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Beta Testers Wanted - 3G Mobile Internet

We're looking for a group of keen mbed users to help us test and improve libraries that will enable prototype 3G Mobile Network connected applications, before official public release.

Beta Library


The libraries will enable developers to interface the LPC1768 mbed to a USB 3G internet dongle for a carrier in the UK.

So if you’re interested in developing a remote network-connected application, in the UK and keen to help us out then email support@mbed.org with the following details:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Brief description of your test project

We'll be releasing the libraries for testing on the 1st June, so get into contact soon!

Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle

user Scott O'Brien has blogged about an underwater robot he has built for his final year individual project at the University of Westminster using a couple mbed microcontrollers.

The craft consists of a PVC frame and uses seven modified bilge pump motors to level and move the vehicle.

Bottom Controller

As well as controlling the motors, the LPC1768 mbed in the bottom controller interfaces various sensors including an IMU board fitted with a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis magnetometer, and a micro-SD card socket.

Top Controller

The top controller features an LCD display with two analog thumb joysticks to manoeuvre and uses RS232 to interface the ROV.

Read Scott's blog here

mbed Google Chrome Extension

user strobo has developed a cool chrome extension for the mbed compiler!

/media/uploads/anaran/_scaled_mbedfont.png

The extension allows you to change font and font size and also highlights matching brackets.

Check out his notebook page here for download links.

New compiler in beta

The latest mbed compiler is now available in beta!

This release primarily has behind the scenes changes and bugfixes, but there's one improvement you should definitely notice: speed!

We have added incremental compilation support, which means that when compiling large programs, subsequent recompiles will be much faster, only recompiling those files which have changed. There's also performance improvements to the UI in several areas.

Try it out at betamode and please let us know what you think and report any bugs in the usual place. We'll aim to roll out the new version to all users in the next week or two.

Automated Heating Controller using Google Calendar

This is an awesome mbed project using Google Calendar to remotely control a home heating system.

mbed developer, Shack Dweller, describes using an Ethernet-connected mbed NXP LPC1768 Microcontroller, a DS18S20 temperature sensor, and a relay to control his heating unit based on events setup in a Google Calendar.

He describes the Google API developers guide as "scary read at first" but simplifies the process by using private address for his calendar and avoiding authentication. Using Google API GET requests, he polls the calendar to return events in XML and uses the current ambient temperature to switch the heater using a solid state relay. He has posted his code here

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Great project with countless opportunities, great stuff.

Read more about the project on his blog