Projects with Arduino, ESPHome, Home Assistant, and Raspberry Pi & Co.
This e-book contains various example projects, beginning with an introduction to electronics. It also explains how to install Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi, how to use indoor climate sensors for temperature and humidity, how to implement the MQTT protocol and other interfaces, and how to use ESPHome to integrate sensors and actuators into Home Assistant. Numerous video tutorials complement the book.
Fundamentals of electrical engineering
The book begins with an introduction to electrical engineering. You will learn the basics of voltage, current, resistors, diodes and transistors.
Arduino and microcontrollers
A complete section is dedicated to the Arduino Uno. You will get to know the structure, write your first programs and work on practical examples.
Home Assistant and automation
You will learn how to set up Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi and how to use automations, scenes and devices. In addition, Zigbee, MQTT and ESP-NOW – important technologies for home automation – will be discussed.
ESP8266, ESP32 and ESP32-CAM
The popular ESP microcontrollers are covered in detail. A theoretical introduction is followed by practical projects that show you how to get the most out of these devices.
Sensors and actuators
The book explains the functionality and application of numerous sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors, motion detectors and RFID readers. For actuators, stepper motors, e-ink displays, servo motors and much more are covered. There are practical application examples for all devices.
ESPHome
This chapter shows you how to integrate sensors and actuators into Home Assistant without any programming effort. You will be guided step by step through the setup with ESPHome.
LEDs and lighting technology
In this chapter, you will learn about different types of LEDs and how they can be used. The basics of lighting technology are also explained.
Node-RED
A whole chapter is dedicated to Node-RED. You will learn the basics of this powerful tool and be guided step by step through its setup and use.
Integrated Circuits (ICs)
In electronics, there are numerous ICs that make our lives easier. You will get to know the most important ones and apply your knowledge in practical projects.
Professional programming
Advanced topics such as the correct use of buttons, the use of interrupts and the use of an NTP server for time synchronisation are covered in detail in this chapter.
Downloads
GitHub
Learn programming for Alexa devices, extend it to smart home devices and control the Raspberry Pi
The book is split into two parts: the first part covers creating Alexa skills and the second part, designing Internet of Things and Smart Home devices using a Raspberry Pi.
The first chapters describe the process of Alexa communication, opening an Amazon account and creating a skill for free. The operation of an Alexa skill and terminology such as utterances, intents, slots, and conversations are explained. Debugging your code, saving user data between sessions, S3 data storage and Dynamo DB database are discussed.
In-skill purchasing, enabling users to buy items for your skill as well as certification and publication is outlined. Creating skills using AWS Lambda and ASK CLI is covered, along with the Visual Studio code editor and local debugging. Also covered is the process of designing skills for visual displays and interactive touch designs using Alexa Presentation Language.
The second half of the book starts by creating a Raspberry Pi IoT 'thing' to control a robot from your Alexa device. This covers security issues and methods of sending and receiving MQTT messages between an Alexa device and the Raspberry Pi.
Creating a smart home device is described including forming a security profile, linking with Amazon, and writing a Lambda function that gets triggered by an Alexa skill. Device discovery and on/off control is demonstrated.
Next, readers discover how to control a smart home Raspberry Pi display from an Alexa skill using Simple Queue Service (SQS) messaging to switch the display on and off or change the color.
A node-RED design is discussed from the basic user interface right up to configuring MQTT nodes. MQTT messages sent from a user are displayed on a Raspberry Pi.
A chapter discusses sending a proactive notification such as a weather alert from a Raspberry Pi to an Alexa device. The book concludes by explaining how to create Raspberry Pi as a stand-alone Alexa device.
Take your first step to upgrading your smart home with Home Assistant Green, the easiest way to start using Home Assistant. Its powerful hardware lets you control and automate everything in your home from a single app with Home Assistant.
Just plug in power and network cables, and you'll be up and running.
Download our mobile apps or use our web app to guide you through the setup process seamlessly.
That's all! Home Assistant will automatically start detecting your smart home devices.
Everything in one app
More than 1,000 built-in integrations support hundreds of thousands of smart devices and online services, with more regularly added by our community.
Switch from other smart home ecosystems at your own pace
Home Assistant works with your existing Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Amazon Alexa setup, allowing a seamless and gradual migration for everyone in your home.
Expand compatibility as your home expands
You can add Home Assistant SkyConnect to connect Zigbee and Thread devices, set up Home Assistant Cloud for voice assistants, and integrate third-party USB accessories to support other smart standards, such as Z-Wave or Bluetooth.
Home Assistant is built by one of the largest communities of open-source contributors. New features and improvements are added every month, ensuring your smart home never lets you down.
Home Assistant keeps your data locally, which means you are safe from invasive privacy practices and you can access your smart home even when the Internet is down.
Specifications
SoC
Rockchip RK3566 SoC with quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 CPU
CPU Frequency
1.8 GHz
Storage
32 GB eMMC flash drive
RAM
4 GB LPDDR4X
Interfaces
Status LEDs
White (power indicator)Green (activity indicator)Yellow (system health indicator)
Power supply
DC barrel connector, 5.5 x 2.1 mm12 V DC, 1 A
Battery
CR2032 (not included)
Energy consumption
Idle: ~1.7 W at 12 VLoad: ~3 W at 12 V
USB
2x USB 2.0 Type-A Host ports, 5 V up to 2 A (combined)
Display
HDMI port, for diagnostic purposes only
External storage
MicroSD slot, for recovery purposes only
Networking
Gigabit Ethernet
Dimensions
112 x 112 x 32 mm
Weight
340 g
Included
Home Assistant Green smart home hub
Gigabit Ethernet cable
12 V/1 A universal power supply (comes with plug adapters for EU, US, and UK)
Quick Start Guide
Warranty and Safety Information
Downloads
Datasheet
Documentation
GitHub
There are many so-called 'Arduino compatible' platforms on the market. The ESP8266 – in the form of the WeMos D1 Mini Pro – is one that really stands out. This device includes WiFi Internet access and the option of a flash file system using up to 16 MB of external flash memory. Furthermore, there are ample in/output pins (though only one analogue input), PWM, I²C, and one-wire. Needless to say, you are easily able to construct many small IoT devices!
This book contains the following builds:
A colourful smart home accessory
refrigerator controller
230 V power monitor
door lock monitor
and some further spin-off devices.
All builds are documented together with relevant background information for further study. For your convenience, there is a small PCB for most of the designs; you can also use a perf board. You don’t need to be an expert but the minimum recommended essentials include basic experience with a PC, software, and hardware, including the ability to surf the Internet and assemble PCBs.
And of course: A handle was kept on development costs. All custom software for the IoT devices and PCB layouts are available for free download from at Elektor.com.
Ulanzi TC001 is an LED pixel clock consisting of 256 individual addressable RGB LEDs (8x32) with built-in battery, buzzer, light, temperature and humidity sensor. The integrated rechargeable battery offers a runtime of up to 5 hours. The WiFi connection to the clock is made via an ESP32 chip. Ulanzi TC001 uses an ESP32-WROOM-32D module.
Features
Pixelated message display
Simultaneous Display of the Number of Followers: Fan growth is immediately visible, suitable for YouTube, Bilibili, and Weibo.
Pomodoro Clock Design: Manage your own time more scientifically.
Explore unlimited possibilities: Multiple programs need to be installed through the control server to achieve more functions.
Awtrix Makes it Better: Awtrix simulator in TC001’s firmware simulates an Awtrix matrix and allows you to control the clock using a standard Awtrix host.
Hi-tech and stunning appearance: Modeling simple atmosphere, LED full-color pixel screen with better imaging.
Built-in 4400 mAh battery with up to 5 hours of battery life.
Specifications
Number of LEDs: 256 (8x32)
Operating voltage: 3.7 V
Power: 3 W
Battery capacity: 4400 mAh
Interface: USB-C
Dimensions: 200.6 x 70.3 x 31.9 mm
Weight: 283 g
Inbegrepen
Ulanzi TC001 Smart Pixel Clock
USB cable
Manual
Downloads
Firmware
Features
Easy-to-use and low-cost hardware kit: combines an affordable hardware kit with FREE curriculums and activities for students’ hands-on experience in precision agriculture techniques to food production.
New tools for STEAM Education learners: students learn about AI, Machine learning, and IoT by building a garden monitoring system.
Easily use with Raspberry Pi 4: with atmospheric and environmental sensors to understand their soil's health, analyze data, and make decisions.
Real-time data collection: The student-built IoT devices connect to custom Microsoft Excel workbooks that collect real-time data using Excel’s Data Streamer.
Building your own Machine Learning models: using Lobe.ai, students apply the technique to predict nutrient deficiencies in their plants and identifying pests in their garden.
Introducing Microsoft responsible AI framework: engaging students with some of the social and ethical challenges raised by this new technology.
Applications
Combined with software and curriculum & resources, you can get hands-on experience, learn about artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things, data science and then apply the knowledge in growing plants in the real world.
This kit is highly suitable for use in different scenarios, no matter in the classroom, at home, at maker spaces/ fab labs or through distance learning courses:
School garden monitoring
Home garden monitoring
Distance teaching /learning
Online courses
Hobby and DIY projects
Included
1x Grove Base Hat for Raspberry Pi with a Fan
1x One Wire Temperature Sensor
1x Grove Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor
1x Grove Sunlight Sensor
1x Grove Temperature & Humidity Sensor
1x Grove Relay
1x Grove Dual Button
1x micro SD Card with Card Reader (32 GB)
1x USB to TTL Serial Cable
1x Screwdriver
Downloads
FarmBeats for Student Kit Brochure
FarmBeats Student Image