AUGUST: Congratulations to co-App of the Month: Sparki Bluetooth Controller

The Sparki Bluetooth Controller is an Android application that uses Bluetooth to control and read data from the ArcBotics Sparki robot platform. Companion control code written specifically for the Android controller must be loaded and run on the Sparki robot in order for the system (controller and robot) to function. Complete information, source code, and a video demo can be found here: http://www.sjdavisrobotics.com.

The Sparki Bluetooth Controller app aims to demonstrate the full functionality of the Sparki robot and exercises nearly all build-in functions. These include the control functions (stepper motors/wheels, LCD, LED, Servo, Gripper, and Buzzer) and sensor functions (Accelerometer, Magnetometer, Ultrasonic Range Finder, Light Sensors, and Infrared Reflectance Sensors). You can make Sparki move in any direction and command him to pick up objects with his gripper. He can even report distance measurements from objects that are in his forward or left/right field of vision with his ultrasonic range finder mounted on a servo. All measurements from his various sensors can be displayed on the controller screen in (near) real time. Using the voice recognition capabilities of Andriod, the controller app also demonstrates how to control Sparki with voice commands. For example, give the voice command, "Right 90" and Sparki will turn right 90 degrees.

The creator, Steve Davis, and his son, 7 year old Jonathan Davis, have always loved robots! As early as three years old, after seeing the world famous Honda robot, Asimo (and others), on YouTube, Jonathan asked Steve if they could build a robot together. Starting a bit smaller than Asimo, they have been exploring and programming robots to fuel their love of technology and robots. As such, the Sparki Bluetooth Controller was designed and developed as a father/son project to explore the capabilities of the ArcBotics Sparki robot platform and remote Bluetooth control. They hope to share the source code with others to inspire exploration in robotics and programming.

Steve Davis, 50, Electrical Engineer and Jonathan Davis, age 7, elementary school student (and engineer-in-training)

The app is currently available on the Google Play Store. Check it out!