Starter Guide

Springbot Starter Kit

A quick introduction to what the Springbot does when first powered up, which sensors are included, how logging works, and how to configure Wi-Fi and view dashboard data.

Springbot Utility for iOS Springbot Dashboard

First Startup

When the Springbot is powered up for the first time, you will see a red LED on the back of the Springbot flashing slowly. This happens while the Springbot is trying to connect to Wi-Fi and, at the same time, verifying which xChips are connected to it.

Once it has connected, you will see the Springbot logo. After that, the display will automatically scroll through different screens, showing values from the various connected sensors.

Slow flashing red LED during startup Wi-Fi connection check xChip detection Auto-scrolling sensor screens

Included Sensors

The default sensors available are a temperature and humidity sensor. There is also a phototransistor, also known as an analog ambient light sensor, and an IMU, which in this case is an accelerometer.

Temperature

Measures ambient temperature and shows the value on the display.

Humidity

Measures relative humidity and displays it together with the environmental data.

Phototransistor

Acts as an analog ambient light sensor to indicate light level.

IMU / Accelerometer

Measures movement and orientation-related acceleration values.

SD Card Logging

If an SD card is inserted on the back of the Springbot, the software will automatically log all sensor information to a comma-separated values file, also known as a CSV file.

This file can be opened in any text editor as well as in spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, Google Sheets, and similar programs.

Insert an SD card and logging starts automatically. The saved CSV file can be read both as plain text and in spreadsheet applications.
Make sure the SD Card is a microSD with maximum 32GB.
If the SD Card has been used for anything else, then it needs to be reformated, with SD Card Formatter using the "Overwrite format" option.

Buttons A and B

On the front of the Springbot, there are two buttons, A and B. You can use these buttons to scroll left and right through the screens.

Once you start scrolling using a button, the display will remain on the screen where you leave it and will no longer scroll automatically.

Button A

Use to move through the available screens in one direction.

Button B

Use to move through the available screens in the other direction.

Manual Hold

After manual scrolling, the display stays on the last screen selected.

Gold Version and NFC

If you have a Gold version of the Springbot, which is the version with an OLED screen on the front, that Springbot also includes an NFC chip.

Using the Springbot Utility, which is currently only available on iOS, you can configure the unit name, organisation, and Wi-Fi credentials.

Springbot Utility: apps.apple.com/app/id6753171341

Wi-Fi Setup

You can also configure the Wi-Fi credentials by connecting directly to the device just after rebooting the Springbot.

On one of the last screens, you will see the IP address and instructions on how to connect to the device to set up the Wi-Fi credentials.

  1. Reboot the Springbot.
  2. Wait for the startup sequence to progress through the screens.
  3. Look for one of the last screens showing the IP address and setup instructions.
  4. Use those instructions to connect and enter the Wi-Fi credentials.
If Wi-Fi has not yet been configured, watch the later display screens carefully so you do not miss the setup instructions.

Viewing Data on the Dashboard

Once the Wi-Fi credentials have been configured, you can connect to data.springbot.co.za to view the dashboard for the data that has been logged.

You can find the data using the unit name that you configured with the NFC Springbot Utility.

Use the configured unit name to locate the correct Springbot data on the dashboard.