Packet Tracer 8.2 - Arduino emulation for IoT programming
What is Arduino ?
Arduino is a hardware and software company building microcontroller-based kits for building digital devices and interactive objects that can sense and control physical devices.
The project is based on microcontroller board designs, produced by several vendors, using several microcontrollers. Arduino boards provide digital and analog input/output (I/O) pins that can interface to different expansion boards and other circuits. The boards feature serial and USB communication interfaces for loading programs from computers to the boards.
Programming the microcontrollers is done through the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) based on a programming language named Processing, which also supports the languages C and C++.
Arduino at Cisco Live 2016
Arduino organised a technical challenge at Cisco Live 2016. The idea was that people at the Cisco event could discover and play with some fun Arduino projects like a RFID lock, a colour sensing and display thing, and a light sensitive theremin. Have a look on the video ;-)
Arduino language implemented in Packet Tracer 8.2
Packet Tracer 7.0 was the first Cisco Packet Tracer release including IoT features. This version includes IoT components and microcontroller (MCU-PT) or single boarded computers (SBC-PT) to connect them to the network. The microcontroller board emulate Arduino hardware and can be programmed using the same Processing language.
Function | Packet Tracer 8 reference | Arduino reference |
Structure | ||
setup() | If defined, this function is called once when the program starts. function setup() { | The setup() function is called when a sketch starts. Use it to initialize variables, pin modes, start using libraries, etc. The setup function will only run once, after each powerup or reset of the Arduino board. void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT); } |
loop() | If defined, this function is called continuously when the program is running. The frequency of the calls depends on the complexity of this function, the number of other devices running programs and their complexity, and the machine's processing power. function loop() { Serial.println(digitalRead(0)); } | After creating a setup() function, which initializes and sets the initial values, the loop() function does precisely what its name suggests, and loops consecutively, allowing your program to change and respond. Use it to actively control the Arduino board. void loop() { if (digitalRead(buttonPin) == HIGH) Serial.write('H'); else Serial.write('L'); delay(1000); } |
Digital I/O | ||
pinMode(slot, mode) | Set a digital slot to INPUT or OUTPUT. pinMode(1, OUTPUT); pinMode(2, INPUT); | Configures the specified pin to behave either as an input or an output. void setup() { pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // sets the digital pin as output } void loop() { digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // sets the LED on delay(1000); // waits for a second digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // sets the LED off delay(1000); // waits for a second } |
digitalRead(slot) | | Reads the value from a specified digital pin, either HIGH or LOW |
digitalWrite(slot, value) | Writes to a digital slot with HIGH or LOW. | Write a HIGH or a LOW value to a digital pin. |