sketch via Pymata?

3. How, for example, could I use an alert to the RPi?

Arnold

[Alan]

Hi Arnold,

Sorry for the delayed reply on this. I wanted to have a think about the best answer, and then time flashed by...

Anyway, the short answer to your question is that, in order to use PyMata with the Pi Co-op, a specific Firmata sketch must be loaded on the Pi Co-op. You can either load this sketch manually using the Arduinio IDE, or it will be automatically loaded for you when the Python PyMata library starts up. Essentially the PyMata library starts up and tries to communicate with the Firmata sketch using serial. If it can't communicate then it automatically uploads the sketch using the Ino library.

So, if you want to use PyMata, you have to either use the Firmata sketch, or you can modify it to do the extra things you want.

What special events exactly do you want to monitor? Can you give some examples please? I think that you might be able to do a lot of what you want just using Python. The main thing you can't do easily is respond to pin interrupts (so respond immediately if a pin on the Pi Co-op goes from high to low).

Regards

Alan

[arnoldbail]

Hi Allan, Thanks for the reply. I too want to apologize for my delayed replying. I've been away.

You answered my question. Upon reviewing the example sketch, I believe I could use Pymata.

It was basically a philosophical question. Could there be an existing library of Arduino Sketches, which could be executed, as is, using the Pi Co-op board? It seems like you think it can; but, it would take some digging into.

Arnold

[Alan]

Hi Arnold,

No problem. Hope you had a good break.

Glad the answer works for you, if you need help on any specific areas as you continue your work, please let me know.

Regards

Alan