Implementing a Wireless I/O Unit using Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a new standard for wireless communication. The aim so far has mostly been to use this technology in an office environment. This master thesis considers the advantages of Bluetooth in an industrial environment. A general circuit board that uses Bluetooth for wireless communication has been constructed. The board can be seen in the picture to the right. This platform can easily be connected to almost any electrical device, which then gains the benefits of wireless communication. The devices can for example be carports, door locks, or sensors and actuators in industrial processes. The developed software does not support any Bluetooth profile, but is general and easy to expand. To show the possibilities with the hardware platform a 1/10th-scale car application has been developed. The car is steered by a joystick and both devices are attached to the general hardware platform.