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Learn - Smart Inhaler System

What You'll Learn

Basic Skills

  • How to connect sensors to ESP8266
  • Simple web server programming
  • Reading sensor data
  • Creating basic web pages

Components Used

  • ESP8266 microcontroller (brain of the device)
  • FSR sensor (detects inhaler puffs)
  • BME280 sensor (temperature, humidity)
  • OLED display (shows information)
  • Buzzer (makes sounds for reminders)

Prerequisites

You should know:

  • Basic programming (variables, loops, functions)
  • Simple electronics (connecting wires)
  • How to use Arduino IDE

You'll need:

  • Computer with Arduino IDE
  • ESP8266 board and sensors (Check Readme.md)
  • Breadboard and wires

Key Concepts

1. ESP8266 Basics

The ESP8266 is like a small computer with WiFi. It can:

  • Read sensors
  • Connect to internet
  • Run a simple website
  • Store data
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);  // Start communication
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);  // Connect to WiFi
}

2. Reading Sensors

Sensors give us numbers that represent real-world things:

// Read temperature sensor
float temperature = bme.readTemperature();
Serial.println("Temperature: " + String(temperature));

// Read puff sensor
int puffValue = analogRead(A0);
if (puffValue > 100) {
  Serial.println("Puff detected!");
}

3. Simple Web Server

Create a webpage that shows sensor data:

server.on("/", [](){
  String webpage = "<h1>My Inhaler</h1>";
  webpage += "<p>Temperature: " + String(temperature) + "</p>";
  server.send(200, "text/html", webpage);
});

4. Storing Data

Save information so it doesn't disappear when device restarts:

#include <EEPROM.h>

// Save puff count
int puffCount = 0;
EEPROM.put(0, puffCount);  // Save to memory
EEPROM.get(0, puffCount);  // Read from memory

Learning Steps

Step 1: Basic Setup (30 minutes)

  1. Connect ESP8266 to computer
  2. Install Arduino IDE
  3. Upload simple "Hello World" program
  4. Check serial monitor for output

Step 2: Connect One Sensor (1 hour)

  1. Connect BME280 sensor
  2. Read temperature and humidity
  3. Print values to serial monitor
  4. Understand I2C communication

Step 3: Create Web Page (1 hour)

  1. Connect ESP8266 to WiFi
  2. Create simple web server
  3. Show sensor data on webpage
  4. Access from phone/computer browser

Step 4: Add Puff Detection (1 hour)

  1. Connect FSR sensor
  2. Detect when someone uses inhaler
  3. Count puffs
  4. Show count on display

Step 5: Add Features (2 hours)

  1. Add buzzer for reminders
  2. Store data permanently
  3. Create better web interface
  4. Add real-time updates

Simple Exercises

Exercise 1: Sensor Reading

// Read and display sensor data every 2 seconds
void loop() {
  float temp = bme.readTemperature();
  Serial.println("Temperature: " + String(temp));
  delay(2000);
}

Exercise 2: Puff Counter

int puffCount = 0;

void loop() {
  int sensor = analogRead(A0);
  if (sensor > 100) {
    puffCount++;
    Serial.println("Puffs today: " + String(puffCount));
    delay(1000); // Wait to avoid multiple counts
  }
}

Exercise 3: Simple Web Page

void handleRoot() {
  String html = "<html><body>";
  html += "<h1>Smart Inhaler</h1>";
  html += "<p>Puffs today: " + String(puffCount) + "</p>";
  html += "<p>Temperature: " + String(temperature) + "°C</p>";
  html += "</body></html>";
  server.send(200, "text/html", html);
}

What Each Part Does

Hardware Components

  • ESP8266: Main brain, handles WiFi and processing
  • FSR Sensor: Detects when inhaler is pressed
  • BME280: Measures temperature, humidity, air pressure
  • OLED Display: Shows information on small screen
  • Buzzer: Makes sounds for medication reminders

Software Parts

  • Arduino Code: Instructions for the ESP8266
  • Web Server: Creates a website hosted on the device
  • Sensor Libraries: Pre-written code to read sensors
  • WiFi Connection: Connects device to internet

Common Problems & Solutions

WiFi Not Connecting

  • Check WiFi name and password
  • Make sure device is close to router
  • Restart ESP8266

Sensor Not Working

  • Check wire connections
  • Verify sensor address (for I2C devices)
  • Test with simple example code

Webpage Not Loading

  • Check IP address in serial monitor
  • Make sure computer is on same WiFi network
  • Try restarting the ESP8266

Next Steps

Once you understand the basics:

  1. Add more sensors (air quality, light)
  2. Improve the website (add colors, graphs)
  3. Create mobile app (using simple tools)
  4. Add data logging (save data over time)
  5. Connect to cloud (send data to online service)

Useful Resources

  • Arduino IDE: Download from arduino.cc
  • ESP8266 Guide: Basic tutorials online
  • Sensor Datasheets: How to connect each sensor
  • HTML Tutorial: To improve web interface

Success Checklist

✓ ESP8266 connects to WiFi
✓ Sensors read data correctly
✓ Web page shows current data
✓ Puff detection works
✓ Data is saved between restarts
✓ Basic alerts/reminders work