Application of WeChat Mini-Program and Wi-Fi SoC in Agricultural IoT: A Low-Cost Greenhouse Monitoring System

Abstract

HighlightsA quick solution for developing and deploying custom agricultural IoT systems is proposed.Low-cost and high-performance devices are used for the design of sensor nodes.A mobile application based on WeChat Mini-Program is developed for device and data management.The proposed system brings convenience to both users and developers.Abstract. Increasing demand for automatic management of agricultural production and real-time remote monitoring has increased the need for smart devices, wireless technologies, and sensors. The internet of things (IoT) has emerged as a common technology for the management of multiple devices by multiple users. Some professional solutions are relatively difficult to implement for researchers who are interested in agricultural IoT but do not have requisite skills in computers and electronics. The unfriendliness of the user software limits the practical application of agricultural IoT in China. This article presents a simple solution based on an SoC (system-on-chip) and WeChat mini-program that focuses on low-cost hardware, rapid development, user-friendly application design, and helping developers get a quick start in building a DIY monitoring system. The ESP8266, a high-performance SoC, is used as the microcontroller and Wi-Fi module to transfer the sensor data to a remote server. A WeChat mini-program provides the graphical user interface, enabling users to manage devices and access data by clicking. Users can log into the system using their WeChat accounts and bind devices by scanning QR codes on the devices. Thus, the complex management and device binding in conventional systems can be overcome. The system is easy to be expand and has great potential for greenhouse environmental monitoring in China. Keywords: Greenhouse ambient monitoring, Internet of things, WeChat mini-program, Wi-Fi SoC.