Scripting

This post describes how I put together a bluetooth connected ambient conditions sensor using a microcontroller and CircuitPython. Although this device can be used to monitor ambient conditions anywhere, I built it with a specific purpose in mind: monitoring temperature and humidity inside plastic containers storing 3D printer filament spools. Some 3D printer filaments are very susceptible to high humidity conditions (e.g. ABS) and can quickly degrade. Manufacturers recommend to keep them in areas with humidity conditions below 50% and ambient temperature not exceeding 30 Celsius....

Summary The objective of this project is to create a solar powered, HomeKit connected outdoor fence door monitoring device. Once setup, the door’s state (i.e. open/close) can be monitored and used in automations within the HomeKit ecosystem. I’ve been using it for months now, and it has been working really well. See below a video of the system in action. This is not a difficult project, but there are several moving parts associated to it, so I’ll try to be thorough in the following sections....

The people at Seeed Studio have been busy working on a bunch of new devices. From IoT microcontrollers and development boards to Mini PCs running Windows and machine learning devices. They were kind enough to send me their new Wio Terminal to use it in one of my future projects, but since that will take a while, I just wanted to write a quick post about it. This device would be the equivalent of an All-In-One computer, at a microncontroller scale....

iBeacons are Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices used in location awareness applications such as welcoming people as they arrive at an event or broadcasting information to compatible devices at a nearby museum exhibit. The term iBeacon is apple’s implementation of the technology and reportedly, is what they use at their stores to send notifications to iPhone users as they enter/leave the store. Another great application of iBeacons is general automation using iOS apps such as Shortcuts and Pushcut....

Security cameras seem to be have gotten pretty popular in the last couple of months. I thought I’d share how I put together one using a Raspberry Pi Zero W and some additional components. The device has the following features: Powered by rechargeable battery. Battery charges via USB. Motion activated video (and photo) recording. IR LED equipped (night vision recording). Media saved locally (Raspberry Pi SD card), no need for Cloud storage or internet connection....