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Exciting news! We’re gearing up for the second edition of Arduino Cloud Café, and we’re thrilled to have you join us. Tune in on Tuesday, February 13th at 5pm CET for an engaging session on environmental monitoring.

This time, we have two fantastic guests — Bill from Dronebot Workshop and Muhammad Afzal, author of “Arduino IoT Cloud: A Guide for Developers — who will be sharing their insights and connected projects. It’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

Save the date and be ready to dive into the world of Arduino Cloud with us:

The post Arduino Cloud Café: Let’s chat about environmental monitoring! appeared first on Arduino Blog.

The world of IoT just got more exciting: Arduino and SiLabs unveil plans for Matter protocol integration.

In a groundbreaking development for IoT enthusiasts and professionals alike, Arduino and Silicon Labs (SiLabs) have announced a collaboration that promises to revolutionize access to the Matter protocol. This initiative is set to unfold in two major phases, ushering in a new era of connectivity and innovation.

Phase one: The dawn of a new era in IoT development begins at CES 2024

At CES 2024, Arduino and SiLabs have revealed the first phase of their ambitious project. This phase marks the release of an extremely user-friendly Arduino library tailored for the Matter protocol, alongside the Arduino core for SiLabs microcontrollers. This integration into the Arduino IDE is a significant leap forward, making advanced IoT development more accessible than ever.

“Our partnership with Arduino brings simplicity and ease of use to wireless development for Silicon Labs developers as well as Arduino’s 40M users to take their project from concept to production,” said Rob Shane, VP of Global Mass Markets for Silicon Labs. “By integrating Matter with Arduino’s ecosystem, we’re opening a universe of possibilities for developers.” 

This announcement is not just about new tools; it’s a statement of intent to make IoT technology more accessible to a wider range of users, from hobbyists to professionals.

Get started now: Use existing Matter boards

In anticipation of the second phase, the Arduino community can begin experimenting with Matter protocol through existing boards. Our friends at SparkFun have provided an excellent platform for this purpose, allowing users to get a head start in exploring the potential of Matter with Arduino.

You can download the new core right now to start experimenting with the Silabs xG24 Explorer Kit and the Sparkfun Thing Plus Matter.

“We are thrilled with the continued adoption of Matter to support IoT applications. The Matter implementation in Arduino has been a massive undertaking and it will make Matter even more accessible for engineers, creators, and innovators across the globe. This is another major step forward in interoperability and improving our daily interactions with the devices we have come to reply upon.” – Glenn Samala, CEO at SparkFun

Phase two: The launch of a revolutionary board ads to Arduino Day celebrations

The second phase is set to culminate on Arduino Day, in March 2024, with the release of an innovative addition to the über-popular Nano family, with a board based on the SiLabs MGM240SD22VNA. This board is expected to be a game-changer in the field of IoT, offering unparalleled ease of use and capabilities.

What this means for the Arduino community

The collaboration between Arduino and SiLabs, leading up to these releases, represents a major stride in making advanced IoT technologies more accessible. The combination of Arduino’s user-friendly interface with the robust capabilities of SiLabs’ technology and the universality of the Matter protocol is a recipe for innovation.

For educators, students, hobbyists, and professionals, this means an unprecedented opportunity to dive into IoT projects with greater ease and more powerful tools. The implications for smart home applications, industrial IoT, and educational projects are immense.

Looking ahead

Here is a sneak peek of the new board being developed – stay tuned for the launch in March 2024!

As we eagerly await these releases, the excitement within the Arduino community is palpable. This collaboration is not just about new products; it’s about empowering a whole generation of creators and innovators, breaking down barriers, and opening up new horizons in the world of IoT.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach these landmark dates, and get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and innovation with Arduino and SiLabs.

Are you in Las Vegas? Come meet the Arduino team at CES 2024 – Venetian Tower — Suite 29-228.

The post Arduino and Silicon Labs team up to make the Matter protocol accessible to all appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Get your coffee ready because Arduino Cloud Café is brewing!

Join us on December 12th for an interactive session where we discuss the latest Arduino Cloud release, sip on some IoT insights, and answer your burning questions.

We’re thrilled to welcome Sachin from Techiesms, who’ll not only share his experiences with Arduino Cloud but also showcase his fantastic home automation project

Secure your seat now for a cozy and engaging IoT session with us. Simply visit our YouTube event page and click “Notify me” to ensure you don’t miss out.

The post Arduino Cloud Café: Let’s chat about IoT! appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Great news for Arduino enthusiasts! The new Nano ESP32, just released on July 17th, is now officially supported by the Arduino Cloud. This powerful combo brings MicroPython and IoT capabilities right to your fingertips, simplifying all your smart devices projects.

The Nano ESP32‘s native MicroPython support empowers you to code in Python effortlessly. It opens up a world of possibilities for all skill levels, from simple scripts to complex IoT applications.

Nano ESP32 and Arduino Cloud, the power couple of IoT

Pairing the Nano ESP32 with the Arduino Cloud enhances your projects even further! The Arduino Cloud expands its existing ESP32-based hardware compatibility by including the Nano ESP32, allowing you to publish data from your Nano ESP32, monitor and control your devices from anywhere with ease, and update their firmware wirelessly.

About Arduino Cloud

The Arduino Cloud is the next exciting journey for IoT enthusiasts to bring their projects to life quickly. It is an all-in-one intuitive IoT platform, supporting a wide range of hardware and backed by the vibrant Arduino community. The Arduino Cloud removes complexity to enable users from all levels of expertise to create from anywhere, then control and share their projects with stunning dashboards.

Sign up for the Arduino Cloud now and unleash the full potential of your Nano ESP32 board.

The post Introducing support for the new Nano ESP32 board in Arduino Cloud appeared first on Arduino Blog.

a person with a mining helmet on. the helmet is covered in circuits and wires

Note: Jhansi and this innovative helmet will be at Maker Faire Rome October 20-22 in Rome, Italy. Be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible! The mining industry, often hailed as the backbone of the Indian economy, plays a crucial role in the production of raw materials that fuel various sectors. However, this […]

The post Keeping Miners Safe With Arduino appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

It may not be as exciting as other fields, but agriculture is incredibly important to humanity and technological advances have increased yields, efficiency, and productivity many times throughout history. All of the evidence suggests that smart agriculture is going to be at the heart of the next big technological leap and that will require trust in the data. To further that goal, researchers from Newcastle University and the University of Nottingham developed the Squirrel Box.

The Squirrel Box is a small, remote device that measures key soil metrics, like pH levels, moisture content, ambient conditions, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) levels. That data is important in determining the health of the soil in a field. It is useful for protecting potential yields and also for maintaining the soil to achieve maximum productivity. The Squirrel Box can transmit its data over long distances via LoRaWAN® to a WisGate Edge Lite 2, which is an eight-channel gateway that many boxes can connect to in order to provide a comprehensive picture of soil health across an entire farm. An Arduino MKR WAN 1310 board monitors the sensors and contains an onboard LoRa® transceiver.

But as the Squirrel Box team points out in their paper, smart agriculture requires trust. If farmers are to rely on this data, they need to trust that it is accurate, reliable, and tamper-proof. For that reason, they implemented decentralized communication that is robust enough to survive the failure of any single unit. They also turned to machine learning to validate the data and identify potential anomalies that might represent anything from a sensor problem to falsified data. This focus on trust makes farmers more likely to adopt smart agricultural techniques.

The post The Squirrel Box aims to bring trust to smart agriculture appeared first on Arduino Blog.

A cat skull enclosed in a domed security camera enclosure with green LEDs illuminating the eye sockets, sitting on a table with other skulls and rocks.

[Emily Velasco] has an internet provider that provides sub-par connectivity. Instead of repeatedly refreshing a browser tab to test if the network is up, [Emily] decided to create an internet status monitor by embedding indicator lights in a cat skull…for some reason.

The electronics are straightforward, with the complete parts list consisting of an Arduino Nano 33 IoT device connected to a pair of RGB LEDs and 50 Ohm resistors. The Nano attempts to connect to a known site (in this case, the Google landing page) every two seconds and sets the LEDs to green if it succeeds or red if it fails.

The cat skull is thankfully a replica, 3D printed by one of [Emily]’s Twitter acquaintances, and the whole project was housed in a domed security camera enclosure. [Emily] mounts the LEDs into the skull to create a “brain in a jar” effect.

The source is available on GitHub for those wanting to take a look. We’ve featured internet connectivity status indicators in the form of traffic lights here before, as well as various network status monitors and videoconferencing indicator lights.

MKR-IoT-Carrier-rev2

If you’re looking for an ever faster, smoother, and more rewarding way to build your own IoT projects at home, the new MKR IoT Carrier Rev2 could be perfect for you.

The new carrier can work with any board from the MKR family, giving you a wide choice of connectivity options to match the needs of your next IoT project. With the MKR IoT Carrier Rev2 you don’t need any additional components to get started, and you can build impressive and complete hassle free projects this way.

What does the carrier include? You’ll get all the sensors and actuators you need to build IoT projects and connect them to the internet, taking your home automation journey to the next level.

Let’s take a quick look at what you can build with the MKR IoT Carrier Rev2 and any board from the MKR family.

  • Environment monitoring stations. The new carrier comes with sensors that allow you to map and measure various things in the world around you — temperature, humidity, air quality, barometric pressure, and more. You can also track the movement of the board. For even more sensory awareness, you can connect analog or I2C grove compatible modules to the grove connectors. You can store the data you collect in the SD card or send it directly to the Arduino IoT Cloud.
  • GUI IoT interface. Visualizing your data is incredibly important — and the Rev2 comes with its own OLED color display, allowing you to create your own navigation menus. You can also use the included LEDs and buzzer for feedback.
  • Connect to and control external devices. The IoT is all about networks, and with the Rev2 you can control electronic devices up to 24 Volts using the two on-board relays. You can do this manually — like switching your reading lamp on or off via the Arduino IoT Cloud Remote app, or you can set the lamp to behave according to sensor data like the light levels in the room.

The MKR IoT Carrier vs the MKR IoT Carrier Rev2 — what’s the difference?

There are a few key differences between the Rev2 and the previous version of the MKR IoT Carrier. Here are the main ones.

Some sensors have changed:

  • The humidity sensor (HTS221) and barometric pressure sensor (LP22HB)  has been replaced with the BME6688 sensor.
  • The IMU (LSM6DS3) was replaced with LSM6DSOX.

Following customer feedback some other components have been repositioned:

  • Addition of a handy reset button
  • 90° rotation of the relay connectors
  • Repositioning of the light sensor (APDS-9960)
  • Change of pins assigned to control the relays to pins 1 and 2
  • Change grove connector assignment from pin A5 to A6 

Do I have to change my sketch if I have been using the first revision of the MKR IoT Carrier?

No — the MKR IoT Carrier library works with both revisions of the carrier. Just make sure to use the latest version of the library to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Have more fun with the IoT

The new MKR IoT Carrier Rev2 is the perfect tool to get started having fun with your own IoT projects, or to take your IoT tinkering to the next level. You don’t need a ton of experience, a bucket of expensive components, or endless hours of free time to build your own satisfying, useful IoT gadgets at home.

The post Introducing the new MKR IoT Carrier Rev2: Time to start your next IoT project appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Introducing Arduino’s IoT Bundle and What it Means for You

We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Arduino IoT Bundle. This is built to help you dive into the complex and fascinating world of the Internet of Things with even more confidence and possibility — giving you the hardware, software, and components you need to build your own connected IoT projects.

So how does it all work? Let’s find out more.

What is the Arduino IoT Bundle?

Getting started with the IoT can be a daunting process. It requires a certain set of tools and a level of knowledge to take those first steps, but building your own connected IoT devices can be an incredibly rewarding process once you figure out the basics.

Arduino IoT Bundle unbox

The Arduino IoT Bundle is designed to bring together all the tools and knowledge you’ll need to get started with your first connected IoT devices. It’s built around the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect, and the bundle also contains electronic components and a series of step-by-step tutorials to help you get started quickly and confidently.

How it works — some examples

The IoT is an incredibly rich area when it comes to building your own connected projects. There are a ton of exciting opportunities here that don’t require an enormous amount of knowledge or resources to get started with.

Let’s take a look at some examples of IoT projects, you’ll find more in the bundle:

Pavlov’s Cat

Training a cat is a tricky business, as any feline owner will know all too well. However, you can now use technology to make this task easier, using an IoT-enabled device you build at home to keep your cats in line.

This project — using only components found in the Arduino IoT Bundle and some cardboard — allows you to build a device that plays a certain melody whenever it dispenses food for your cat. At other times, it will play a different tune and your furry friend gets nothing. 

Just like Pavlov and his famous dogs, you’ll be able to train your cat to associate certain sounds with a reward — teaching your cat when it’s time for dinner.

The Nerd

Remember the days of the Tamagotchi? Caring for a digital pet was something millions of people devoted large chunks of their day to (or not, in the case of the many deceased Tamagotchis).

Now, with Arduino’s IoT Bundle, you can make your own digital pet. The Nerd lives on your desktop and survives by eating food and absorbing sunlight. Your task is easy: just make sure it’s adequately fed and has enough light to bask in. The Nerd will even help you by sending you an SOS in Morse code through a built-in speaker when it’s getting hungry.

You can feed The Nerd by pressing a button which is connected to the Arduino Cloud. Just don’t forget to keep on top of things — these creatures don’t die quietly.

Puzzle Box

This puzzle box is designed to keep your belongings safe(ish) in a cardboard container which is controlled by a fun combination lock. All you need is a few pieces of cardboard and the components from the Arduino IoT Bundle.

The box is kept closed with a servo motor, and will only open up if you turn all the potentiometers to get the right combination for access. You can set the combination in the Arduino IoT Cloud dashboard. To make things more fun, an LED on the box gives you feedback in the form of different coloured lights, letting you know how close you are to guessing the correct combination and gaining access to the box.

The puzzle box works best as a fun game to entertain others, rather than an actual security feature — but it’s still well worth giving a try.

Tap into the IoT with Arduino

Arduino’s IoT Bundle is the perfect introduction to tinkering around with your very own IoT devices at home. It gives you everything you need to get started with some simple projects, and requires very few pre-existing components and not much prior experience at all.

The post Introducing Arduino’s IoT Bundle and what it means for you appeared first on Arduino Blog.

Host the best BBQs ever with home automation

Everybody loves a good BBQ. Getting your family and friends together on a long summer day and evening, cooking delicious food and having a great time as smoke drifts through the air — it’s the perfect weekend activity.

BBQs can also be stressful, however. Anyone who has ever tried to host one will know the challenges of managing multiple meats at once, trying to avoid any overcooking (or undercooking) disasters, and keeping track of all that equipment.

Automation can help run your BBQ much more smoothly, minimizing any mishaps and making sure everyone has the best experience possible. In this article, we’ll look at how home automation can improve the BBQ experience and share some examples from Arduino’s Project Hub.

How home automation improves BBQs

  • Keep track of different items. Automation makes it easier to manage multiple meats and other food items at the same time, notifying you when something is ready so you don’t get overwhelmed by tasks and neglect any of your cooking.
  • Stay on top of temperature by measuring each piece of food and ensuring it’s at the perfect point.
  • Create a more welcoming outdoor area with things like automated lighting, heaters, and even a smart garden.
  • Easy cleanup with robots and other tools to leave your grill and other tools sparkling clean.

Some project examples from Arduino

Temperature Controled Charcoal Smoker

Arduino community member Duncan Barbee knew that the most flavorful way to grill is to use charcoal to heat your smokers. While propane and electric smokers give you better temperature control, they lose that unique and delicious charcoal flavor.

But charcoal heaters present many challenges. You need to constantly stay on top of the temperature, adjusting the vents on a regular basis to make sure everything is just right as the charcoal level changes in the smoker.

Barbee wanted to build a project that gave him the best of both worlds — the tasty charcoal flavor with the ease and convenience of an electric or propane smoker. He developed a controller that monitors the temperature in the smoker and automatically adjusts the airflow to the charcoal to maintain the correct temperature at all times, allowing him to sit back and relax as the perfect charcoal-based BBQ unfolds.

Smokerduino

Robert Korn had already created a sous vide controller using Arduino and a handful of other components, with great success. He chose to apply the same model to a smoker and devised the Smokerduino, which ensures perfectly cooked meat every time with minimal effort from the chef.

Alexa BBQ/Kitchen Thermometer with IoT Arduino and ePaper

Roger Theriault and his wife enjoy making cheese and yogurt at home, but this is a long process involving a thermometer and lots of waiting around. To cut some steps out, he built his own smart thermometer to monitor the temperature of the food and beep when a specific temperature was reached and it was time for the next step.

However, when the device stopped working, Theriault decided to upgrade it instead of simply fixing it. The new iteration of the thermometer uses Alexa devices too, enabling him to easily monitor and control everything cooking in the kitchen or outside in the smoker.

The way it works is fairly straightforward — just give Alexa an instruction and it will find the recipe and instruct the given device to start from step one of that recipe. It also draws on the data from the recipe to monitor the temperature and make any notifications or adjustments needed.

Better BBQs with Arduino

Monitoring and controlling cooking is one of the most useful and rewarding use cases for home automation. Arduino’s products make it possible to assemble detailed and advanced projects to take your BBQs to the next level.

Check out the project hub for some more inspiration or visit the home page to learn more about how Arduino works.

The post Host the best BBQs ever with home automation appeared first on Arduino Blog.



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