Wearable Wireless Gesture Control With PHIRO Pro + Arduino + Pocket Code Smartphone App (JEDI MODE)

Once again, here we are with another tutorial to “Awaken the Force” within you! With the new Star Wars movie just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to use the force to control PHIRO. In this tutorial, we will be using PHIRO Pro with Arduino along with some awesome Flex sensors.

“To the tutorial go, we shall. Yes, hmmm!”

Step 1: What You Will Need

1) PHIRO Pro – currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter
2) Flex Sensors – http://www.amazon.com/SPECTRA-SYMBOL-SYMBOLFLEX-SE…
3) Arduino UNO – http://www.amazon.com/arduino-org-A000066-Arduino…
4) HC-05 Bluetooth module – http://www.amazon.com/JBtek-Wireless-Bluetooth-Tra…
5) Glove – http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Whole-Screen-Glo…
6) Jumper wires – http://www.amazon.com/Gikfun-Dupont-Male-Male-Fem…
7) 9V Battery – http://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Alkaline-Batteries…
8) Pocket Code on an Android smartphone

Step 2: Uploading Standard Firmata to Arduino

Similar to our previous instructables, we will need to upload standard firmata to the Arduino board in order to connect to Pocket Code. Here we have used an Arduino UNO, however any Arduino board can be used it it’s place.

In Arduino IDE, 
Select the COM Port. 
Tools -> Serial Port -> Corresponding COM Port

Next select your Arduino Board. 
Tools -> Board -> Your Arduino Board (We have used an Arduino Uno, but you can use ANY Arduino board)

Next we are going to select the Standard Firmata. 
Click on Examples -> Firmata -> Standard Firmata

Click on Upload.

Step 3: Connecting Flex Sensors to Arduino and Fixing It to the Glove

Flex sensors are resistive devices that can be used to detect bending or flexing. The connection diagram for connecting Flex sensors to the Arduino is shown above. We have also shown how we have mounted our flex sensors to the Glove. We secured the sensors by using some bent resisitors, however you could ziptie them as well.

Step 4: Connecting HC-05 Bluetooth Module to Arduino

Next we connect the bluetooth module to the Arduino board.
Connections are as follows:

HC05 Tx – Arduino Rx
HC05 Rx – Arduino Tx
Vcc – 5V
GND – GND

Step 5: Complete the Arduino Setup With Battery Connections

We have used a 9V battery to power up the Arduino board with Bluetooth module. You can see the arrangement in the picture. We do this so that it is easy to mount on your wrist. The more compact it is, the better.

Step 6: Program With Pocket Code

If you haven’t got the Pocket Code app, you can go get it here.
You can have a look at the pictures we used for our program. They were inspired by Darth Vader’s chest panel (sort of). Make sure PHIRO Pro is on Mode 3 (Bluetooth Mode – press the Mode button on PHIRO till BLUE LED near the display on top turns ON.)

For the program, we had 7 conditions in total. 
Following are the conditions we used and the outputs associated with them.

1) When Index Finger is OPEN
Glow headlamps’ LEDs RED, 
Background on phone changes to show STOP

2) When Index Finger and Middle Finger are OPEN
Glow headlamps’ LEDs GREEN, 
Background on phone changes to show STOP

3) When Index Finger, Middle Finger and Ring Finger are OPEN
Glow headlamps’ LEDs BLUE, 
Background on phone changes to show STOP

4) When full palm is OPEN
PHIRO moves forward, 
Glow headlamps’ LEDs WHITE, 
Background on phone changes to show FORWARD

5) When fist is closed
PHIRO stops, 
Turn headlamps’ LEDs OFF, 
Background on phone changes to show STOP

6) When fist is closed and arm is tilted to the left, the phone tilts left
PHIRO turns Left, 
Glow Left LED YELLOW, 
Background on phone changes to show LEFT

7) When fist is closed and arm is tilted to the right, the phone tilts right
PHIRO turns Right, 
Glow Right LED YELLOW, 
Background on phone changes to show RIGHT

Read more: Wearable Wireless Gesture Control With PHIRO Pro + Arduino + Pocket Code Smartphone App (JEDI MODE)