Hello @ashutosh1982
We are still on schedule for a spring release. Currently finishing the design optimization for manufacturing. Currently testing the revised moisture sensors which have a smaller footprint and lower profile. They also have been ported to use the same Zigbee module found in SmartThings and many other devices. This was one of the major milestones in our schedule and we are nearly finished with the code and testing!
4 Likes
Thats excellent news. It will be great to have an irrigation controller in the smart things family. Just out of curiosity,which ziggbee module are you using??
Thanks
Ash
Nate,
First - Very nice work on the Eve system! I am looking forward to its availability, hopefully in time for this spring/summer season!
Second - I was just reading the spec sheet for the CEL Meshconnect EM357 Zigbee module. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much SRAM and Flash storage it had, as well as a decent CPU and a ton of I/O capability. I am curious how easy it is to program and use? It would seem like one could easily use this module (or its bigger EM358 brother) as an all-in-one do-it-yourself CPU, I/O, and Zigbee communications kit. I have used the Arduino + ThingShield (which appears to use the same CEL Zigbee module) and have found the Arduinoās processor and memory limiting at times. It would be great to somehow sell one of these CEL 357/358 chips on a prototype board which exposed the I/O pins and provided a USB programming connector. I have no idea if it is even possible, but it could be a nice, small, low power solution for making oneās own custom āThings.ā Any thoughts as someone who has used the CEL 357 module? Does Eve just use the CEL module, or does Eve have another CPU and just uses the 357 for Zigbee? Obviously, if youād rather not answer that last question, I totally understand!
Thanks,
Dan
1 Like
Thanks, Spring availability is the plan!
The EM35x are great modules, however they require an IAR license and SiLabs software to build the Zigbee framework and program. A bit of an investment to get them up and running. I think the SmartThings shields do a decent job of utilizing them but of course that limits you to arduino and doesnāt allow access to the Zigbee stack. Not really sure what it would take to get the USB on the EM358 working from something like arduino. I looked briefly at this but didnāt see an easy way of doing it.
I think it would have been nice if SmartThings put an A32U4 with Leonardo on the same board, then it could be programmed USB directly, still had the IOās and would have been a smaller package.
Our first prototypes were basically a board with an Xbee and an Atmel 32U4 programmed with a Leonard bootloader making it easy to program via USB and arduino. The nice part about doing it this way is that the Zigbee code is available and the device can be āfingerprintedā by SmartThings and act like a ārealā device opposed to a āThingā The downside is making a Zigbee compliant device requires basically writing all the send and response code. The XBee arduino library will get you part way there but needs āexplicitā packets added in to really function, and is still far from a compliant device. Of course compliance doesnāt really matter for your own āthings.ā
I have been meaning to release some of the code we used so others could build Leonardo/XBee devices that work with SmartThings but have not found the time to dig it back up.
I think the EM35x break out boards would be great, and probably programmable with Xduino somehow but getting the Zigbee stack to function would be a whole new project.
Nate
1 Like
Hey Nate,
Thanks for your response. You mentioned that IAR License is required ā¦ Would that be the case even if I had to use a PIC micro as well? Which MCU did you use? I assume you used one from SiLabs? Would a PIC mirco be interfaced to control the EM35x modules? I understand thats how SmartThings have used it.
Thanks,
Ash
EM35x has an ARM Cortex processor built into the module. So to program and get any functionality out of the EM35x it needs to be programmed - via an ARM compiler. There are cheaper(maybe free) ARM compilers out there but you would still need to interface with the Zigbee radio and the libraries from SiLabs are built for IAR. The EM35x uses an Ember Zigbee radio just like an XBee uses. The difference is in what is built into the module. If you want to program an external chip, you could use an XBee which can be configured with similar radio output and sleep functions as the CEL EM35x. You can tie into the serial port but you will still need to write the read and respond Zigbee code. Their is an Arduino library for this, however when I used it a year or so ago it was missing some code that was needed to work with SmartThings.
I am not sure if SmartThings uses a separate MCU except on the Shield. The low power devices do not. This is much of the advantage of the CEL module(and other similar brands)
1 Like
Nate,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Very informative!
Dan
No problem, I thought of something else you could do to get more memory/processor power. Xduino says they bring a similar IDE as Arduino to ARM processors, so you could use one of those and tie it to an Xbee and get the memory/MCU you are looking for.
Eve Update!
We have been flying under the radar for a while now, but are nearly ready to manufacture! Kickstarter will be coming very soon and we will even be taking first steps towards manufacturing before our campaign ends to ensure devices are delivered as quickly as possible!
Eve is looking fantastic - similar to the original design, but more refined and designed for easier installation! Eve moisture sensors have a smaller footprint and lower height as well as improved battery life! The app has a multitude of options and notifications and we will share the commands you need to know to write your own SmartApps!
1 Like
Greatā¦ Looking forward to the KS campaignā¦
Good Luckā¦
Thanks for the update. Iāve been impatiently waiting for this to come back to kickstarter. Iām glad to see that this is moving forward.
2 Likes
@natec007 I just backed he kickstarterā¦Cant wait to get thisā¦Great Job!!!
Thanks @ashutosh1982
Appreciate the support!!
We are FUNDED!!!
Took just 2 hours to hit our goal, Thanks backers!
We just got started, still plenty of time to get your own Eve controller or sensors! Kickstarter
I went in for one. Canāt wait.
Signed up as well on KSā¦ Canāt waitā¦
Going from 2 50 ft hoses on either side of the houe to an automated setup, need to buy the compatible valves and lay the underground pipes and wiresā¦
Any recommendations ?
thanks
Hey @BatraD
Great!
Eve can be used with any standard 24vac solenoid valve. These are available at any garden supply store (Home Depot, OSH, etc) and are used by every manufacturer. Price range $10-20/each. Ours are installed right next to the house next to the water spigot. The wire runs from these valves to Eve. No underground wires for us. From the valves our PVC runs underground to the pop up heads throughout the yard. We also have a valve that runs a drip irrigation for flower beds.
At another house, they just used hoses attached to the valves and ran automatic watering that way.
Let me know if your looking for additional information.
Thanks!
thanks for the reply
I will keep that in mind (installing the valves near the home) and running individual pipes out to the area when I discuss the design with my Landscape coā¦
Question: Do the Adam units have solar charging ? or would I need batteries for them ?
-d