This is an IPython Notebook that contains a proof of concept of communicating with an Arduino.

IPython Arduino Notebook

{
 "metadata": {
  "name": "Arduino"
 },
 "nbformat": 3,
 "nbformat_minor": 0,
 "worksheets": [
  {
   "cells": [
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 1,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "Arduino in IPython"
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 2,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "Import the Libraries"
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "code",
     "collapsed": false,
     "input": [
      "from IPython.display import clear_output\n",
      "from time import sleep\n",
      "import serial\n",
      "import os\n",
      "import sys"
     ],
     "language": "python",
     "metadata": {},
     "outputs": [],
     "prompt_number": 1
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 2,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "Run this prior to plugging in your Arduino to set a baseline."
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "code",
     "collapsed": false,
     "input": [
      "os.system(\"ls /dev/tty* > prelist.txt\") # Build a list of all the currently connected tty devices (For linux)"
     ],
     "language": "python",
     "metadata": {},
     "outputs": [
      {
       "output_type": "pyout",
       "prompt_number": 2,
       "text": [
        "0"
       ]
      }
     ],
     "prompt_number": 2
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 2,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "Plug in the Arduino now."
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "code",
     "collapsed": false,
     "input": [
      "os.system(\"ls /dev/tty* > postlist.txt\") # Build a list of all connected tty devices that includes the Arduino\n",
      "pre_list=[]\n",
      "with open('prelist.txt', 'r') as f:\n",
      "    for line in f:\n",
      "        pre_list.append(line)\n",
      "with open('postlist.txt', 'r') as f:\n",
      "    for line in f:\n",
      "        if line not in pre_list:\n",
      "            print(\"Your device id is {}\".format(line))\n",
      "            dev = line.strip('\\n') # Remove the end of line character"
     ],
     "language": "python",
     "metadata": {},
     "outputs": [
      {
       "output_type": "stream",
       "stream": "stdout",
       "text": [
        "Your device id is /dev/ttyUSB0\n",
        "\n"
       ]
      }
     ],
     "prompt_number": 3
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "markdown",
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "###Copied code from [instructables.com](http://www.instructables.com/id/Interface-Python-and-Arduino-with-pySerial/step3/Program-Idle/) works with Python 2.7\n",
      "\n",
      "    from time import sleep\n",
      "    import serial\n",
      "    ser = serial.Serial('/dev/tty.usbmodem1d11', 9600) # Establish the connection on a specific port\n",
      "    counter = 32 # Below 32 everything in ASCII is gibberish\n",
      "    while True:\n",
      "         counter +=1\n",
      "         ser.write(str(chr(counter))) # Convert the decimal number to ASCII then send it to the Arduino\n",
      "         print ser.readline() # Read the newest output from the Arduino\n",
      "         sleep(.1) # Delay for one tenth of a second\n",
      "         if counter == 255:\n",
      "         counter = 32"
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 2,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "IPython3 Version (Slightly embellished)"
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "markdown",
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "* The code was slightly embellished with the use of clear_output(), and stdout.flush() found in the \n",
      "animation example in the official IPython Notebook [Example Collection](https://github.com/ipython/ipython/tree/master/examples/notebooks)."
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "code",
     "collapsed": false,
     "input": [
      "ser = serial.Serial(dev, 9600, timeout = 0.25) # Establish the connection on a specific port\n",
      "counter = 32 # Below 32 everything in ASCII is gibberish\n",
      "sleep(5)     # The Arduino needs 5 seconds to wake up unless the code is uploaded as hex.\n",
      "back = ser.readline().decode('ascii') # Python3.* requires explicit encoding and decoding of bytes\n",
      "print(back) # Should say 'Ready'\n",
      "sys.stdout.flush() # This forces the output to the screen (avoid delays)\n",
      "sleep(0.5) # 0.5 second delay\n",
      "ser.write(b'\\x00') # Send a \"flush serial\" signal to the arduino (see Arduino Code)\n",
      "ser.flush() \n",
      "while counter<65: # Send and display the ASCII characters from #32 to #65\n",
      "    counter +=1\n",
      "    out = str(chr(counter)).encode('ascii') # The output must be explicitly encoded in Python3.*\n",
      "    clear_output() # Erase what is currently displayed (avoids a long line of output)\n",
      "    \n",
      "    # The clear_output() does cause a flicker, (the lower cells temporarialy jump up).\n",
      "    \n",
      "    print(\"{} was sent as {} (ASCII - {})\".format(out.decode('ascii'),out, counter))\n",
      "    ser.write(out)\n",
      "    sleep(0.1) # Give the arduino a chance to talk back\n",
      "    back = ser.readline().decode('ascii')\n",
      "    print(back) # Read the newest output from the Arduino\n",
      "    \n",
      "    sys.stdout.flush() # Reduces the flicker\n",
      "    \n",
      "    sleep(0.5) # Delay for 0.5 seconds\n",
      "    "
     ],
     "language": "python",
     "metadata": {},
     "outputs": [
      {
       "output_type": "stream",
       "stream": "stdout",
       "text": [
        "A was sent as b'A' (ASCII - 65)\n",
        "The arduino recieved 'A'\r\n"
       ]
      },
      {
       "output_type": "stream",
       "stream": "stdout",
       "text": [
        "\n"
       ]
      }
     ],
     "prompt_number": 4
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "heading",
     "level": 2,
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "Arduino Code"
     ]
    },
    {
     "cell_type": "markdown",
     "metadata": {},
     "source": [
      "###Previosly Uploaded Arduino Code\n",
      "\n",
      "This code needs to be uploaded to the Arduino prior to running this Notebook.\n",
      "\n",
      "    void setup() {\n",
      "      Serial.begin(9600); // set the baud rate\n",
      "      Serial.println(\"Ready\"); // print \"Ready\" once\n",
      "    }\n",
      "    void loop() {\n",
      "      char inByte = ' ';\n",
      "      if(Serial.available()){ // only send data back if data has been sent\n",
      "        char inByte = Serial.read(); // read the incoming data\n",
      "        if (inByte != 0){\n",
      "          char echo[] = \"The arduino recieved '#'\";\n",
      "          echo[22]=inByte; // replace the '#' with the character recieved\n",
      "          Serial.println(echo); // send the data back in a new line so that it is not all one long line\n",
      "        }\n",
      "        else{\n",
      "          Serial.flush(); // a call to flush the serial buffer was made\n",
      "        }\n",
      "      }\n",
      "      delay(100); // delay for 1/10 of a second\n",
      "    }\n",
      "\n",
      "This is slighly modified from what can be found at [instructables.com](http://www.instructables.com/id/Interface-Python-and-Arduino-with-pySerial/step2/Program-the-Arduino/)."
     ]
    }
   ],
   "metadata": {}
  }
 ]
}