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Microcontrollers

Microcontrollers and single-board computers (SBCs) are the backbone of modern IoT and automation projects. Devices like ESP8266, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, and other SBCs enable you to build smart sensors, controllers, and connected systems for your home, lab, or business.

Features and Possibilities​

  • Wireless Connectivity: Easily connect devices via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or LoRa.
  • Sensor Integration: Read data from temperature, humidity, motion, light, and other sensors.
  • Actuator Control: Switch relays, control motors, LEDs, and other actuators.
  • Edge Computing: Process data locally for fast response and reduced cloud dependency.
  • Automation: Trigger actions based on sensor readings, time, or remote commands.
  • OTA Updates: Update firmware wirelessly for easy maintenance.
  • Integration: Connect with platforms like Home Assistant, MQTT, Node-RED, and cloud services.
  • Low Power: Many microcontrollers are optimized for battery-powered applications.

Example: ESPHome YAML for a Temperature Sensor​

esphome:
  name: livingroom_sensor
  platform: ESP8266
  board: nodemcuv2

sensor:
  - platform: dht
    pin: D2
    temperature:
      name: "Living Room Temperature"
    humidity:
      name: "Living Room Humidity"
    model: DHT22

Example: Raspberry Pi Python GPIO Control​

import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
GPIO.setup(18, GPIO.OUT)

# Turn on LED
GPIO.output(18, GPIO.HIGH)

Example: MQTT Publish from Microcontroller​

import paho.mqtt.publish as publish

publish.single("home/livingroom/temperature", "23.5", hostname="mqtt.local")

Microcontrollers and SBCs make it possible to create custom IoT solutions, automate tasks, and gather data from the physical world. Explore the documentation and community projects to unlock new possibilities!