Description
Typically an Internet connected Arduino system requires two or three boards. Once assembled the base network software leaves little room for actual application code. In addition the combination of network and SD card often utilizes many of the available Arduino I/O pins.
WildFire is single integrated board based on the ESP 8266 Wi-Fi module, the ATmega1284p processor and on-board microSD card slot.
We recommend using CodeBender.cc browser based programming – it is simply the easiest way to get started, and you can share sketches. Of course the regular Arduino IDE works just fine as well.
Combining all the building blocks required for a network connected system on a single board allows you to build a compact network connected device. The increased memory size of ATmega1284p allows you to create larger applications with bigger data requirements. Additional I/O capabilities of the processor give you the ability to read additional sensors or control larger I/O intensive devices.
Specifications:
- Wi-Fi with ESP 8266 and on-board antenna
- External watchdog timer
- 128K Flash (4x UNO)
- 16K or SRAM (8x UNO)
- 4K EEPROM (4x UNO)
- Micro SD card slot for applications such as data logging
- 4 Additional Digital I/O pins
- 2 Additional Analog Inputs
- Accepts Arduino shields
- Programmable via Arduino IDE
- Network configuration via TI SmartConfig application (iOs/Android/PC)
- 4-layer PCB with dedicated GND and power plane
- Powered via micro USB or Power jack
- An extra row of headers on each side for convenient soldering. Ideal for semi-permanent projects.
The WildFire comes pre-installed with a RESTduino based sketch that allows you to read and write to the WildFire I/O pins from any browser on the same network as the WildFire.
Applications:
- Internet connected sensor and/or controller
- Data logging
- Store and Forward
- Embedded Web Server
Why is a watchdog timer useful?
A watchdog timer is a way for a chip to reset itself because it triggers if you do nothing – you have to stop it triggering. This is useful if the device freezes – it will just sit there, unless there is a watchdog. If you don’t tell the watchdog “don’t reset”, it will do so. This fixes problems with freezing up. This is essential for long running, production embedded devices.
The ATMega chip series have an internal watchdog, but this is problematic for two reasons.
1. It has an 8 second maximum timeout. This means you must reset it at least every 8 seconds. That is not long enough for some internet applications, where we need to wait longer for a timeout. It might be functioning perfectly after 30 seconds, and is just waiting for a response. The external watchdog can be configured for up to 64 seconds.
2. The timer is on the chip. If the chip itself does a very hard freeze, it needs an external reset.
And less important, but still useful, is that the external watchdog is much more configurable.
