Node.js, a drone and a momentary escape from the browser
IOT has been a buzz term within web development circles for the last 24 – 36 months. As web developers find new and innovative ways to make web and native applications, some innovation is progressively funneling from the main river of code advancement to real-world non-browser hardware. Could this movement towards hardware and IOT be a sign of something more profound ? It is a rebellion against a development industry that promotes ill health melded with a society that is almost reaching the point of screen addiction. Some brave souls may be finding ways to escape…
How To Drone With Node.js For Under $100.00 US Dollars:
Shopping Items:
- Bluetooth 4.0 capable USB adapter (You computer may have this already) $8.00 NZD
- Parrot minidrone – $96.00 NZD on special, ordered online
- Computer
The Software:
- Node.js 6.0 +
- Solid text editor
- Fetherston npm-parrot-minidrone
- Command line
Let’s fly:
2. Bluetooth 4.0 headaches on Windows 7
The most challenging part of this process was setting up the bluetooth usb dongle on a windows machine. I was using windows 7 which required me to use Zadig. I went to options, “list all devices” then selected the relevant usb bluetooth device and selected Replace Driver. I take no responsibility if this destroys your bluetooth hardware or usb environment // Do this at your own risk after researching correctly for your system and requirements
3. NPM-parrot-minidrone, node.js – All we need is the demo code
All props to fetherston and their creation. This node package allows us to code with js to control a drone. The repo has a hello-world ready to go. All code is based on Featherstone’s provided demo code an api:
Time for the videos:
4. Take Off & Please Land
5. Integrate the keyboard
Flight with keyboard
Laughter at end of video due to the unseen crash landing
And there we have it. A fairly simple way to interface with a drone via node and js. The first thing I learned was that the stakes are much higher when coding/debugging in the physical world. Exciting times, what other interesting ways (no blinking LED demos please) can we easily explore IOT node.js development?
Jared Neems is a software developer and Teacher from New Zealand who works for Veratech.