VoltSense - IoT Smart Switch with Real-Time Metrics and Control

VoltSense is an IoT-enabled smart switch that allows users to monitor power usage, control appliances remotely, and gain insights into energy consumption patterns. It includes a web dashboard and a mobile app for seamless user interaction.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Features
• Hardware Components
• Software Components
• Setup and Installation
• Usage
• Backend Server
• ESP32 Firmware
• Frontend Application
• Google AI Integration
• Contributing
• License

Overview

VoltSense aims to provide an affordable and scalable solution for smart energy management in households and small businesses. By leveraging IoT and cloud technologies, it empowers users with real-time data and actionable insights to promote energy conservation.

Features

• Real-time monitoring of power usage.
• Remote control of appliances.
• Historical data visualization.
• Energy-saving recommendations.
• Carbon footprint tracking.
• Google AI-powered insights and anomaly detection.
• Web dashboard and mobile app for device management.

Hardware Components

• ESP32 Microcontroller: For managing IoT functionalities.
• ACS712 Current Sensor: To measure current flow.
• Relay Module: To control the connected appliances.
• Voltage Regulator: To power the ESP32 and peripherals.
• Enclosure: Fireproof casing for safety.

Software Components

• Backend: Express.js server handling MQTT messages and database interactions.
• Frontend: Next.js for the web dashboard.
• MQTT Broker: Hosted on Google Cloud VM.
• Database: Firebase Firestore for storing user data and metrics.
• Mobile App: Flutter-based app for mobile control and insights.

Setup and Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/voltsense.git
cd voltsense

2. Setting up the Backend

Navigate to the server directory and install dependencies:

cd server
npm install

Start the Express server:

npm start

3. Setting Up the Frontend

Navigate to the client directory and install dependencies:

cd client
npm install

Start the Next.js application:

npm run dev

4. Configuring the ESP32

Flash the provided firmware onto the ESP32 to start sending MQTT messages to the broker.

Usage

1. Web Dashboard: Access the web dashboard at http://localhost:3000 to monitor and control connected appliances.
2. Mobile App: Install the Flutter app on your mobile device for remote management.
3. MQTT Broker: Ensure the MQTT broker is running on your Google Cloud VM and accessible from your network.

Backend Server

The backend is built using Express.js and handles the following:

• Connecting to the MQTT broker to receive messages.
• Storing and retrieving data from Firebase Firestore.
• Exposing APIs for the frontend to fetch real-time and historical data.

API Endpoints

• GET /message: Fetches the latest MQTT message.
• POST /control: Sends control commands to the ESP32.

ESP32 Firmware

The ESP32 firmware is programmed to:

• Connect to the specified MQTT broker.
• Publish power usage data to the esp32/messages topic.
• Listen for control commands on the esp32/control topic.

Frontend Application

The frontend is a Next.js application that:

• Provides a user-friendly interface for monitoring and controlling appliances.
• Visualizes power usage data and insights.
• Fetches data from the Express backend through REST APIs.

Google AI Integration

The project integrates with Google AI to:

• Analyze power usage data.
• Provide insights into energy consumption patterns.
• Detect anomalies and suggest energy-saving practices.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please fork the repository and create a pull request with your changes. Ensure that your code adheres to the project's coding standards and includes relevant tests.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.