Top 10 Creative DIY IoT Projects for Makers
Start building your own IoT devices with these DIY projects.
IoT or Internet of Things uses sensors to create a connected environment. You can apply this technology to everyday objects and get some really interesting results. The best part of IoT is that it is accessible to the masses and with some programming knowledge, you too can make yourself a DIY IoT project.
In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 DIY IoT projects that you can build on your own.
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1. Door locking mechanism with Face ID
You might be familiar with facial recognition as almost all modern smartphones ship with this feature. Basically, it helps your mobile to unlock itself by scanning your face and it only takes a second or two to do so. Using IoT, you can bring the same functionality to your door.
This is one of the DIY IoT projects that use Raspberry Pi and Microsoft Windows 10 IoT core to execute the whole program. The camera that you are planning to use must be able to record enough information, and there is a list of supported webcams that you can use for this purpose. This project is a great way to get into Microsoft’s IoT to build an ecosystem.
2. An IoT Security camera
Security cameras make the task of keeping an eye on the house and its surroundings easier. However, modern security cameras can set you back a considerable amount of money and chances are that you won’t be using many of the features that come with it.
The security camera project from Hacker Shack uses a Raspberry Pi and a camera to create a simple Smart Security camera. The system works on Raspbian Jessie which a great platform to learn for anyone wanting to do raspberry based DIY IoT projects.
3. DIY IoT Irrigation system
If you are looking to automate your watering system at home, then this project makes your job a lot easier! The IoT plant watering system uses a Particle Photon as the control system.
The IoT irrigation system uses a soil moisture sensor so that your invention doesn’t end up over watering the plants. This detailed guide will help you understand the exact procedure you would want to follow while building your own automatic water pumping system.
4. DIY IoT Air pollution meter
Living in an area where you are worried about pollution? Then this DIY air pollution meter will help you measure the quality of air and relay it to your devices in real time. This IoT enabled device uses Arduino coupled with Blynk IoT platform to give you real-time stats.
The device uses a Gas sensor, Humidity sensor, and temperature sensor to give you an accurate reading on the quality of air. The Gas sensor is very sensitive to contaminants like smoke and ammonia and sends an alert message if it finds their levels rising beyond a certain limit. You can monitor everything from your mobile device.
5. IoT enabled weather station
The IoT enabled weather station allows you to monitor the wind direction, atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature, etc. of a place and relay the information wirelessly to a different node (your computer or smartphone).
In this DIY IoT project, we use an Arduino coupled with ESP-12E NodeMcu. The firmware will give us easy coding access and the whole project only required two sensors boards – BMP180 Pressure Sensor & DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor.
It is a great project that will help you familiarize with Arduino and the procedure associated with connecting different parts to the main board.
6. DIY IoT Robotic Arm
Interested in robotics, why not build your own robotic arm and learn the basics along the way. the project is about building a robotic arm that has IoT capabilities which run on the Blynk Platform.
The robotic arm is actuated by 5 servo motors and every other part is for the structural integrity of the arm. This project gives you a fair idea when it comes to motors, their actuation and how they can work in unison to create mechanisms that you can later optimize according to your requirements.
7. DIY IoT Smart mirror with Alexa
The concept behind the smart mirror is simple – to provide you relevant information right on your mirror. The mirror that you have got at home serves its purpose perfectly, but why stop there when you have the power of IoT?
The smart mirror uses IoT to gain information such as weather, calendar, memos, etc. and display the same on your mirror. Its looks and feels futuristic, and it is something you can do in your own home.
The mirror connects to Alexa helping you add this mirror to the list of your smart home devices.
8. Pet Feeder
Feeding your pet isn’t a mere action, it is a responsibility. However, we are hearing more and more owners admitting that they have forgotten to feed their pets at times due to their busy schedules.
The IoT pet feeder is aimed at solving this problem and you can configure it to dispense pet food remotely, all thanks to IoT. The system is built using Arduino and the whole setup is constructed in such a way that you can store pet food in the container which will dispense a fixed amount of it upon your command.
9. Automatic blinds with Alexa
Automatic blinds are really amazing to watch however if you were to buy automatic blinds, it is going to cost you quite a bit. This project will help you convert existing blinds into automatic blinds and it’s all DIY.
On top of converting the blinds, the creator adds in Alexa support so that you can control the blinds right from your phone, or even by voice if you are planning to add a microphone to the mix.
10. Wolf
If you are feeling more confident in your DIY IoT skills, then Wolf might be a great project to test yourself.
Wolf is a multi-terrain robot that can either walk or move on wheels based on the type of terrain. So if it feels like the wheels are ineffective, it can use its limbs to walk over obstacles. Wolf is a demanding project that is certainly rewarding for the effort that you put in.
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Conclusion
IoT is an emerging technology and experimenting with this technology is a great way to stay ahead of the curve. The projects that we have mentioned here will help you understand the basics of building IoT projects and help you familiarize with the tools that are used in their creation. Happy building!
