IoT Webser using Arduino

[Cameron Paulsone]

Hi Folks,
just completed a course on creating a webserver using an Arduino Uno which allows for remotely monitoring and controlling actuators. This also includes visualizing the sensor data on really cool looking animated dials... Based on what I've learned (and I really learned a lot), I wanted to know if there were any industrial versions of the Arduino Uno or Mega that I could use for my next automated project. The Uno was fine for my learning purposes, but I'm now ready to start building something a little more robust which will need more memory and GPIO's... In case anyone is interested, the course I'm referring to is "IoT Web Server Dashboard On-Line Course"
Any help in finding a more industrial type of device would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pommie]

I'd use an ESP32 and if you need extra I/O then use an I/O expander.

Mike.

 

[danadak]

The ESP32 good idea but one problem is that they have lousy A/Ds.

One can use a 2 chip solution, the ESP8266 or ESP32 to do the server, and a
better chip to do the analog. Here is an example of whats on a PSOC that would
allow you expanded I/O as well as robust data acquisition, including filtering if
you needed it. One chip, in below multiple copies of many of the resources
shown. Drag and drop tool, rich API library to manage, and routability onchip.
Like having a proto board with a bucket of parts and wires, all in one chip.

Then hand off to the ESP part to handle web server portion.

Here is an example project using one to create an oscilloscope :

DIY Oscilloscope

PSOC is an SOC processor with a lot of analog capability as well as digital. A snapshot of whats in the chip (in many cases multiple copies of the items shown) - Here is a basic oscilloscope, function generator, FFT, logic analyzer done by...

www.electro-tech-online.com

A bursting f() generator example :

https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/attachments/upload_2019-4-5_16-46-6-png.174241/

Regards, Dana.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

My go-to device would be a DSPIC33 series.

You can very easily use shift register ICs as fast input and output expanders, working from an SPI port with a couple of other pins driving the input load & output latch signals to the shift registers.

Or even use CAN BUS for separated modules; some PICs have CAN built in.



Note that you can equally well use shift registers as expanders on an Arduino, or just about any device with SPI.

An article on using shift registers as I/O expanders with an arduino:

Shift Registers - 74HC595 & 74HC165 with Arduino

Learn to use the 74HC595 and 74HC156 shift registers to add extra input and output ports to your Arduino, then use them to build a fancy LED light display!

dronebotworkshop.com

There are also I2C expanders such as the MCP23017, which adds 16 configurable input or output pins per IC, and you can use up to eight of those on the same I2C bus, just using two MCU pins 64 I/O

Not as fast as shift registers, but very usable, and there are Arduino libraries to make them easy to use:

https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/aemDocuments/documents/APID/ProductDocuments/DataSheets/MCP23017-Data-Sheet-DS20001952.pdf

 

[danadak]

How much I/O do you need ? Many low costs solution can get you in the
'area of 70 pins ? One example, a 64 bit SR in 1 chip, and tons of resources left
for other uses, analog as well as digital -

https:/e/www.electro-tech-online.com/articles/64-bit-serial-in-parallel-out-shift-register.939/

Are you driving a lot of current with the I/O ?


Regards, Dana.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Any help in finding a more industrial type of device would be greatly appreciated.

To clarify, "industrial" devices generally use conventional ICs and components, but with separate switching transistors or relays to control (usually) 24V signals.

Likewise, inputs would have voltage dividers and capacitive filtering to reduce the 24 volts used at the inputs down to the 5V or 3.3V range accepted by the ICs.

This is a typical industrial controller, with 24V inputs and outputs built in, plus networking and web server.

Product Details - Industry Mall - Siemens WW

They can be expanded with extra I/O modules stacked to the side, to 24V switching inputs and outputs, or analog I/O and many other types of module. They can also exchange I/O data between controllers over the network links.

This is a module to add16 input and 16 outputs; several can be stacked.

6ES7223-1BL32-1XB0 | Siemens | PLC-City @ 371.77 USD

SIMATIC S7-1200, Digital I/O SM 1223, 16 DI/16 DO, 16 DI 24 V DC; sourcing/sinking input, 16 DO, sourcing (sinking output), NPN transistor 0.5 A

www.plc-city.com

There are many makes, that's just a type we use regularly so I'm familiar with them.

 

[Cameron Paulsone]

Thank you all for the feedback and pointers.
Dana: I'm going to need about 8 analog I/O's and 6 digital I/O's for my next project.
rjenkinsgb: I looked at the Siemens option and I can see why one would use this kind of device for mission critical application, I guess I was a little misleading when I used the term industrial, but 400-500$ is somewhat out of my budget for what I want to do.

I looked at the Arduino Mega and I think it will meet my needs, I will need to get one and test it first. I was hoping to get one that has the SD card and Ethernet jack built in to avoid using shields, but the only manufacturer I could find that had one as now discontinued it... MEGA 2560 ETH, R3, with PoE, ATmega2560+W5500, Micro-SD card reader.

Thanks for all your responses..

Cam

​

 

[danadak]

This has the capability in many designs of being a single chip solution -

Above is a catalog of whats onchip. Many multiple copies. Its routable, has a rich API library to
manage each of the components (in PSOC land a component is an onchip resource).

$15 board excellent buy and utility.

IDE (PSOC Creator) and Compiler free.

100's of example projects, ability to create custom components via schematic capture and/or use of Verilog.

With onboard configurable muxes trivial to have 8 analog channels as well as differential, mated
with SAR or 20 bit DelSig. Also onboard precision Vref.


Regards, Dana.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I was hoping to get one that has the SD card and Ethernet jack built in

ATmega328P with Ethernet, current product and in stock:

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/Seeed-Studio/102010000?qs=SElPoaY2y5KkRlPIdCjvXQ%3D%3D

Seeed make a lot of Arduino equivalent boards, just branded Seeduino.

Note that the Siemens plc I mentioned was purely an example of an industrial controller, I was not suggesting you use it!

The previous post about low cost I/O expanders was the stuff I thought you may be able to use.


And of course you could design your own circuit board, to have all the features you need - it's quite easy and does not cost much, often cheaper than buying modules such as arduinos for things that can be done with a small MCU.

Plus the resulting design is then your property!

 

[Cameron Paulsone]

Thanks for the Seeed Studio suggestion. I've just ordered one and will test it. Too bad they don't make a mega2560 version, the extra memory and cpu speed would be great...
THANKS AGAIN !!!

 

[tepalia02]

Unfortunately, cannot really suggest any industrial substitute/ version of Arduino UNO. There was a product named The Arduino Industrial 101. It was a WiFi board based on a MIPS Linux processor. But I can see that it has been retired.