Adafruit Wearables

Draft

Introduction

FLORA is Adafruit's wearable electronics platform. It's built around the Arduino Atmega32u4 chip and has built-in USB support.

It is an alternative to the Lilypad

Components of the FLORA system

Boards

AdaFruit Flora. Source: Flickr of AdaFruit

659 FLORA V3

• FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible - v3 (as of Aug 2019) is the main board. It it includes a processor, a LED and various connectors. ($ 15)
• 4.4 grams
• 4.5 cm diameter (1.75)
• 7mm thick (0.3")
• USB support (Micro B cable needed)
• Battery connector (several battery types are supported, i.e. 3.5v to 16v))
• 14 connectors / also used for sewing.

Circuit Playground

• An board that integrates LEDs, made for learning Arduino programming.
• See below for the Express pack version.

AdaFruit Circuit Playground Express'. Source: Flickr of AdaFruit

Circuit Playground Express ($25)

• Circuit Playground Express.
• 50.6mm / ~2.0", Weight: 8.9g
• $ 25

This board includes:

• 10 x mini NeoPixels, each one can display any color
• 1 Motion sensor (LIS3DH triple-axis accelerometer with tap detection, free-fall detection)
• 1 Temperature sensor
• 1 Light sensor. Can also act as a color sensor and pulse sensor.
• 1 Sound sensor (MEMS microphone)
• 1 Mini speaker with class D amplifier (7.5mm magnetic speaker/buzzer)
• 2 x Push buttons, labeled A and B
• 1 x Slide switch
• Infrared receiver and transmitter - can receive and transmit any remote control codes, as well as send messages between Circuit Playground Expresses. Can also act as a proximity sensor.
• .... and more

Input

• FLORA Accelerometer/Compass Sensor - LSM303 - v1.0
• Flora Wearable Ultimate GPS Module
• Flora Color Sensor with White Illumination LED - TCS34725
• Flora UV Index Sensor - Si1145 Light Sensor
• Flora Wearable Bluefruit LE Module. Bluetooth module, can act as controller. But also send data.

Ouptut

• Flora RGB Smart NeoPixel version 2 - Pack of 4
• GEMMA Talking Toy Guts Sound Pack

Packs

• FLORA GPS Starter Pack ($ 90)
• FLORA Budget Pack ($ 35)
• Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA Book Pack ($95). This includes probably everything that is needed for a simple project

Playground Express

Playground express are interesting for education since the board can be programmed with MakeCode, JavaScript or CircuitPython.

• Circuit Playground Express - Base Kit, includes a battery and USB cable.
• Circuit Playground Express Advanced Pack, includes 2 Playground express, trheads, needles, alligator clips, a servo motor, NeoPixels, etc.

Sewing / fixing

• Small Alligator Clip Test Lead (set of 12) for testing before connecting the threads
• Stainless Medium Conductive Thread - 3 ply - 18 meter/60 ft
• Magnetic Pin Back

Other

• 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST. If you plan to use standard AAA batteries.
• Lithium Ion Polymer Battery - 3.7v 1200mAh plus a a LiIon/LiPoly constant-voltage/constant-current charger to recharge them

Links

• Flora Main product page

Bibliography

See also: e-textile

• Stern, B., & Cooper, T. (2015). Getting started with Adafruit FLORA: making wearables with an Arduino-compatible electronics platform. Maker Media, Inc..