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.
Affordable solutions with the ESP8266 and 3D printing
If you are looking for a small yet powerful IoT device, you are likely to come across the ESP8266 and compatible products on the market today. One of these, the Wemos/Lolin D1 Mini Pro board strikes a remarkable balance between cost and performance. A small and very affordable prototype board, the D1 Mini Pro stands out with its WiFi functionality and a 16-Mbytes flash memory for easy creation of a flash file system. In addition, there are sufficient input and output pins (only one analog input though) to support PWM, I²C, and One-Wire systems to mention but a few. The book describes the operation, modding, construction, and programming of home appliances including a colorful smart home accessory, a refrigerator/greenhouse controller, an AC powerline monitor, a door lock monitor, and an IKEA Trådfri controller.
As a benefit, all firmware developed for these DIY, "IoT-ized" devices can be updated over-the-air (OTA).
For most of the designs in the book, a small printed circuit board (PCB) and an enclosure are presented so readers can have a finished and attractive-looking product. Readers having – or with access to! – a 3D printer can "print" the suggested enclosures at home or in a shop.
Some of the constructions benefit from a Raspberry Pi configured as a gateway or cms server. This is also described in detail with all the necessary configuring.
You don’t need to be an expert but the prerequisites to successful replication of the projects include basic skills with PC software including the ability to surf the Internet. In terms of hardware, you should be comfortable with soldering and generally assembling the PCBs presented in the book.
All custom software written for the IoT devices, the PCB layouts, and 3D print files described in the book are available for free downloading.
Recently, the development of a tiny chip called the ESP8266 has made it possible to interface any type of microcontroller to a Wi-Fi AP. The ESP8266 is a low-cost tiny Wi-Fi chip having fully built-in TCP/IP stack and a 32-bit microcontroller unit. This chip, produced by Shanghai based Chinese manufacturer Espressif System, is IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi compatible with on-chip program and data memory, and general purpose input-output ports. Several manufacturers have incorporated the ESP8266 chip in their hardware products (e.g. ESP-xx, NodeMCU etc) and offer these products as a means of connecting a microcontroller system such as the Android, PIC microcontroller or others to a Wi-Fi. The ESP8266 is a low-power chip and costs only a few Dollars.
ESP8266 and MicroPython – Coding Cool Stuff is an introduction to the ESP8266 chip and describes the features of this chip and shows how various firmware and programming languages such as the MicroPython can be uploaded to the chip. The main aim of the book is to teach the readers how to use the MicroPython programming language on ESP8266 based hardware, especially on the NodeMCU.
Several interesting and useful projects are given in the book to show how to use the MicroPython in NodeMCU type ESP8266 hardware:
Project “What shall I wear today?”: You will be developing a weather information system using a NodeMCU development board together with a Text-to-Speech processor module.
Project “The Temperature and Humidity on the Cloud”: You will be developing a system that will get the ambient temperature and humidity using a sensor and then store this data on the cloud so that it can be accessed from anywhere.
Project “Remote Web Based Control”: You will be developing a system that will remotely control two LEDs connected to a NodeMCU development board using an HTTP Web Server application.
The unPhone is an open-source IoT development platform powered by the ESP32S3 microcontroller. It features integrated LoRa, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity, a touchscreen, and a LiPo battery, offering a robust and versatile solution for IoT development. Its compatibility with Adafruit's FeatherWing standard enables easy expansion, making it an ideal choice for educators, makers, and developers seeking a flexible and user-friendly platform.
Features
ESP32S3 microcontroller (with 8 MB flash and 8 MB PSRAM)
LoRaWAN licence-free radio communication (plus the ESP32's excellent wifi and bluetooth support)
3.5" (320 x 480) LCD capacitive touchscreen for easy debugging and UI creation
IR LEDs for surreptitiously switching the cafe TV off
1200 mAh LiPo battery with USB-C charging
Vibration motor for notifications
Compass/Accelorometer
A robust case
SD card slot
Power and reset buttons
Programmable in C++ or CircuitPython
Expander board that supports two Featherwing sockets and a prototyping area
Open source firmware compatible with the Arduino IDE, PlatformIO and Espressif's IDF development framework
Included
unPhone (assembled)
Expander board
FPC cable (to link the expander board to unPhone)
Self adhesive mounts for the expander board
Code Examples
C++ library
Kick the tyres on everything in the box
The main LVGL demo
CircuitPython
Support forum
Textbook (especially chapter 11)
The ESP8266 is an impressive, low cost WiFi module suitable for adding WiFi functionality to an existing microcontroller project via a UART serial connection. The module can even be reprogrammed to act as a standalone WiFi connected device – just add power! 802.11 b/g/n protocol Wi-Fi Direct (P2P), soft-AP Integrated TCP/IP protocol stack This module is a self-contained SOC (System On a Chip) that doesn’t necessarily need a microcontroller to manipulate inputs and outputs as you would normally do with an Arduino , for example, because the ESP-01 acts as a small computer. Thus, you can give a microcontroller internet access like the Wi-Fi shield does to the Arduino, or you can simply program the ESP8266 to not only have access to a Wi-Fi network, but to act as a microcontroller as well, which makes the ESP8266 very versatile.
Note: NodeMCU is the name of both a firmware and a boardNodeMCU is an open source IoT platform, whose firmware runs on Espressif's SoC Wi-Fi ESP8266, based on the ESP8266 nonOS SDK. Its hardware is based on the ESP-12 module. The scripting language is Lua which allows to use many open source projects like lua-cjson and spiffs. Features Wi-Fi Module – ESP-12E module similar to ESP-12 module but with 6 extra GPIOs. USB – micro USB port for power, programming and debugging Headers – 2x 2.54 mm 15-pin header with access to GPIOs, SPI, UART, ADC, and power pins Reset & Flash buttons Power: 5V via micro USB port Dimensions: 49 x 24.5 x 13 mm
The SparkFun DataLogger IoT (9DoF) is a data logger that comes preprogrammed to automatically log IMU, GPS, and various pressure, humidity, and distance sensors. All without writing a single line of code! The DataLogger automatically detects, configures, and logs Qwiic sensors. It was specifically designed for users who just need to capture a lot of data to a CSV or JSON file and get back to their larger project. Save the data to a microSD card or send it wirelessly to your preferred Internet of Things (IoT) service!
Included on every DataLogger IoT is an IMU for built-in logging of a triple-axis accelerometer, gyro, and magnetometer. Whereas the original 9DOF Razor used the old MPU-9250, the DataLogger IoT uses the ISM330DHCX from STMicroelectronics and MMC5983MA from MEMSIC. Simply power up the DataLogger IoT, configure the board to record readings from supported devices, and begin logging! Data can be time-stamped when the time is synced to NTP, GNSS, or RTC.
The DataLogger IoT is highly configurable over an easy-to-use serial interface. Simply plug in a USB-C cable and open a serial terminal at 115200 baud. The logging output is automatically streamed to both the terminal and the microSD card. Pressing any key in the terminal window will open the configuration menu.
The DataLogger IoT (9DoF) automatically scans, detects, configures, and logs various Qwiic sensors plugged into the board (no soldering, no programming!).
Specifications
ESP32-WROOM-32E Module
Integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi 2.4 GHz transceiver
Configurable via CH340C
Operating voltage range
3.3 V to 6.0 V (via VIN)
5 V with USB (via 5 V or USB type C)
3.6 V to 4.2 V with LiPo battery (via BATT or 2-pin JST)
Built-in MCP73831 single cell LiPo charger
Minimum 500 mA charge rate
3.3 V (via 3V3)
MAX17048 LiPo Fuel Gauge
Ports
1x USB-C
1x JST style connector for LiPo battery
2x Qwiic enabled I²C
1x microSD socket
Support for 4-bit SDIO and microSD cards formatted to FAT32
9-axis IMU
Accelerometer & Gyro (ISM330DHCX)
Magnetometer (MMC5983MA)
LEDs
Charge (CHG)
Status (STAT)
WS2812-2020 Addressable RGB
Jumpers
IMU interrupt
Magnetometer interrupt
RGB LED
Status LED
Charge LED
I²C pull-up resistors
USB Shield
Buttons
Reset
Boot
Dimensions: 1.66 x 2.0' (4.2 x 5.1 cm)
Weight: 10.7 g
Downloads
Schematic
Eagle Files
Board Dimensions
Hookup Guide
CH340 Drivers
Firmware
GitHub Hardware Repo
The MKR IoT Carrier comes equipped with 5 RGB LEDs, 5 capacitive touch buttons, a colored display, IMU and a variety of quality sensors. It also features a battery holder for a 18650 Li-Ion battery, SD card holder and Grove connectors.
Data Capture: Map the environment around the carrier using the integrated temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors and collect data about movement using the 6 axis IMU and light, gesture, and proximity sensors. Easily add more external sensors to capture more data from more sources via the on-board Grove connectors (x3).
Data Storage: Capture and store all the data locally on an SD card, or connect to the Arduino IoT Cloud for real-time data capture, storage, and visualization.
Data Visualisation: Locally view real-time sensor readings on the built-in OLED Color Display and create visual or sound prompts using the embedded LEDs and buzzer.
Total Control: Directly control small-voltage electronic appliances using the onboard relays and the five tactile buttons, with the integrated display providing a handy on-device interface for immediate control.
The best way to start exploring the world of connected devices using the Arduino MKR WiFi 1010. The MKR IoT bundle contains all you need to build your first connected devices. Follow the 5 step by step tutorials we have prepared for you and combining the electronic components included in the bundle, you’ll quickly learn how to build devices that connect to the Arduino IoT cloud. All you need to start with IoT This bundle is contains all the hardware and software required to build your first IoT devices with no extra fees. Build 5 IoT projects All the components needed to start your journey into building your own IoT projects. Learn about the Arduino IoT cloud Not only learn about electronic but also about the possibilities the Arduino IoT cloud can offer. Included 1x Arduino MKR1000 WiFi (with mounted headers) 6x Phototransistors 1x Tilt Sensor 1x Temperature sensor (TMP36) 3x Potentiometer 1x Piezo capsule 10x Pushbuttons 1x DC Motor 1x Small servo motor 1x Alphanumeric LCD (16x2 characters) 1x Optocouplers (4N35) 1x H-bridge motor driver (L293D) 2x Mosfet transistors (IRF520) 5x Capacitors 100uF 70x Solid core jumper wires 1x Micro USB cable 1x Breadboard 1x LED (bright white) 3x LEDs (blue) 1x LED (RGB) 8x LED 5 mm (red) 8x LED 5 mm (green) 8x LED 5 mm (yellow) 1x Male pins strip (4x1) 1x Stranded jumper wires (red) 1x Stranded jumper wires (black) 5x Diode 20x 220 Ω resistors 5x 560 Ω resistors 5x 1 KΩ resistors 5x 4.7 KΩ resistors 20x 10 KΩ resistors 5x 1 MΩ resistors 5x 10 MΩ resistors
Recently, the development of a tiny chip called the ESP8266 has made it possible to interface any type of microcontroller to a Wi-Fi AP. The ESP8266 is a low-cost tiny Wi-Fi chip having fully built-in TCP/IP stack and a 32-bit microcontroller unit. This chip, produced by Shanghai based Chinese manufacturer Espressif System, is IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi compatible with on-chip program and data memory, and general purpose input-output ports. Several manufacturers have incorporated the ESP8266 chip in their hardware products (e.g. ESP-xx, NodeMCU etc) and offer these products as a means of connecting a microcontroller system such as the Android, PIC microcontroller or others to a Wi-Fi. The ESP8266 is a low-power chip and costs only a few Dollars.
ESP8266 and MicroPython – Coding Cool Stuff is an introduction to the ESP8266 chip and describes the features of this chip and shows how various firmware and programming languages such as the MicroPython can be uploaded to the chip. The main aim of the book is to teach the readers how to use the MicroPython programming language on ESP8266 based hardware, especially on the NodeMCU.
Several interesting and useful projects are given in the e-book (pdf) to show how to use the MicroPython in NodeMCU type ESP8266 hardware:
Project “What shall I wear today?”: You will be developing a weather information system using a NodeMCU development board together with a Text-to-Speech processor module.
Project “The Temperature and Humidity on the Cloud”: You will be developing a system that will get the ambient temperature and humidity using a sensor and then store this data on the cloud so that it can be accessed from anywhere.
Project “Remote Web Based Control”: You will be developing a system that will remotely control two LEDs connected to a NodeMCU development board using an HTTP Web Server application.
The Oplà IoT Kit allows you to add connectivity to devices around the home or workplace. It comes complete with a set of 8 Internet of Things self-assemble projects ready to show you how to turn everyday appliances into ‘smart appliances’ and build custom connected devices that can be controlled with your mobile phone.
Features
Remote Controlled Lights - change color, light modes and switch on/off via your mobile
Personal Weather Station - record and monitor local weather conditions
Home Security Alarm - Detect motions and trigger warnings
Solar System Tracker - retrieve data from planets and moons in the Solar System
Inventory Control - track goods in & out
Smart Garden - monitor and control the environment for your plants
Thermostat Control - smart control for heating and cooling systems
Thinking About You - send messages between the Oplà and the Arduino IoT Cloud
For more advanced users the kit provides them with the potential to create their own connected devices and IoT applications through the open programmable platform providing the ultimate control.
The Oplà unit acts as the physical interface with the Arduino IoT Cloud providing you with total control at your fingertips via the Arduino IoT Remote app. Configure and manage all the settings via the Arduino IoT Cloud, with easy to create dashboards providing real-time readings from your smart devices around the home or workplace.
Adjusting settings, switching devices on/off, watering plants, etc are all controllable on the go with the Arduino IoT Remote app or fully automate the set-up then sit back and enjoy!
Applications
Remote Controlled Lights
Personal Weather Station
Home Security Alarm
Solar System Tracker
Inventory Control
Smart Garden
Thermostat Control
Thinking About You
Included
MKR IoT Carrier designed for this kit, including:
Round OLED Display
Five capacitive touch buttons
On-board sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, and light)
Two 24 V relays
SD card holder
Plug and play connectors for different sensors
RGBC, Gesture, and Proximity
IMU
18650 Li-Ion rechargeable battery holder (battery not included)
Five RGB LEDs
Arduino MKR WiFi 1010
Plastic encasing
Micro USB cable
Moisture sensor
PIR sensor
Plug-and-play cables for all the sensors