How to Build an IoT Sensor Node with Flux.ai, Wio-E5 LoRa Module and XIAO RP2040 MCU
Closing the Tech Gap in Traditional Agriculture with ‘Green Dot Board’. This board is a LoRa IoT sensor node powered by Wio-E5 LoRa Module and XIAO RP2040 MCU, aiming to boost crop yields and simplify farming tasks. The board is an open-source project designed by Flux.ai.
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🪄Closing the Tech Gap in Traditional Agriculture with Green Dot Board
The “Green Dot Board” is an open-source project aimed at boosting crop yields and simplifying farming tasks. This board is designed by Collins Emasi, 👨💻hardware engineer from Flux.ai.
Collins lives in the heart of Kenya, an agrarian country where agriculture contributes around 33% of its GDP and employs over 40% of its population. The need to make even a slight improvement fueled the drive to enhance the current state of affairs. And the farming methods currently in use are quite outdated, and relying on them for productivity could risk becoming obsolete. One major issue confronting farmers today is the technology divide that prevents them from improving their output👨🌾.
Hence, this project aims to bridge that gap by introducing an IoT sensor node designed to be deployed in farms. The device collects crucial parameters that farmers can leverage to increase their productivity. With this information, farmers can analyze the data more effectively and make informed decisions to optimize their yields🆙.
Now, this project has been applied to a local farm in Kenya. When making this project, Flux.ai helped Collins greatly improve and innovate his design. 📹The video below provides more details, don’t forget to check it out!
Seeed Studio has always been committed to empowering traditional industries, and this project has made effective improvements to traditional agriculture in Kenya, with local farmers becoming direct beneficiaries. Seeed Studio sponsored XIAO RP2040 MCU and Wio-E5 LoRa Module for this project, we hope that our small support will bring significant changes to the areas and causes in need.
📌Key Features of Green Dot Board
Green Dot Board–a LoRa IoT Sensor Node Powered by Wio-E5 LoRa Module and XIAO RP2040 MCU
🚀 Powered by Seeed Studio’s XIAO RP2040 MCU for high performance
🤖 Supports Arduino/MicroPython/CircuitPython development
📡 Seeed Studio’s Wio-E5 LoRa module for long-range connectivity
🌞 Designed for 4-6V solar panels, USB/Solar charging
🔌 Regulated power outputs (5V 1A), (12V 0.5A)
The board is low-cost, low-power, and works with industry-grade sensors. It can monitor ambient and soil parameters and transmit data to the cloud.
Below is the design page for the Green Dot Board📄. When accessing this page, feel free to make adjustments according to your individual preferences. If you encounter any issues, Copilot—the AI chatbot—is here to help! It offers tailored modification suggestions to facilitate a faster project completion. What’s even more exhilarating is the ability for users to directly modify the design document and create their own unique projects!🌟
🙆♀️To have a better experience with flux.ai and to appreciate its versatility, please visit this page. 🛠️Feel free to collaborate with your team and fork this project!
Also, 🔎please visit this Hackster article for a complete build guide.
✅Why do XIAO RP2040 and Wio-E5 LoRa Module Fit for this Project?
Collins opted for Seeed Studio’s Wio-E5 LoRa Module primarily for its long-range connectivity, low power consumption, and low data rates, considering the limited 4G network coverage in Kenya. Additionally, the module features built-in AT command firmware, simplifying the creation of prototypes or applications with just a few simple commands.
Furthermore, the selection of the right microcontroller is crucial for the success of an IoT sensor node. Taking into account the requirements of low cost, low power, efficiency, and an easy development environment, he chose the XIAO RP2040.
XIAO RP2040 is compatible with the Raspberry Pi RP2040 ecosystem since they both utilize the RP2040 chip. It supports multiple programming languages, including C, MicroPython, and CircuitPython.
Wio-E5 LoRa Module is a high-powered, long-range module designed in a convenient Stamp Hole form factor, allowing easy integration into a device’s mainboard without requiring additional components. Moreover, this module is pre-certified, providing a cost-effective and efficient means for your entire device to obtain certifications and approvals from regulatory agencies.
Flux is a browser-based electronics design tool with built-in AI chatbot support (Copilot)🤖 for modern hardware design methodologies: reusability, collaboration, and simulation. As a fully browser-based tool, all you need to access the full development environment is a computer and an internet connection. This makes it easier than ever to build parts, projects, and collaborate with others on designs. Flux Copilot is a powerful tool that serves as more than just an AI assistant. It resides within your projects and comprehends your engineering objectives, limitations, and compliance mandates. By doing more than merely suggesting, it takes on tasks like automating BOM verification, auto-connecting components, debugging, and providing prompt part recommendations.
In short, ☺️Flux.ai helps designers improve their efficiency and thus indirectly accelerates the digitization process in traditional industries.
Seeed has established a close partnership with Flux.ai🤝. We have uploaded popular modules and projects on Flux.ai, and will continue to share more in the future. 📣Please visit Seeed Studio’s Org Page and follow us to stay updated with the latest news!
🔔Stay Tuned for More Updates!
The project is currently in its prototype phase, and as it undergoes further testing and gains widespread adoption, more updates will be provided in the future!
👉Make sure to visit Seeed Studio’s Org Page and follow us to stay updated with the latest news!
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You share a good and quality article, thank you very much.
Thank you for your kind words😊! More IoT projects using lorawan and flux.ai are coming soon. Stay tuned!