Geofence Application: The Plan

With the basics out of the way, it's now time to work on a "real" project.

For this project we will create an application for logging and generating alerts using a GPS location read by the WiFire.

To read a GPS location we will be using a Bluetooth GPS data logger. We will then use a Bluetooth to RS232 module to receive the Bluetooth data, and then a RS232 Arduino shield on the WiFire.

While GPS NMEA -> Bluetooth -> RS232 -> Serial input -> FlowCloud (through WiFi connection) is a little odd it demonstrates how the WiFire can interact with other systems. RS232 uses UART, a common form of serial communication and there are many projects where one may wish to interface the WiFire with some other equipment.

GPS data also provides a good example of data that can both be logged and have events generated from it (i.e. a geofence). It also allows us to leverage existing code for Arduino to interact with a GPS.

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I'll be using git to manage my development and you can access the repository here.

List of materials

WiFire

RS232 Shield

Available from sparkfun.

Bluetooth to RS232 module

GPS Bluetooth data logger

Any will do, as long as it provides serial NMEA data over Bluetooth.

DB9 Crossover cable

We'll also need to make a RS232 crossover cable to allow the RS232 shield to receive data from the Bluetooth module. This can easily be made with two DB9 male connectors and some cable.