Next-gen Accident Avoidance: Ultrasonic Sensor System Transmitting Data to ThingsBoard

Certainly! Here are the steps to set up ThingsBoard and connect a device:

Step 1: Install and Set Up ThingsBoard:

1. Visit the ThingsBoard website (https://thingsboard.io) and download the latest version of ThingsBoard.

2. Follow the installation instructions specific to your operating system. ThingsBoard supports various deployment options, including Docker, cloud, and on-premises installations.

3. Configure ThingsBoard by specifying the necessary settings, such as database connection details and administrator credentials.

Step 2: Create a Device Type:

1. Once ThingsBoard is installed and running, access the ThingsBoard Admin Panel through a web browser.

2. Log in using your administrator credentials.

3. In the Admin Panel, navigate to the "Device Types" section.

4. Click on "Create Device Type" and provide a name and description for the device type.

5. Define the attributes and telemetry data that your device will send to ThingsBoard. This could include parameters such as distance measurements, obstacle detection status, and any other relevant data from the ultrasonic sensor.

Step 3: Register a Device:

1. In the Admin Panel, go to the "Devices" section.

2. Click on "Manage Devices" and then "Add Device."

3. Fill in the necessary details for the device, such as the device name, type, and any additional attributes.

4. After creating the device, ThingsBoard will generate an access token. Make note of this token as it will be used to authenticate the device when transmitting data.

Step 4: Establish Device Connection:

1. Determine the hardware platform for your device. This could be a microcontroller, single-board computer, or any other device capable of running ThingsBoard client libraries.

2. Install the relevant ThingsBoard client library or SDK on your device. ThingsBoard provides client libraries in various programming languages, including Java, Python, and JavaScript.

3. Configure the client library with the ThingsBoard server details, such as the server URL and the device access token obtained in the previous step.

4. Implement the necessary logic in your device's code to collect data from the ultrasonic sensor and transmit it to ThingsBoard using the client library. This typically involves establishing a connection, formatting the data into the desired payload format (e.g., JSON), and sending it to the ThingsBoard server via MQTT, HTTP, or another supported protocol.

Step 5: Monitor and Visualize Data:

1. In the ThingsBoard web interface, navigate to the "Devices" section and select your registered device.

2. You should now see real-time telemetry data and attributes being received from the device.

3. Create dashboards, widgets, and visualizations using the ThingsBoard Dashboard Builder to display the collected data in a meaningful way. This can include charts, graphs, maps, and other visual elements.

Step 6: Set Up Alerts and Notifications (Optional):

1. Use ThingsBoard's rule engine to create custom rules and triggers based on specific conditions. For example, you can set up an alert when the ultrasonic sensor detects an object within a certain range.

2. Configure notifications to be sent to relevant stakeholders via email, SMS, or other supported channels.

By following these steps, you can successfully integrate an ultrasonic sensor system with ThingsBoard, enabling real-time data transmission, monitoring, visualization, and alerting for your accident avoidance application.

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>

#include <PubSubClient.h>

#include <NewPing.h>

// Replace with your network credentials

const char* ssid = "TambreResidence";

const char* password = "8088694461";

// Replace with your ThingsBoard MQTT broker address

const char* mqttServer = "thingsboard.cloud";

const int mqttPort = 1883;

// Replace with your ThingsBoard access token

const char* token = "MKdwnsd8NCNjwnkVyW1T";

// Ultrasonic sensor pins

const int trigPin = D2;

const int echoPin = D3;

WiFiClient wifiClient;

PubSubClient client(wifiClient);

NewPing sonar(trigPin, echoPin);

void setup() {

Serial.begin(115200);

// Connect to Wi-Fi

WiFi.begin(ssid, password);

while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {

delay(1000);

Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");

}

Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");

// Connect to ThingsBoard MQTT broker

client.setServer(mqttServer, mqttPort);

}

void loop() {

if (!client.connected()) {

reconnect();

}

client.loop();

// Read ultrasonic sensor data

float distance = sonar.ping_cm();

// Create payload

String payload = "{\"distance\": " + String(distance) + "}";

// Publish payload to ThingsBoard

String topic = "v1/devices/me/telemetry";

client.publish(topic.c_str(), payload.c_str());

// Print payload to Serial Monitor

Serial.println("Payload: " + payload);

delay(2000); // Adjust the delay based on your requirements

}

void reconnect() {

while (!client.connected()) {

Serial.println("Connecting to ThingsBoard MQTT...");

if (client.connect("ESP8266Client", token, NULL)) {

Serial.println("Connected to ThingsBoard MQTT");

} else {

Serial.print("Failed to connect to ThingsBoard MQTT, rc=");

Serial.print(client.state());

Serial.println(" Retrying in 5 seconds...");

delay(5000);

}

}

}