[Tutorial] : Smart Conveyor System with IoT Monitoring

This system enables real-time monitoring and automatic speed control of the conveyor, as well as product sorting using sensors. IoT plays a crucial role in providing real-time monitoring and remote control.

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1. Planning & System Concept

Objective:

• Develop a smart conveyor system that can automatically control speed and sort products.
• Monitor the status and performance of the conveyor in real-time using the FAVORIOT IoT Platform.

Main Components:

• Microcontroller: Arduino / Raspberry Pi
• Sensor: IR (Infrared) sensor for object detection
• Servo Motor: To control product sorting
• FAVORIOT IoT: For remote monitoring and data analytics
• IoT Dashboard: Displays system status and controls

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2. System Design

This system consists of two main parts:

1. Physical System (Hardware)Conveyor with a servo motor for speed control
   • IR sensor placed at the conveyor’s end to detect products
   • Arduino/Raspberry Pi acts as the main controller
2. IoT System (Software)Sensor data is sent to FAVORIOT via WiFi
   • IoT Dashboard for data visualization and speed control

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3. Hardware Development

(i) Electronic Connections

• IR Sensor → Detects products on the conveyor
• Servo Motor → Controls conveyor speed
• WiFi Module (ESP8266/ESP32) → Sends data to FAVORIOT

(ii) Connection Network

• IR Sensor ➝ Arduino ➝ WiFi Module ➝ FAVORIOT Cloud
• Arduino receives commands from the FAVORIOT Dashboard for speed control

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4. IoT Integration with FAVORIOT

(i) Registering on the Favoriot IoT Platform

1. Sign Up: Log in to the Favoriot IoT Platform
2. Create a New Device:Device Name: Smart_Conveyor_001An API Key will be provided for data transmission

(ii) Sending Data to Favoriot

Data format sent to Favoriot:

{
   "device_developer_id": "Smart_Conveyor_001",
   "data": {
      "speed": 100,
      "status": "Running",
      "product_detected": 1
   }
}


Use Arduino with ESP8266 or Raspberry Pi (Python MQTT/HTTP) to send data.

Example Code (Arduino + ESP8266)

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <ESP8266HTTPClient.h>

const char* ssid = "Your_WiFi_Name";
const char* password = "Your_WiFi_Password";
const char* server = "http://apiv2.favoriot.com/v2/streams";
const char* api_key = "YOUR_FAVORIOT_API_KEY";

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Connecting to WiFi...");
  }
}

void loop() {
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
    HTTPClient http;
    http.begin(server);
    http.addHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
    http.addHeader("Apikey", api_key);

    String jsonData = "{\"device_developer_id\":\"Smart_Conveyor_001\",\"data\":{\"speed\":100,\"status\":\"Running\",\"product_detected\":1}}";
    
    int httpResponseCode = http.POST(jsonData);
    Serial.println(httpResponseCode);
    http.end();
  }
  delay(5000); // Send data every 5 seconds
}


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5. IoT Dashboard Development

Using the FAVORIOT Dashboard to:

• Monitor Conveyor Speed (Real-time speed monitoring)
• Machine Status (Running / Stopped)
• Product Count

The dashboard can be built using the FAVORIOT IoT Dashboard or integrated with Node-RED for a more customizable interface.

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6. Remote Control via IoT

1. Sending Speed Control Commands via FavoriotUse the Favoriot API to adjust conveyor speed remotely.
   • Example: To change speed to 50%, send a POST request:

2. {

3.    "device_developer_id": "Smart_Conveyor_001",

4.    "data": {

5.       "speed": 50

6.    }

7. }

9. Code to Receive Commands on ArduinoString speed_value = received_data["data"]["speed"];

10. int motorSpeed = speed_value.toInt();

11. analogWrite(motorPin, motorSpeed);

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7. Testing & Adjustments

After developing the system, conduct tests:

1. IR Sensor Test – Ensure it accurately detects objects.
2. Speed Control Test – Verify that the servo motor responds correctly to speed changes from the Favoriot Dashboard.
3. IoT Data Transmission Test – Confirm that speed and status data are sent to Favoriot and displayed on the dashboard.
4. Automation Simulation – Test the system with actual products to ensure correct sorting.

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8. Conclusion & Future Enhancements

Project Benefits

✅ Real-Time Monitoring – Conveyor status can be monitored via the Favoriot Dashboard.
✅ Automated Production – Speed adjusts automatically based on sensor data.
✅ Remote Control – The system can be controlled from anywhere.

Future Improvements

📌 Integrate AI (Machine Learning) to optimize speed based on product volume.
📌 Use AI Camera for product recognition.
📌 Implement MQTT Technology for faster and more stable communication.

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This project leverages FAVORIOT IoT as the main platform for monitoring and control. Proper integration can significantly improve automation and efficiency in the manufacturing industry!

[Disclaimer: This article provides a step-by-step guide. The source code may need adjustments to fit the final project design.]