Smart-real/Distributed-Room-Ecosystem
Latency-optimized IoT automation system using dual-core ESP32 and ESP8266 with OTA updates
⚡ Edge-Sync-Room-Ecosystem
Latency-Optimized Distributed Automation
(Note: Upload your architecture diagram or a photo of the finished setup here)
🚀 Project Overview
Distributed-Room-Ecosystem is a high-performance IoT network designed to automate physical access, ambient lighting, and legacy hardware with sub-50ms latency.
It orchestrates two independent microcontrollers (ESP32 & ESP8266) to create a synchronized environment, managing a custom Active IR Tripwire for presence detection while simultaneously modernizing non-smart RGB strips into a cohesive smart node.
Key Differentiator: Unlike standard smart plugs that rely on slow cloud triggers, this system runs on a non-blocking, hardware-interrupted architecture, ensuring instant physical response times even during heavy Wi-Fi activity.
⚙️ Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| ⚡ Dual-Node Sync | Distributed logic between Door Node (Receiver) and Desk Node (Emitter) enables instant reaction to human presence. |
| 🔌 Smart Extension Hub | Retrofitted a mains extension cord to act as a "Smart Hub," allowing modular control of any plugged-in device (Lamps, Chargers, Drivers). |
| 🛡️ Active IR "Heartbeat" | Uses a modulated 38kHz carrier wave (instead of simple DC) to reject sunlight and ambient noise interference. |
| 🔄 State Recovery | Automated logic overrides the chaotic flashing of cheap RGB strips on boot, restoring user presets (Purple/Solid) without a physical remote. |
| 🧠 Smart Latch Logic | Anti-jitter algorithm distinguishes between a lingering person and a genuine entry/exit event. |
🔧 The Engineering Journey
1. The Sensor Pivot: PIR vs. Active IR
- The Attempt: Initially used Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors.
- The Failure: High latency (delay) and broad detection zones made it impossible to create a precise "Tripwire" for the doorframe.
- The Solution: Pivoted to VS1838B TSOP Receivers with internal gain control and band-pass filters for laser-focused detection.
2. The Cloud Latency Lesson (Cloud-to-Edge)
Before the current hardware-based design, I attempted a "No-Code" cloud solution. It was a critical lesson in IoT bottlenecks.
- ❌ Old Architecture:
ESP32 -> Webhooks -> Make.com -> SmartThings -> Cloud -> Bulb- Result: 3-5 second delay. Unacceptable for room entry.
- ✅ New Architecture:
ESP32 -> GPIO Relay (Hardwired)- Result: <50ms delay. A 99.9% improvement in speed and reliability.
[Image of Cloud vs Edge Computing diagram for IoT]
3. The "Resource War" (Tripwire vs. RGB)
- The Conflict: The ESP8266 Desk Node had to generate a continuous 38kHz tripwire signal (
analogWrite) AND send precise NEC IR codes to the LED strip simultaneously. The interrupts clashed, causing flickering lights. - The Fix: Implemented a Mutex (Mutual Exclusion) strategy. The system briefly pauses the 38kHz carrier wave (~50ms) to transmit LED color commands cleanly, then immediately resumes the tripwire.
🛠️ Hardware Architecture
🚪 Door Node ( The "Brain" & Receiver )
- Core: ESP32 DevKit V1
- Role: Detects beam breaks, controls the main relay, and syncs state to the cloud.
- Sensors: VS1838B IR Receiver (3.3V Logic).
- Actuators: 5V Relay Module (Transistor Buffered).
🖥️ Desk Node ( The "Emitter" & Lighting )
- Core: NodeMCU (ESP8266)
- Role: Generates the 38kHz "Heartbeat" signal and controls legacy RGB strips.
- Hardware: 940nm High-Power IR LED driven by a 2N2222 Transistor on the 5V rail.
🔌 Schematics & Wiring
Safety First: The system uses a transistor-buffered relay circuit to protect the ESP32 GPIO pins from inductive flyback voltage.
(Note: Upload your wiring diagram to the schematics folder)
📱 IoT Integration (Blynk)
The system connects to a mobile dashboard for manual overrides and telemetry:
- V0: Main Room Light (Synced with physical beam break)
- V1: "Party Mode" Lock (Disables automatic sensors)
- V2: Desk RGB Color Selector (Injects NEC Codes)
📂 Repository Structure
/src: Production-ready firmware for ESP32 and ESP8266./legacy_prototypes: Chronological archive of development versions (v0.1 to v2.1)./assets: Project diagrams and images.
📜 License
Distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for more information.
Built by Aoun Raza.