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README.md

Devices

Designed for easy fabrication in a hackerspace/makerspace/fablab. Sends and receives data on MQTT, with WiFi as the main transport. The devices are stupid sensor/actuators, application ideas to happen elsewhere. Remote tunable. Firmware to supports the MsgFlo discovery protocol.

Project nickname: stupidsmart.

4 Buttons

For simple user interfaces

Features

  • 4 RGB leds, with PWM control
  • 4 capacitive touch areas.
  • Exchangable paper labels
  • Sends message on state change. Maybe, configurable sensitivity? Threshold, hysteresis, mintime. Maybe, also send raw capacity read value. Can be used for analog inputs!
  • Each LED channel individually controllable
  • Maybe. Space for optional LiPo battery

Fabrication

  • 3d-printed chassis/casing
  • Simple PCB / handwired electronics
  • Copper-tape for capacitive touch
  • Designed for ESP8266 modules like NodeMCU

Example usecases

  • Doorbell
  • Start/stop thing
  • Simon Says!

Implementation

  • Multiplex/charlieplex the LED channels. 7 pins?
  • Use the timed-discharge trick for capacitive sensing. 4 pins?

TODO

Make v0 hardware.

  • Just hand-solder a stripboard.
  • Use single-channel LED.
  • Can use aluminum foil instead of copper.
  • Use cardboard instead of 3d-print.
  • Tape the shit together.

Make v0 software

  • Setup on ESP8266
  • On/off cap sensing
  • On/off LED support

433 gateway

Bridges to 433Mhz devices. Allows using existing non-IoT devices, found readily in local shops.

Features

  • Read and write support

Usecases

  • Remote controlled relays
  • Weather stations

Environment monitor

Features

  • Temperature
  • PIR motion
  • Sound level
  • Ambient light

Device current sensing

Allegro ACS712 is a nice fully-integrated IC based on Hall-sensor, available from many places online:

References

Solar cell panels

Ideas

Universal control UI

IoT device using capacitive sensing and LEDs to enable wide range of IoT controls

Can chose which functionality to have by

  • Reconfigure software remotely, using a web UI
  • Print new faceplate on inkjet printer

Functions provided:

  • Button instantaneous
  • Toggle button
  • Horizontal+vertical slider
  • Radial slider
  • Up/down buttons, hold to go faster

Buildup

  • Single two-sided PCB board
  • Front side covered with capacitive areas
  • Backside has LEDs shining trough to front
  • Dedicated controller/MCU for capacitive sensing. LEDs can use some I/O extender
  • Transparent plastic cover on front, UI plate slides inside
  • Casing for attaching to wall.

v1. USB powered. WiFi connectivity. ESP8266 module v2. Battery powered. Bluetooth LE? Zigbee?

Ideas

  • Should be able to test UI in the UI builder
  • Can sell larger units, using multiple PCBs side-by-side
  • Could one use piezo elements to give haptic feedback?

Electronics modules

Board-on-board modules using PCBs with castellated holes. Standard pitch, 100/200mil, for use in breadboards. Open-source, with schematic/layout that can be copy-pasted. Test on breadboard, proto as modules, produce as flattened PCB. Microcontroller-first design, modules should be very easy to connect to uC.

Desirable modules

  • Isolated digital input. Optocoupler, 24/48V max.
  • Isolated DC output. Optocoupler+powertransistor. 24/48V, 2/5 A.
  • Isolated AC control. Optotriac. 230V, 15A
  • 4-20mA input. ADC with I2C?
  • Ethernet. SPI.

Existing PCB modules (from China), could be reverse engineered

  • DCDC converter. Adjustable voltage, 1-3A current

Existing modules from suppliers

  • ESP8266/ESP32 microcontroller
  • SX1276 Lora

Maybe build up an online directory of these modules?