Bluetooth

The Bluetooth communication protocol has become widespread and is used in almost all devices that have wireless connectivity. When using this protocol, we can be sure that we will be able to connect devices to each other without problems. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about issues of backward compatibility, whether the receiver and transmitter belong to the right batch or the right manufacturer, etc.

When using Bluetooth in our projects, we get the opportunity to organize a two-way communication channel within one room or small building. At the same time, we do not need cables for connection, which is especially convenient in cases where we are connecting to a mobile system or there are obstacles between the operator and the system. In fact, we can organize the operator’s workplace in any convenient place within 50-100 meters, although direct visibility between the receiver and transmitter will of course be optimal.

Another advantage of using the Bluetooth protocol is its widespread use. We can be sure that almost any modern laptop, mobile phone or tablet supports such a connection. This way, we can use any device convenient for us and switch between them if necessary.

To connect a standard Arduino controller, you need a small expansion board with Bluetooth support (for example HC-06). It allows you to emulate communication via a serial port - transmit, receive data and even reflash the controller. On the control device (computer, phone), it is enough to have a serial port emulator with bluetooth support. In this case, working with the controller will be practically no different from the usual connection with a USB cable.

Microcomputers like the Raspberry Pi have built-in Bluetooth support, so no additional transceivers are required. It is enough to use the utilities built into Raspberry OS that allow Bluetooth connection and data transfer. Moreover, in this case, we can freely transmit media content (audio and even video).

It is not necessary to use Bluetooth to connect only with a full-fledged PC. You can organize communication between two or more controllers. This allows you to create a small wireless network to transfer data between each other and synchronize actions. The main thing is that all incoming devices fall within the range of the signal and there are no obstacles between them that block radio communication

So if you want to add flexibility to your system and make it easier to connect to it, it makes sense to include support for the Bluetooth protocol. This does not require expensive components or complex software code.