Our webserver will use ’s php server library to send the commands. Relay for our commands (trigger events), receiving them from our server, and sending them to the Arduino. is the simplest way to get real-time commands into an Arduino, hands down. A new program would then communicate with and transmit the approprite IR commands. An Arduino with Ethernet Shield, IR sensor and IR LED – The Arduino would first be used to read the IR commands from the The setup would be similar to an internet dog feeder I built a few years ago.

For about $25 at radio shack, the Hexbug spider comes with a teeny little remote control, and can be controlled with absolutely no soldering, wires, or electronics on the device… all we must do is replicate the commands! I looked at LEDs, little electric fans, a pocket SIMON game, and few others before choosing an off-the-shelf IR controllable Hexbug. After success with the Arduino Air Conditioner Remote Control, and getting Pusher authentication and client events working from an Arduino, I was in search of something a bit more fun and interactive to connect to the web.

Download hexbug tarantula