Introduction: Home Hub

This project is a home hub that utilises MQTT technology by IBM to allow multiple smart alarm clocks to be automatically added and subsequently controlled by a web application. The smart alarm clocks makes use of light, temperature and humidity sensors to monitor the surrounding environment in real time as well as functioning as a working alarm clock.

Step 1: Hardware Required (per Device)

  • 3 LEDs (preferably in different colours)
  • 3 Buttons (preferably in the same colours as the LEDs)
  • 1 LCD
  • 1 Buzzer
  • 8 Resistors
  • 25 Male-Male wires
  • 4 Male-Female wires
  • 1 light sensor
  • 1 temperature/humidity sensor
  • 1 ADC (preferable not bronze)
  • 1 Breadboard
  • 1 T-Cobbler
  • 1 Raspberry Pi

Step 2: Raspberry Pi Setup

The setup is flexible and will work as long as you have all the required sensors, LEDs and buttons connected

Note: to turn off the alarm, you have to repeat the randomly-generated pattern shown by the LEDs, by clicking on the buttons associated with that colour in the correct sequence

Step 3: What the Web Application Will Look Like

Control panels will be automatically added whenever a device is successfully connected

You will be able to:

  • View real-time sensor data
  • Control the LEDs and buzzer
  • Add, activate, deactivate and delete alarms

Step 4: Install the Necessary Libraries in Each Device

Install the necessary libraries by running these commands in the terminal:

  • sudo pip install ibmiotf
  • sudo pip install eventlet
  • sudo pip install pymongo

  • sudo pip install gpiozero

  • sudo pip install flask-socketio

  • sudo pip install Flask

Step 5: Setup IBM Bluemix

1. Create a Bluemix account

2. Create a cloud foundry app

3. Go to the internet of things dashboard

4. Go to devices

5. Create a device type

6. Add as many devices as you need

7. Generate an API key for the web server application

8. Take note of all the credentials so you can use them in your devices and application

Step 6: Setup Local MongoDB

1. Enter the mongo shell by running the $ mongo command in the terminal

2. Once you are in the shell, you will have to create a database called “db” by running the > use db command

3. Create a collection called “alarms” by running the > db.createCollection(‘alarms’) command

Step 7: Code

web.py

  • the application that runs on the web server (a dedicated rpi)
  • you will have to add in your own Bleumix credentials

program.py

  • the application that runs on all alarm clocks/devices
  • you will have to change the pins to fit each device
  • you will also have to add in your own Bluemix credentials

index.html

  • the web interface (saved as a text file due to upload restrictions)

Attachments

Step 8: Changelog

23/8/2017 - Updated the program files to allow devices with no alarms set, tweaked other sections to provide more details