Menya IoT Kit is an open source training Kit for Internet of things development skills and embedded technologies it is built with combination of sensors and controllers to facilitate trainees and professionals in STEM to have a direct hands on skills on multiple functions of Internet of Things ecosystem.
The kit was designed and built by WatchIT group a company registered in Rwanda Specialized in building IoT product and Solar based technologies.
The Kit is composed of wireless communications module from Wi-Fi 802 .11 to Bluetooth, and various sensors to enable trainees to easily apply their ideas to real world applications such as controlling Actuators and monitoring status of a given appliance.
This blog covers important parts to understand and practice IoT project development. In this guide we will see how to set a communication network of IoT devices and how to read data from sensors and push them on open source platform also control actuators remotely which is one the important features of IoT.
Menya IoT Kit was designed for STEM students, Technocrats professionals and makers in the Technology ecosystem in Africa.
Image 1 : Menya IoT kit controlled with a smart phone.
Menya IoT kit has two version
Version 1
Sensors
1. DHT11 : The DHT11 is a basic, ultra low-cost digital temperature and humidity sensor. It uses a capacitive humidity sensor and a thermistor to measure the surrounding air, and spits out a digital signal on the data pin (no analog input pins needed). Its fairly simple to use, but requires careful timing to grab data
2. LDR : The LDR is a special type of resistor that allows higher voltages to pass through it (low resistance) whenever there is a high intensity of light, and passes a low voltage (high resistance) whenever it is dark
3. LM35 : LM35 sensor is a temperature sensor which can measure temperature in the range of -55°C to 150°C. It is a 3-terminal device that provides analog voltage proportional to the temperature. Higher the temperature, higher is the output voltage.
4.Ultrasonic sensor : The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor uses SONAR to determine the distance of an object just like the bats do. It offers excellent non-contact range detection with high accuracy and stable readings in an easy-to-use package from 2 cm to 400 cm.
Controllers
1. Nodemcu esp8266
2. Arduino Nano
Other components
1.Relay Module
2.LCD display
3. LED
4. Buzer
5. RTC
6. Bluetooth HC-05
Version 2
Sensors
1. DHT11 : The DHT11 is a basic, ultra low-cost digital temperature and humidity sensor. It uses a capacitive humidity sensor and a thermistor to measure the surrounding air, and spits out a digital signal on the data pin (no analog input pins needed). Its fairly simple to use, but requires careful timing to grab data
2. LDR : The LDR is a special type of resistor that allows higher voltages to pass through it (low resistance) whenever there is a high intensity of light, and passes a low voltage (high resistance) whenever it is dark
3. Potentiometer : this is a normal variable resistor , but can be helpful to understand analog sensors , but also read resistance change in the serial monitor and make an application , like dimming an led or lamp.
4.Ultrasonic sensor : The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor uses SONAR to determine the distance of an object just like the bats do. It offers excellent non-contact range detection with high accuracy and stable readings in an easy-to-use package from 2 cm to 400 cm.
5.Push button : this push button is used to understand and get started with digital sensors .
Controllers
1. Nodemcu esp8266
2. Arduino Nano
Other components
1.Relay Module
2.LCD display
3. LED
4. Buzer
And you can connect any sensor to the Board as it is designed to be friendly with adding more features.
Menya IoT kit was designed and manufactured by Watch IT Group ltd a company with The aim to build a strong Youth Capacity in developing solutions with local technological approach.
Working Principle of Menya IoT kit
Image 2 : Working principle of Menya IoT kit
Menya IoT kit is built in such way you can send data & control Actuators to /from the cloud (online server ) .
In this program we will use almost all know open source IoT platform such Thingspeak , adafruit Io, Cayenne IoT dashboard etc , To send sensor Data and Control actuators.
Installing Arduino IDE
download Arduino IDE latest version https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software . IDE stands for integrated development Environment.
Image 3 : Arduino IDE for different Operating System
after successful download install the Arduino IDE.
Test the Detection port of your arduino Nano.
After installing the arduino IDE you should now open arduino IDE and connect the arduino Nano usb to your computer .
The second step is to select the board in our case we are using Arduino Nano. go to tools>board>Arduino Nano
The last step is now to check the Port of the arduino Nano,
sometimes you may require a driver if you cannot detect the port where your arduino nano is connected to , in that case download and install CH340 driver.
Download and run the executable.
Click the "Uninstall" button first. Then click on the "Install" button.
now you should be able to detect the port of the arduino Nano.
if doesn't work let us know in the comment section.
We hope this first tutorial helped to get started with Menya IoT kit😃 .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sUmuD86sQs
this link will help you to setup Arduino IDE if you are using Mac OS