Unleash the Potential of Android Things with Peripheral IO Manager

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Android Things?
3. The Android Things Support Library
4. The Peripheral IO APIs
5. The User Drivers
6. Advantages of Using User Drivers
7. The Peripheral Manager Client
8. Using UPM and MRAA Libraries
9. The Benefits of UPM Modules
10. The Google Android Things Resources

Introduction

Hello everyone! Today, I will be presenting a Second part of a two-part series on Android Things, a beautiful aisle that is a part of Android Things. I am Sandra Alvarez, an engineer with Intel, and I will be focusing on enabling Intel's starter boards on Android Things. In this presentation, I will provide an introduction to Android Things, discuss the Android Things Support Library, explain the Peripheral IO APIs, introduce user drivers, and explore the benefits of using user drivers. We will also dive into the Peripheral Manager Client and discuss how to leverage the UPM and MRAA libraries. Finally, I will share some valuable resources provided by Google for Android Things developers.

What is Android Things?

Android Things is an operating system specifically designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It was released back in November last year as a Developer Preview. It supports a variety of starter boards, including Intel's Edison, Raspberry Pi 3, and NXP speaker, with each board having its own unique capabilities. Android Things aims to leverage the work done on the Android framework while providing specific features and APIs for IoT devices.

The Android Things Support Library

The Android Things Support Library is a crucial component of Android Things. It extends the framework to enable communication and integration with devices that are not typically found on mobile devices. The Support Library is streamlined for single-application use, meaning that it removes the need for a home screen and allows only one application to run at the end of boot up. This ensures that Android Things is optimized for devices without displays.

The Peripheral IO APIs

The Peripheral IO APIs in Android Things provide developers with standardized protocols to communicate with various devices such as GPIO, SPI, and I2C. These APIs allow developers to easily connect sensors and actuators to their Android Things devices. Using the Peripheral IO APIs, developers can register for events, set directions and values, and even configure interrupts for GPIO pins. The Peripheral IO APIs are an essential part of integrating hardware with the Android Things framework.

The User Drivers

User drivers in Android Things are an extension of the framework that helps application developers inject hardware events into the system. By creating user drivers, developers can make their hardware devices part of the Android Things framework, allowing other applications to utilize the functionality. User drivers enable easy integration, reusability, and portability of hardware components in Android Things.

Advantages of Using User Drivers

Using user drivers in Android Things offers several benefits. Firstly, it facilitates easy integration as the user drivers are part of the framework, providing a clear API for application developers to use. Secondly, user drivers are reusable, which means that developers can utilize existing user drivers available online or from other sources to enhance their applications. Additionally, user drivers enhance portability, allowing applications to work seamlessly across different platforms without any modifications.

The Peripheral Manager Client

The Peripheral Manager Client is an essential part of Android Things that provides a centralized class for communication with various peripherals. It establishes a connection between physical pins and applications, ensuring serialization and mutual exclusion of resources. The Peripheral Manager Client also abstracts low-level interfaces, providing a secure and streamlined way to interact with hardware devices.

Using UPM and MRAA Libraries

The UPM (Useful Packages & Modules) and MRAA libraries are collections of sensors and actuators specifically designed for IoT devices. These libraries, initially started by Intel, now have broad community support and offer support for a wide range of sensors and industry protocols. The UPM and MRAA libraries can be integrated into Android Things, allowing developers to quickly and easily access the functionalities of various hardware components.

The Benefits of UPM Modules

UPM modules provide a convenient way for developers to access sensors and actuators. With over 250 different sensors supported by UPM, developers can rely on the library to handle complex interactions with various hardware components. The modular nature of UPM allows for easy customization and scalability in IoT projects.

The Google Android Things Resources

Google provides a wealth of resources for Android Things developers. The official landing page for Android Things offers information on supported hardware and system image downloads. The SDK section provides documentation on various APIs, including the Native Peripheral IO API and user drivers contributed by Google. Additionally, Google's GitHub repository for Android Things contains valuable resources and examples for developers to explore and utilize in their projects.

In conclusion, Android Things presents an exciting platform for developing IoT applications. By leveraging the Android framework and integrating hardware components using user drivers and the Peripheral IO APIs, developers can unlock endless possibilities in the world of IoT. The UPM and MRAA libraries further enhance development capabilities by providing a wide range of supported sensors and actuators. With Google's extensive resources, developers have everything they need to get started and create innovative IoT solutions.

🌟 Highlights:

• Android Things is an operating system for IoT devices.
• The Android Things Support Library extends the framework for IoT integration.
• User drivers enable easy integration, reusability, and portability of hardware.
• The Peripheral Manager Client provides secure and streamlined communication with peripherals.
• UPM and MRAA libraries offer a wide range of supported sensors and actuators.
• Google provides valuable resources and documentation for Android Things development.

🙋‍♀️ FAQs: Q: Can I develop Android Things applications in languages other than Java? A: Yes, with the recent NDK support, developers can write applications in C/C++ and Java for Android Things.

Q: How can I access the hardware capabilities of Android Things devices? A: The Peripheral IO APIs allow developers to interact with GPIO, SPI, I2C, and other hardware protocols.

Q: Can I reuse existing user drivers in my Android Things application? A: Yes, user drivers are reusable, and you can pull and install drivers available online or from other sources.

Q: Are UPM modules compatible with different hardware platforms? A: Yes, UPM modules are designed to work across different platforms, providing portability and ease of use in IoT projects.

Q: Where can I find more resources and examples for Android Things development? A: Google's official landing page and GitHub repository for Android Things provide a wealth of resources and examples for developers to explore.

Resources:

• Android Things Official Website
• Android Things Supported Hardware
• Android Things SDK Documentation
• Google Android Things GitHub Repository
• UPM Library