Introduction: Smartbox
This project allows you to turn your mailbox into a smart mailbox. The project we create will send you a push notification and/or email when you have mail. This project was inspired by one of Google's April Fool's day videos:
Step 1: Materials
Intel IoT Roadshow provided materials
- Intel Edison
- Break out board
- Grove Base Shield
- 3 Grove LEDs
- 3 Grove Light Sensors
- 2 Grove Hall Effect Sensors
- 4 custom 3D printed LED module mounts (One is used for a hall sensor)
- 1 custom 3D printed Hall module mount
- Lots of food!
Self supplied materials
- Mailbox - $10
- 5 Neodymium magnets - $1
- USB battery to power Edison
- Cardboard - Free!
- Tape - Free!
- Extra jumper wires ~$2
- Super glue ~$1
Step 2: Assembly
- Assemble the mailbox per manufacturer's instructions
- Begin printing the module holders. 1 hall effect holder and 3 led holders
- Glue a magnet into each printed led holder
- Secure the led's and hall effect sensor into the printed holders using a small loop of tape
- Cut a strip of cardboard to the inside width of the mailbox
- Cut the strip to the length of the mail box plus one inch and fold this inch down
- Make 4 1" square tubes of cardboard to support the inside deck
- Make 3 small cardboard tubes approximately 1" long. These pipe light to the photo sensors
- Cut 3 holes in the cardboard deck and affix the light pipes over these holes
- Tape the light sensors to the end of the pipes. Cover all terminals to prevent shorting on the mailbox
- Run all of the wires to the back of the mailbox and add any additional jumpers as needed
- Connect all the led's, hall effects, and photo sensors with any additional jumpers as needed
- Put the Edison and battery in the back of the mailbox
- Place the deck and photo sensors in the bottom of the mailbox
- Center the led's directly above the photo sensors
- Align and mount the hall effect sensors, one for the door and one on the flag tip
- Glue magnets on the door and flag tip to trigger the hall effect sensors
- Start up the Edison and wait to get mail!
Step 3: Software
We will assume for this instructable you have a basic understanding of how to use and communicate with your Edison. If this is not the case, remember, Google is your friend!
Step 1: Make sure the Edison is set up, connected to Wi-Fi, and up to date.
Step 2: Install the linked files in this github repo to your home folder (/home/root)
https://github.com/dudeofawesome/SmartBox
Step 3: Run the following command: ~/SmartBox/logic.js
Step 4: Download the app (SmartBox) from Google Play and follow the in-app instructions.
Step 4: Software-Database
We are going to use mongodb to set up the database and store the data for statistical and analytical purposes.
Step 1: Make sure the Edison is set up, connected to Wi-Fi, and up to date.
Step 2: Install mangodb and mangojs using npm install
Step 3: Navigate to the directory where logic.js is located.
Step 4: Install the following packages
npm install mangodb
npm install mangojs
Step 3: Subscribe and make a free account on Mongo Database
Step 4: Change the database module settings located inside the ./modules folder by adding your account.
Now after using your SmartBox for some time, you can view statistical things such as the average time the mail is delivered.