subject: Learning To Use The Lilypad Arduino [print this page] The Lilypad Arduino is a flexible micro controller, which can be mounted to textiles or power sources using conductive thread. Originally designed by Leah Buechley, as an adaptation to the original Arduino open source micro controller, the Lilypad has become a staple of e textile work the world over.
To start, connect the Lilypad Arduino to the computer. It is recommended that you use a breakout board, such as the one provided by SparkFun, to plug into the 6 pin Lilypad. If you use an encapsulated FDI cable to plug into the six pin version, you should have the black wire on the far right and the pale green one on the far left.
Now you need to download the Arduino software necessary to run the Lilypad. The latest version can always be found at the Arduino.cc website. Lilypad doesn"t work properly with versions less than 10.0there is a timing issue with version 1-9 that the Lilypad can"t handle.
Open the exe file for the software, plug in the Lilypad and wait for the new hardware icon to flash up. Make sure you deny Windows the opportunity to check on the web for latest versions of your drivers, and instead select the advanced option so you can show it where the drivers are yourself.
The drivers you want are USB drivers, and they are located in the Arduino software folder you have already taken off the web. Use the Include This Location option to find them manually and wait for the computer to install them.
Now you should be ready to connect and get going. Start by selecting the right port for the Lilypad normally this is the highest number COM port. Subsequently, select the Lilypad as the board you are using otherwise the computer will behave in an odd fashion when talking to your micro controller.
At this point, you are ready to begin your programming. Lilypad is programmed in the C language and programming must be done in four consecutive steps. |First you write the program (in C, as noted). The n you compile it. Then you upload it and finally you execute it.
In basic terms: writing the program is designing the behaviour you want your Lilypad to display. Compiling is changing the C language to one that the Lilypad understands. Upload stores the code you have compiled in the Lilypad. Execution runs it, making the Lilypad do what you told it to do.
When you program in C, you can insert comments into your program strings without affecting the final behaviour of the Lilypad. A comment starts with a forward slash and finishes with an asterisk followed by a forward slash. Anything you type between those two signifiers will be completely ignored when the program runs so you can make notes to yourself as you go, useful tool indeed for going back and finding out what went wrong where.
For more information on programming your Lilypad in C, you can visit the Lilypad site run by Leah Buechley.
