Want to Invent an IoT Solution? Here's How.

Want to Invent an IoT Solution? Here’s How.

The Maker movement is a huge part of the excitement surrounding the IoT, especially in the consumer consciousness. Now, makers of all ages have a new tool for creating IoT-friendly doohickeys and whoosiwhatsits of all types, thanks to SparkFun Electronics, a provider of electronics parts and educational tutorials, and Bocoup, provider of open-source technology consulting and training.

Together they’ve released the Johnny Five Inventors Kit (J5IK), the first kit available for developing projects using the Tessel 2 and the Johnny-Five Robotics and IoT Platform. The J5IK helps inventors build internet-connected, JavaScript-powered hardware projects. The kit includes: an IoT project building platform, everything needed to complete 14 circuits, connection to a user community and documentation, motor drivers, resistors, LEDs, soil-moisture sensor, magnetic door switch set, shadow chassis motor, buttons, breadboard (white adhesive), USB microB cable, trimmable potentiometer, miniature photocell, and a mini power switch. It also does not require previous programming experience or soldering, so it can support beginners and experienced makers working on advanced projects.

“This has been a missing link in the JavaScript community and represents a new era of usability for single-board computers,” said Boaz Sender, CEO, Bocoup, “SparkFun is the ideal hardware partner to co-develop and build the kits--they have the common mission of making programming and electronics more accessible.”

One of the primary goals of this kit is to support software developers in going from code on the screen to making things happen in real life; conversely, the kit supports hardware developers with tools that make it easier to build web-connected projects. To serve all users, the online Experiment Guide for the J5IK contains step by step instructions of how to connect each circuit with the included parts. Full example code is provided and explained and includes troubleshooting tips if something goes wrong.

“We are constantly challenging ourselves with developing faster paths to connecting hardware and software,” said Nathan Seidle, Founder and CEO, SparkFun, “By marrying our efforts with Bocoup, we were able to build a powerful solution that supports software and hardware developers. As more people engage in development for IoT, the seamless connection between programming and hardware is absolutely critical.”