Hello! Welcome to Learning JavaScript Robotics. In this book, you'll learn how to write code for Arduino and other robotics platforms in JavaScript using Johnny-Five. We'll cover the basics of Johnny-Five, input and output devices, and even movement devices such as servos and motors. Finally, we'll cover how to connect your bots to the Internet and move your Johnny-Five code between different platforms.
Chapter 1, Getting Started with JS Robotics, will get you started by setting up an Arduino Uno and exploring the world of NodeBots.
Chapter 2, Working with Johnny-Five, covers the basics of Johnny-Five, including Read-Eval-Print-Loop (REPL), and we will build our first project.
Chapter 3, Using Digital and PWM Output Pins, covers basic output devices, using both digital and PWM pins.
Chapter 4, Using Specialized Output Devices, covers specialized outputs that use one or multiple pins.
Chapter 5, Using Input Devices and Sensors, covers input devices using analog and GPIO pins.
Chapter 6, Moving Your Bot, covers basic servo and motor usage with Johnny-Five.
Chapter 7, Advanced Movement with the Animation Library, covers the Animation Library and how to create advanced movement schemes for your NodeBots.
Chapter 8, Advanced Components – SPI, I2C, and Other Devices, covers the use of I2C, SPI, and other advanced components with Johnny-Five.
Chapter 9, Connecting NodeBots to the World, and Where to Go Next, covers how to connect your NodeBots to the Internet and use Johnny-Five code with platforms other than Arduino.
You will need the following factors before you start working on the book:
A basic working knowledge of JavaScript and Node.JS
A computer with USB ports that supports node-serialport, running Node.JS 4.x
An Arduino Uno or other board supported by Johnny-Five (see http://johnny-five.io/platform-support) and a USB cable for the board
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) - having a dozen should let you finish all the examples with room for error.
A Piezo element
A character LCD (one with an I2C interface is fine)
A push-button that is breadboard friendly
A rotating potentiometer that is breadboard friendly
A light-sensing diode
A basic temperature sensor
Three hobby servos that runs on 5V
One hobby motor that runs on 5v
An ADXL345I2C Accelerometer
An LED matrix kit from SparkFun—product number DEV-11861
A GamePad—RetroLink N64 controller or a DualShock3
(Optional) A Particle Photon microcontroller
If you've worked with Arduino before or are new to electronics and would like to try writing sketches in JavaScript, then this book is for you. A basic knowledge of JavaScript and Node.js will help you get the most out of this book.
In this book, you will find a number of text styles that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles and an explanation of their meaning.
Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "For instance, the LED object has an on() and off() function that turns the LED on and off."
A block of code is set as follows:
var myPin = new five.Pin(11);
myPin.on('high', function(){
console.log('pin 11 set to high!');
});When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:
var myPin = new five.Pin(11);
myPin.on('high', function(){
console.log('pin 11 set to high!');
});Any command-line input or output is written as follows:
> node LED-repl.js
New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, for example, in menus or dialog boxes, appear in the text like this: "Now, we'll build a couple of projects that demonstrate how to use more advanced sensors: a photocell and a temperature sensor."
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