The Ark by Daves Hack Shack

Inventory Project using an Access Point Web Interface with a Barcode Scanner

I created a YouTube video that provides additional details and a demonstration, the Link is: The Ark Video

The Ark uses 4 key components an Arduino MKR1010 controller, Arduino MKR MEM Shield (with 16GB SD card formatted as FAT32), BT 2D Barcode Scanner and a Micro Type B to USB Female Hub cable. A prototype was constructed:

I plan on encasing the prototype in a project box for production use.

Basic Operation

• Power on The Ark (if the /ARK directory is not found it will create it automatically)
• Connect to the Access Point (you will get served a Web Page Interface)
• Enter a Project Name (this will create a project with the name entered if it does not exist)
• Start scanner barcodes (That's It!)

Project Operations

• Change - Create/Change the Active Project using the name provided
• Change - Update Project Description
• Show All Projects - list all projects in the /ARK directory
• Display Project - show all scanner barcodes
• Remove Directory - Remove the /ARK directory (not recommend)
• Remove Project - Delete an Active Project
• Clear Project - empty the contents of a project
• Download Project - Transfer the contents of the Project Responses area to the attached device
• Project Mode - switch between the Create Project (manage projects) and Display Project (search for a barcode) modes
• Remove Barcode - This will remove a barcode, and it's label
• Update Label - this will update a barcodes label

Project Notes

• The Barcode Scanner can be recharged from The ARK by removing the USB dongle and attaching it to the ARK via the USB cable it comes with
• The Ark has a power monitor circuit with a low voltage threshold set to 10.50v, once reached the attached device will beep and the voltage display will turn RED
• The WEB page is HTML and javascript, it is gzipped and base 64 encoded to save code space
• On startup if Green LED stay lit we did not find the WiFi module
• On startup if Green LED is flashing every 100ms the Access Point did not start
• On startup if Green LED is flashing every 1000ms the SD Card did not start

Arduino Software Notes

• Libraries needed : <SPI.h>, <SD.h>, <global.h>, <base64.h>, <WebSocketClient.h>, <WebSocketServer.h>, <WiFiNINA_Generic.h> and <KeyboardController.h>
• YouTube video that shows how to encode a WEB Page for the Arduino : WEB Page Encoding skip to the 2:22 mark

Schematic for the project