In this project, we’ll design a mobile app-controlled watering system that drip irrigates a home garden or small farm. This system is developed on an ESP8266 microcontroller, which controls the water pump through a 3V relay or an electronic valve. The user can switch the water’s motor/electronic valve ON or OFF and even set a…
How to control LEDs using the MIT App Inventor and Bluetooth
In a previous tutorial, we discussed the MIT App Inventor, a popular online platform for building mobile applications using visual programming. The platform is helpful for quickly prototyping Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications and simple embedded systems that interact with mobile devices. We already reviewed the platform’s architecture and user interface. Its visual programming platform is ideal for…
How to build a plant health monitor using ESP8266 and the MIT App Inventor
Most house plants require temperature, humidity, and moisture monitoring for optimal care. Temperatures exceeding the optimal range can cause stress, wilting, stunted growth, and even death, while cold temperatures can slow plant development, leading to weak growth and susceptibility to frost damage. Excessive humidity encourages fungal diseases and prevents proper transpiration, while drier air typically…
How to get started with MIT App Inventor
Mobile apps play a crucial role in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, serving as interfaces through which users can interact with and control IoT devices. Several IoT devices used in consumer electronics, home automation, logistics and inventory, and others are controlled or managed through mobile applications. For example, users can rely on an app…