The Electronics Hobbyist

Pachube.com, is a website that enables its users to share real-time data collected from a series of environment sensors connected to objects and devices around the world. Existing information shared by others can also be used to control actuators based on the data received. There are several feeds currently sharing light levels, wind speed, air quality, humidity, temperature and pressure information, to name a few, facilitating interaction between physical or virtual remote locations.

Arduino users may easily participate in this community. Different sensor and actuators are necessary (temperature, light, pressure, keys, potentiometers, LEDS, etc.) depending on the complexity of the application that one wishes to develop. There are two ways to connect and send/receive information to/from Pachube: connecting the Arduino Duemilanove via USB cable to a computer with Internet access or using an Arduino Ethernet Shield directly connected to the Internet.

Some knowledge of Ethernet, a valid IP or DynDNS are required as well as a Processing application to communicate with an Arduino upon which a Firmata sketch has been installed. (Firmata is a microcontroller communication protocol that allows complete control of the Arduino from software). The Pachube website explains the step-by-step process of designing circuits, connecting sensors and writing the software.

What is also interesting is the ability to mark on a Google map the place where you are running the experiment and acquiring the data, using an API Key that enables publishing the information to the Internet.

Here is a list from the Pachube website that explains some possibilities for the use of its service: community.pachube.com/what_can_i_use_pachube_for.

We are entering a new information era dubbed “The Internet of Things”. The Internet of Things is based on networks of ubiquitous sensors in intelligent environments. Thus the Internet connects not only computers and communication terminals, but everyday objects as well. Clothing, consumer electronics, household appliances, can all be used in the creation of sophisticated interactions among people, bringing better quality of services and comfort.

One of the most prominent technologies that serves as a gateway to The Internet of Things is RFIDation). RFID is a mature technology that can make The Internet of Things possible as well as serve as the basis for other object identification systems.

RFID permits the automatic wireless capture of identification and data belonging to electronically tagged objects that can contain additional information about them. When these tags are connected via sensors and communication networks such as the Internet, this technology becomes a powerful way to offer new services and applications in pretty much any environment.

To read more about this exciting subject check out Lu Yan’s book The Internet of Things: From RFID to the Next-Generation Pervasive Networked Systems at Amazon.com.