Demo video
Basic components and materials
- An Arduino board or a Gainer I/O module
- An USB cable (A-to-B or A-to-mini B)
- A LED of your choice
API
How to install a device driver
Gainer I/O modules and Arduino boards are equipped with an USB chip, so install a device driver first.
Windows XP/Vista
First, install the device driver from the following URL. Then run the installer and follow the directions it provides.
Mac OS X
First, install the device driver from the following URL. Then extract the package, run the installer and follow the instructions.
Preparation for your hardware
Gainer I/O modules
In case of Gainer I/O modules, you have nothing to do. Just connect your module via USB cable, and follow the instruction described below to launch Funnel Server.
Arduino boards
To connect Arduino boards, Firmata is needed. Firmata is a MIDI like protocol proposed by Hans-Christoph Steiner. Since Arduino 0015 includes the Firmata library by default, you can easily start using your Arduino board as an I/O module for Funnel just by uploading the example sketch as follows.
- Choose an appropriate model in Tools/Board menu
- Choose an appropriate serial port in Tools/Serial Port menu
- Choose StandardFirmata in File/Sketchbook/Examples/Library-Firmata
- Press the Upload button to upload the sketch to your board
The upload process should finish after 10 seconds or so. If you see error messages, please make the board and serial port selection, then try again.
How to configure and run Funnel Server
Download
Configure settings for Arduino
On Mac OS X, Funnel Server will try to open an appropriate port. So you might not need to configure the serial port settings. On Windows, you have to configure the serial (com) port setting. Please be sure to put a space between "com:" and a port name.
An example of settings.txt for Arduino boards (Windows)
server: port: 9000 io: type: Arduino port: COM3 baudrate: 57600
Start-up
If you finished setting up your configurations, double click on Funnel Server to launch. Funnel Server will connect with the hardware, and print messages in the terminal window. If Funnel Server won't run, please confirm that a Java runtime environment (J2SE 5 or above) is installed.
Troubleshooting
Mac OS X
If you encounter an error dialog as follows, do "Get Info" against Funnel Server in Finder. Then check the "Open in 32 Bit Mode" option and try again.
