IoT-Based Switch Board for Kids Using ESP Module And AWS

Abstract

Purpose: To trigger the electrical switchboard by the kids not only harmful but also life risk. We always keep our kids away from it. We take lots of precautions not to touch it anyway. However, sometimes we need to operate electrical loads like a fan, TV, etc., by our kids when we are engaged with another essential task. We know it is unsafe, but sometimes we do. Here we demonstrate how to create a switchboard for kids to turn on/off the bedroom electrical load safely. We created an electrically isolated switchboard for them. It operates using small batteries and has no electrical connection with high-voltage AC. It is fixed on the wall using glue inside the kid's reachable area. It is entirely IoT based. When Kids press any switch, the ESP module sense and upload the corresponding command to the AWS shadow register. Then, AWS sends the updated content to the MQTT client running in another ESP module connected to all electrical equipment. According to the command module, turn the equipment on/off. The Code is available on GitHub to continue the research work.

Design/Methodology/Approach: we installed some feather-touch soft switches inside the system. All buttons are connected with NodeMcu (ESP Module) GPIO. The complete tiny module may be fixed beside the Bed. We need two nos. AAA battery as a power supply to run the miniature system. Turn on the system. It will try to communicate with the nearest configured wifi router. If the wifi connection is OK, it will try connecting with the AWS IoT server using the hardcoded configuration profile inside the “secret. h” file. After successfully connecting with the AWS IoT server, the ESP module is ready to send the command. On the other hand, another Wifi module is connected to all electrical equipment. When powered up, it tries to communicate with the AWS IoT server through the internet using connected Wifi. Once connected, it is ready to receive the command to trigger the load.

Findings/Result: The described procedure is a unique application of an electrical switchboard that kids will use. We tested it in real life. It is working well. The AWS IoT is also a secure and robust, and cheap solution. So recurring cost to operate the device is as low as possible. The automation researcher or enthusiast can replace traditional switchboards with IoT-based intelligent devices for our daily life operations.

Originality/Value: We designed a switchboard for kids differently using the latest emerging technology IoT. The traditional electrical switchboard is unsafe for kids, but this technology is better and completely safe. So we can quickly adapt to our modern lifestyle.

Paper Type: Experimental-based Research.