code::blueWand

caution: experimental

What is this?

Code project bluewand was started in order to become a Tiny Open Source API to speak with the KANO Wand. It is a layer over the bluepy library which itself utilises bluez. All that it means is that practically that currently it only supports Linux (tested on Raspberry Pi3/3b on Stretch Raspbian and the latest KANO OS v4.1).

There are plans to create a cross platform Open Source API that will utilise its full functionality.

OK, but what can I do with it?

Currently not much.

It started as a internal experimental approach, to find out whether we can interface the KANO Wand by having as little information as possible (so that's mostly a Reverse Engineered approach).

There most important part is the example program, that gets you started by interfacing the Wand! You can connect to the Wand automatically (it detects a Wand based on it's name but that can be extended easily to detect the closest Wand; feel free to take this and create a PR) :) It also outputs the quaternions in real time! Now, that sounds fun.

The structure is there though to implement an OO wand and be able to do a make install and from inside your REPL from magic import wand!

OK, now tell me now how do I run it

If you are comfortable with virtualenv feel free to experiment with your own environment. Otherwise it should be as easy as:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install python3-pip -y
sudo pip3 install bluepy

git clone https://github.com/wizofe/bluewand-python
cd bluewand-python

# Run the demo program
(sudo) python3 magic/bluewand.py

A Piplock and pipenv is also on plans.

Can I contribute to this project?

Absolutely! Feel free to impelement new features, experiment with the KANO Wand LED's, Vibration Motor, etc. Also a lot of work needs to be done in order to make sense of the quaternions or the other movement sensors (including accelerometer etc).

Just send your issue or your PR in! The idea should be very similar to the thingy52.py from the bluepy library (Hint hint!)

Can you help me hacking it?

Sure. Here are some fine details:

• The protocol is BLE
• Sensor Service 64A70011-F691-4B93-A6F4-0968F5B648F8
• Quaternions Characteristic 64A70002-F691-4B93-A6F4-0968F5B648F8
• Format: 4 x int16
• Minimum Value: -1000
• Maximum Value: 1000
• Attributes: Notify, Read
• Details: Returns the orientation values in quaternions * 1000

Thanks to Gabriel for those details.

What about Copyright?

The whole thing is Copyrighted under the GNU GPLv3.0.