IoT Components:

  • Dedicated to IoT features, such as working with MCUs (Microcontroller Units).

Mintflow socials tools

Accessing the Sidebar Menu

After logging into AppMint Web Builder, you can access the MintFlow Sidebar Menu by following these steps:

  1. Navigate to the Application Dropdown:

navigate

  • Once you're logged in, locate the Application dropdown from the main dashboard.

  1. Click on the MintFlow Plus (+) Icon:

    • In the dropdown, click on the MintFlow icon (+) to open the MintFlow Designer interface.

  2. Sidebar Menu Location:

    • Once inside the MintFlow Designer, all the main controls and features are organized in the sidebar located on the left-hand side of the screen.
    • The sidebar provides quick access to all the available menu items for designing and managing your workflows.

sidebar menu

To configure the MCU component under the IOT dropdown after dragging it out and clicking on the expand icon, follow these steps:

mcu

  1. Set the Type: Choose one of the following options based on the type of microcontroller unit you're working with:

    • ESP32
    • ESP8266
    • Raspberry Pi
    • Arduino
    • Other (if your MCU is not listed)

  2. Set the Pins:

    • Name: Provide a name for each pin you are configuring.
    • GPIO: Specify the General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) number for each pin, which determines the functionality of the pin on the microcontroller.

This allows you to tailor the MCU component to match your specific hardware setup for your IOT project.

Use Case: Home Automation System with ESP32

In this scenario, you are building a home automation system that uses an ESP32 microcontroller to control a set of devices such as lights, fans, and sensors. The system allows you to control and monitor these devices remotely through a web interface or mobile app.

Steps:

  1. Add MCU Component: Drag the MCU component from the IOT dropdown.
  2. Set the Type: Select ESP32 from the options since this is the microcontroller you are using.
  3. Configure the Pins:
    • Pin 1 (Light Control):
      • Name: "Living Room Light"
      • GPIO: 18 (this is the pin connected to the light)
    • Pin 2 (Fan Control):
      • Name: "Ceiling Fan"
      • GPIO: 19 (this pin controls the fan)
    • Pin 3 (Temperature Sensor):
      • Name: "Temp Sensor"
      • GPIO: 21 (this pin is connected to a temperature sensor for monitoring room temperature)

Functionality:

  • With the ESP32 configured and the pins set, you can now write automation logic in your system. For example:
    • Turn the lights on or off via a mobile app by sending a signal to GPIO 18.
    • Monitor room temperature using the temperature sensor on GPIO 21, and based on the temperature, automatically turn the ceiling fan on or off by controlling GPIO 19.

Benefits:

This setup allows you to:

  • Automate home appliances with an affordable microcontroller (ESP32).
  • Monitor environmental conditions (like temperature) and react in real-time using a simple and flexible configuration.
  • Scale the system by adding more devices and sensors by configuring additional pins on the MCU.

This use case illustrates how configuring the MCU component can be used to build a real-world IOT application for home automation, with ESP32 acting as the brain of the system.