PT 4603 Mobile App Development

Aim of the PT 4603 MAP Laboratory

The PT 4603 MAP Laboratory is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of mobile app development for Android devices, one of the most widely used operating systems for smartphones and tablets. The laboratory uses open-source platforms like Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA, which provide robust tools for building, testing, and deploying Android applications.

Students will not only learn to create applications but will also gain experience in debugging, troubleshooting, and understanding version compatibility. Additionally, the lab enables students to experiment with ZigBee networking, expanding their knowledge of networked device control in Android applications.

Coursework Overview

The PT 4603 MAP course is comprehensive, covering a wide range of topics relevant to mobile app development:

• Introduction to Development Tools: Students learn about Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA, setting the foundation for app development and version compatibility.
• Pilot App Development: Early in the course, students build pilot applications, gaining firsthand experience in coding, interface design, and debugging.
• Advanced Features: Coursework progresses to more complex features, such as accelerometer data handling, touch control, and video capture with a UVC camera.
• ZigBee Network Implementation: Students develop skills in ZigBee networking, understanding network configurations, creating sensor networks, and developing mobile apps for remote monitoring and control.

System Features

Polytech’s PT 4603 MAP Laboratory provides a range of features tailored to Android app development and device interconnectivity. Here are some of the key features:

1. Android App Development Environment Setup: Students learn the essential steps to configure a development environment using Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA, making it easy to start coding Android apps.
2. Comprehensive App Creation: The lab supports Android app execution and development, from downloading the app to testing and debugging using these powerful development tools.
3. Enhanced Debugging and User-Friendly Design: With a quad-core Cortex-A72 server and a 7-inch touchscreen panel, students can run both Linux and Android 12, ensuring smooth development and debugging experiences.
4. Connectivity: The laboratory setup supports Ethernet, WiFi, and ZigBee protocols, allowing students to work with connected and IoT-enabled devices.
5. ZigBee Network Integration: Students can create ZigBee networks using transceivers and sensor modules, learning protocols and sensor communications, which are key to remote monitoring applications.
6. UVC Camera Functions: Integrated with UVC camera modules, students can experiment with camera functions such as autofocus, image capture, and storage.

System Specifications

List of Experiments

Practical experimentation is a key component of the PT 4603 MAP Laboratory. Each experiment builds on prior knowledge and introduces new Android app development concepts:

1. Hello World – Introduction to Android development basics.
2. Android Studio Programming – Explore the Android Studio interface and basic programming.
3. e-Book Reader – Create an interactive e-book application.
4. Video Player – YouTube – Develop an app that integrates video streaming.
5. Video Player – MTP Setup – Manage media through Media Transfer Protocol (MTP).
6. Android Version Compatibility – Ensure app functionality across Android versions.
7. Debug Message – Learn debugging techniques to resolve app issues.
8. UVC Camera – Experiment with camera integration, image capture, and storage.
9. Accelerometer – Use device sensors for motion-based app controls.
10. Touch Event Functions – Implement touch functionality in apps.
11. ZigBee Transceiver Setup – Establish ZigBee device connectivity.
12. ZigBee Sensor Setup – Work with ZigBee sensors for data acquisition.
13. ZigBee Network Group 1 – Configure a ZigBee network for remote control.
14. ZigBee Network Group 1 & 2 – Create multiple ZigBee network groups for complex scenarios.

ZigBee Network Configurations

The lab includes various configurations for ZigBee network architecture:

• Direct Point-to-Point Server Configuration: Connects the server directly to sensor groups.
• Separate Network Control: Enables control of individual sensor groups.
• Discrete Device Control Network: Aids in creating isolated network controls.

Android Development Platforms

The PT 4603 MAP Laboratory uses three primary development platforms—Android Studio, Eclipse, and IntelliJ IDEA—all optimized for Android app creation. Each platform includes:

• Gradle-based Build System: Efficient build management.
• Device Emulator: For testing apps without needing physical devices.
• Unified Development Environment: Supports app creation for multiple Android devices.
• Extensive Testing and Debugging Tools: Includes Lint tools, debugger, and version compatibility testers.
• Google Cloud Platform Integration: Offers support for Google services.