Simple IOT Project
This project demonstrates how to Publish Sensor readings to ThingSpeak using ESP32 and BME280
Components Required:
Installing the Libraries:
- To send sensor readings to ThingSpeak, we’ll use the thingspeak-arduino library. You can install this library through the Arduino Library Manager.
- Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries and search for “ThingSpeak” in the Library Manager. Install the ThingSpeak library by MathWorks.
- you also need to install the libraries to interface with the BME280 sensor. (i.e) Adafruit_BME280 library
About THINGSPEAK :-
ThingSpeak is an IoT (Internet of Things) analytics platform service that allows users to collect, store, analyze, and visualize data from IoT devices. Developed by MathWorks, it provides a convenient environment to build IoT projects without needing extensive backend development.
Key Features of ThingSpeak
- Data Collection and Storage: ThingSpeak lets users store data from sensors or devices, which can be sent via HTTP requests from any IoT device with internet access. Users can log this data over time in channels, which are organized spaces in ThingSpeak to hold and manage IoT data.
- Data Visualization: ThingSpeak offers built-in visualizations, such as line plots and bar graphs, to easily observe trends in the collected data. This makes it straightforward to interpret and analyze time-series data from sensors or IoT devices.
- Real-Time Analysis: Users can analyze data in real-time, helping to make quick decisions. For example, data from environmental sensors could trigger alerts if certain thresholds are exceeded.
- Integration with MATLAB: ThingSpeak allows integration with MATLAB, enabling users to perform complex analyses, apply machine learning models, and create custom visualizations directly in the ThingSpeak environment.
- API for Device Communication: ThingSpeak provides RESTful and MQTT APIs that devices can use to send data to or retrieve data from the ThingSpeak server. It supports HTTP GET and POST requests, allowing compatibility with many IoT devices and microcontrollers, like Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
- Triggers and Alerts: Users can set up alerts based on data values, allowing ThingSpeak to act as a monitoring system that sends notifications via SMS, email, or other communication channels.
Common Use Cases
- Environmental Monitoring: Collecting and analyzing data from weather or air quality sensors.
- Home Automation: Using sensors to monitor home conditions (temperature, humidity) and send alerts.
- Health Monitoring: Tracking data like heart rate or step count.
ThingSpeak’ s simplicity, combined with its powerful analytics capabilities, makes it a popular choice for beginners and advanced users looking to experiment with IoT projects.
Creating a ThingSpeak Account:
- Go to ThingSpeak Website and click the “Get Started For Free” button to create a new account.
- This account is linked to a Mathworks account. So, if you already have a Mathworks account, you should log in with that account.
Creating New Channel:
After your account is ready, sign in, open the “Channels” tab and select “My Channels“.
- Press the “New Channel” button to create a new channel.
- Type a name for your channel and add a description.
- In this example, we’ll just publish temperature.
- Click the Save Channel button to create and save your channel.
Customizing Chart:
- The chart can be customized, go to your Private View tab and click on the edit icon.
- When you’re done, press the “Save” button.
API Key :
- To send values from the ESP32 to ThingSpeak, you need the Write API Key.
- Open the “API Keys” tab and copy the Write API Key to a safe place because you’ll need copy it in the code
ESP32 Publish Sensor Readings to ThingSpeak – Code :
#include <WiFi.h>
#include "ThingSpeak.h"
#include <Adafruit_BME280.h>
#include <Adafruit_Sensor.h>
const char* ssid = "REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_SSID"; // your network SSID (name)
const char* password = "REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_PASSWORD"; // your network password
WiFiClient client;
unsigned long myChannelNumber = X;
const char * myWriteAPIKey = "XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX";
// Timer variables
unsigned long lastTime = 0;
unsigned long timerDelay = 30000;
// Variable to hold temperature readings
float temperatureC;
//uncomment if you want to get temperature in Fahrenheit
//float temperatureF;
// Create a sensor object
Adafruit_BME280 bme; //BME280 connect to ESP32 I2C (GPIO 21 = SDA, GPIO 22 = SCL)
void initBME(){
if (!bme.begin(0x76)) {
Serial.println("Could not find a valid BME280 sensor, check wiring!");
while (1);
}
}
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200); //Initialize serial
initBME();
WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
ThingSpeak.begin(client); // Initialize ThingSpeak
}
void loop() {
if ((millis() - lastTime) > timerDelay) {
// Connect or reconnect to WiFi
if(WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED){
Serial.print("Attempting to connect");
while(WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED){
WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
delay(5000);
}
Serial.println("\nConnected.");
}
// Get a new temperature reading
temperatureC = bme.readTemperature();
Serial.print("Temperature (ºC): ");
Serial.println(temperatureC);
//uncomment if you want to get temperature in Fahrenheit
/*temperatureF = 1.8 * bme.readTemperature() + 32;
Serial.print("Temperature (ºF): ");
Serial.println(temperatureF);*/
// Write to ThingSpeak. There are up to 8 fields in a channel, allowing you to store up to 8 different
int x = ThingSpeak.writeField(myChannelNumber, 1, temperatureC, myWriteAPIKey);
//uncomment if you want to get temperature in Fahrenheit
//int x = ThingSpeak.writeField(myChannelNumber, 1, temperatureF, myWriteAPIKey);
if(x == 200){
Serial.println("Channel update successful.");
}
else{
Serial.println("Problem updating channel. HTTP error code " + String(x));
}
lastTime = millis();
}
}HOMEWORK / ASSIGNMENT: -
Refer the below mentioned project blog and try to implement the same functionality hands on
https://iotdesignpro.com/projects/iot-wireless-weather-station-using-arduino-esp8266-thingspeak
Refer these labs for the components: -
IOT LAB IN PG BLOCK , IOT LAB IN EIE Department , WEEKENDS PROJECT LAB (P-015), THINKERING LAB (A-201).