New Grove BoosterPack from Seeed Studio

[adrianF 43]

Hey all

Just wanted to announce the availability of the Grove Base BoosterPack from Seeed Studio! Here's a quick blog post that introduces the BoosterPack

 

In short, this BoosterPack enables the LaunchPad kits to gain access to Seeed Studio's HUGE list of Grove modules. I believe they have over 130 different modules today, ranging from ultrasonic, moisture, temperature, gas, relays, displays & more.

 

While these modules can interface with any of the TI LaunchPads, they pair especially well with cloud-connected LaunchPad kits such as the CC3200 for IoT applications/intelligent sensors.

 

 

The nice thing is that most of these modules have Wiring/Arduino-based example sketches & libraries, so they work very well with Energia.

 

Here's a quick video demo of us using the Grove modules to create a cloud-connected wireless RF sensor network:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4eyB4CA-r8

 

Here's a blog post with more details: http://energia.nu/rapid-prototyping-made-easy-with-the-grove-base-boosterpack-starter-kit-from-seeedstudio/ 

 

Cheers!

Adrian

[igor 163]

So how many of which connectors work on a 20 pin launchpad (like the MSP430 launchpad)?

 

Same question for the CC3200 (given that it has 3 analog input pins, analog inputs have more limited voltage range, and many of the pins on the 40 pin connector are not connected).

 

How is the analog input voltage limitation of the CC3200 handled - does the booster pack scale the voltage, do all the grove analog modules have a way of selecting appropriate voltage scale (lower than 3.3 v)?

 

(Seeing that that Energia examples that use analog input, 

such as http://energia.nu/guide/grove-starter-kit/grove_takingcareofyourplants/

would not compile on the CC3200, I am curious how ideal it really is.)

 

Making this work with all the variations of launchpad pinout must have been quite a job.  If there are any limitations in what can be used on which launchpad it would be nice to have that all laid out in the documentation/promos.

[spirilis 1,265]

I'll be willing to bet it doesn't support the CC3200's analog stuff. It's also the only LP with that voltage limitation so I wouldn't be concerned anyhow. At worst someone could conjure up a piece of adapter hardware to scale it properly.

 

Sent from my Galaxy Note II with Tapatalk 4

[igor 163]

I'll be willing to bet it doesn't support the CC3200's analog stuff. It's also the only LP with that voltage limitation so I wouldn't be concerned anyhow. At worst someone could conjure up a piece of adapter hardware to scale it properly.

 

 

That is the situation I expect as far as CC3200 support.  (Though I am hoping to be surprised and find out that this was all taken care of.)  To me the worst part would be advertising it without being clear about the limitations, especially since this sort of thing is apt to appeal to beginners, non-specialists, etc.  Experienced folks know to be suspicious and to read the specifications carefully (though sometimes still get a nasty surprise).  I would rather ease beginners into electronics a bit, rather than having them get something that is apt to bite them right away.  

 

"If it dies, it's biology.

If it explodes, it's chemistry.

If it doesn't work, it's physics."

[adrianF 43]

Great questions, Igor

 

The Grove BoosterPack leverages the following pins for the various connectors. We did our best to align with the 40 pin BoosterPack pin out. Note that we are heavily leveraging the analog & digital pins that are at the "inside-20" pins (the 2 inner-most connectors of the BoosterPack plug). To enable these connections on a 20 pin LaunchPad (i.e. MSP-EXP430G2 or MSP-EXP430FR5969), you will have to use jumper wires to make the appropriate connections.

 

 

 

In regards to the CC3200 analog channels, the BoosterPack does not do any scaling. For most of our WiFi demos, we are using the CC3100 BoosterPack paired with a MSP LaunchPad. Very little pin conflicts with this combo & we get the full 0 to VCC range of the MSP analog input channels.

 

The table above & other details are available in the printed guide that will be included in the starter kit.

 

Hope this helps!
Adrian

[remixed 0]

Hi Adrian and others,

 

I just came across the Groove BoosterPack and it looks like it would be perfect for professional product development. So much cleaner and quicker than bread boarding or making a custom booster pack. I can have a basic prototype together in days instead of weeks.

 

I develop in c and not Energia...which I am assume is fine as the BoosterPack is just routing pins to plugs. But I do have some questions about routing, as I was wondering if it can be used in a current project I am scoping.

 

The Groove BoosterPack has clearly marked, Analog, Serial and Digital . But I only require digital for 6 LEDs, 2 buttons and a relay. Would this be possible with the Groove BoosterPack?

 

Thanks! 

[Rei Vilo 695]

The Grove BoosterPack only re-routes the pins from the LaunchPad and adds no circuitry in between, so actually the LaunchPad defines the features of the pins on the BoosterPack.