diff --git a/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.cxx b/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.cxx
index 54352191..90012dbc 100644
--- a/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.cxx
+++ b/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.cxx
@@ -35,6 +35,21 @@ using namespace std;
 
 AdafruitMS1438::AdafruitMS1438(int bus, uint8_t address) :
   m_pca9685(new PCA9685(bus, address))
+{
+  initAdafruitMS1438();
+}
+
+AdafruitMS1438::AdafruitMS1438(std::string initStr) : m_pca9685(new PCA9685(initStr))
+{
+  initAdafruitMS1438();
+}
+
+AdafruitMS1438::~AdafruitMS1438()
+{
+  delete m_pca9685;
+}
+
+void AdafruitMS1438::initAdafruitMS1438()
 {
   setupPinMaps();
 
@@ -56,11 +71,6 @@ AdafruitMS1438::AdafruitMS1438(int bus, uint8_t address) :
   stepConfig(STEPMOTOR_M34, 200);
 }
 
-AdafruitMS1438::~AdafruitMS1438()
-{
-  delete m_pca9685;
-}
-
 void AdafruitMS1438::initClock(STEPMOTORS_T motor)
 {
   gettimeofday(&m_stepConfig[motor].startTime, NULL);
@@ -146,12 +156,12 @@ void AdafruitMS1438::setMotorSpeed(DCMOTORS_T motor, int speed)
 {
   if (speed < 0)
     speed = 0;
-  
+
   if (speed > 100)
     speed = 100;
 
   float percent = float(speed) / 100.0;
-  
+
   // make sure that the FullOn bit is turned off, or the speed setting
   // (PWM duty cycle) won't have any effect.
   m_pca9685->ledFullOn(m_dcMotors[motor].pwm, false);
@@ -162,7 +172,7 @@ void AdafruitMS1438::setMotorSpeed(DCMOTORS_T motor, int speed)
 
 void AdafruitMS1438::setStepperSpeed(STEPMOTORS_T motor, int speed)
 {
-  m_stepConfig[motor].stepDelay = 60 * 1000 / 
+  m_stepConfig[motor].stepDelay = 60 * 1000 /
     m_stepConfig[motor].stepsPerRev / speed;
 }
 
@@ -291,14 +301,14 @@ void AdafruitMS1438::stepperSteps(STEPMOTORS_T motor, unsigned int steps)
 
           if (m_stepConfig[motor].stepDirection == 1)
             {
-              if (m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep >= 
+              if (m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep >=
                   m_stepConfig[motor].stepsPerRev)
                 m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep = 0;
             }
           else
             {
               if (m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep <= 0)
-                m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep = 
+                m_stepConfig[motor].currentStep =
                   m_stepConfig[motor].stepsPerRev;
             }
 
diff --git a/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.hpp b/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.hpp
index 30a1eee0..3e080fb5 100644
--- a/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.hpp
+++ b/src/adafruitms1438/adafruitms1438.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <mraa/i2c.h>
 #include <mraa/gpio.h>
+#include <mraa/initio.hpp>
 
 #include "pca9685.hpp"
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@
 #define ADAFRUITMS1438_DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR 0x60
 
 namespace upm {
-  
+
   /**
    * @brief Adafruit Motor Shield
    * @defgroup adafruitms1438 libupm-adafruitms1438
@@ -104,11 +105,23 @@ namespace upm {
      */
     AdafruitMS1438(int bus, uint8_t address = ADAFRUITMS1438_DEFAULT_I2C_ADDR);
 
+    /**
+     * Instantiates AdafruitMS1438 based on a given string.
+     *
+     * @param initStr string containing specific information for AdafruitMS1438 initialization.
+     */
+    AdafruitMS1438(std::string initStr);
+
     /**
      * AdafruitMS1438 destructor
      */
     ~AdafruitMS1438();
 
+    /**
+     * AdafruitMS1438 initialization method
+     */
+    void initAdafruitMS1438();
+
     /**
      * Returns the number of milliseconds elapsed since initClock(...)
      * was last called.
@@ -126,7 +139,7 @@ namespace upm {
     /**
      * Sets the PWM period.  Note: this applies to all PWM channels.
      *
-     * @param hz Sets the PWM period 
+     * @param hz Sets the PWM period
      */
     void setPWMPeriod(float hz);
 
@@ -182,7 +195,7 @@ namespace upm {
      * @param dir Direction to set the motor in
      */
     void setMotorDirection(DCMOTORS_T motor, DIRECTION_T dir);
- 
+
     /**
      * Sets the direction of a stepper motor, clockwise or counterclockwise
      *
@@ -190,7 +203,7 @@ namespace upm {
      * @param dir Direction to set the motor in
      */
     void setStepperDirection(STEPMOTORS_T motor, DIRECTION_T dir);
- 
+
     /**
      * Sets a stepper motor configuration
      *