integrate it with Bonsai using micropython and OSC

[amchagas]

At the moment, for fast implementation and testing, we are writing code to integrate the ESP32 with Bonsai-RX. Bonsai is a powerful programming tool that runs only on windows at the moment, but it has integration with several pieces of hardware and software for neurosciences.

So making BeeHive compatible with Bonsai would make it "hit the ground running" in terms of usability and integration with other tools.

To do this we are leveraring the fact that Bonsai has an open sound control (OSC) module and that micropython also has an OSC library.

The OSC is a communication protocol that uses TCP/UDP to send packages over the network. This allows us to send information back and forward between ESP32 and the computer running Bonsai, but it also allows bonsai to communicate with several ESPs and for ESPs to communicate with each other.

right now a basic sketch of the code is on the software folder and it works in overall terms in the following way:

• some of the digital ports are set to inputs, some to outputs.

• some of the analog input ports are setup as well.

• the ESP code loops through the digital input ports getting their state, and sends one OSC message containing one integer value that Bonsai will decode to know the state of the input ports.

• ESP reads the state of the analog ports and sends out messages to Bonsai containing the state of each.

• ESP listens to the income port for a specific amount of time, and if there are messages from Bonsai, turn the specific digital ports accordingly