Enhancing parking detection using proximity sensor and neon light

The EzloPi smart devices provide automation through simple, customizable use with our open-source EzloPi platform, making daily life easier and improving human-machine interactions.

Before moving into this example, it is very important to know about the device registration, provisioning and converting the ESP32 device into an EzloPi device along with knowledge of Web Flasher, MiOS Mobile Application for Android/iOS and the MiOS Web Application.

The project aims to integrate an FC-51 proximity sensor with an EzloPi device to facilitate parking detection. The FC-51 sensor will be employed to detect the distance between the car and the wall, ensuring safe parking. When the car approaches a predetermined safe distance, a neon light connected to the EzloPi device will be triggered to provide a visual alert to the driver. This integration involves interpreting the sensor's data and activating the neon light accordingly. This solution offers a user-friendly and effective means of enhancing parking safety by providing real-time visual feedback to drivers. Additionally, the project will emphasize ease of installation and reliability for seamless into a smart home environment.

Welcome to the project demonstration video section. The following video showcases the key aspects of Get notified when fan gets powered ON, providing a visual walkthrough of its implementation.

The following components are required for interfacing with the EzloPi device:

• ESP32 as an EzloPi smart device
• FC-51 Proximity sensor
• XY-MOS, high-power dual MOSFET driver module
• Flexible neon LED strip
• 12V power source

The wiring diagram is represented as follows:

The following connections are made in order to complete the circuit setup:

From ESP32 to the FC-51 Proximity sensor:

From MOSFET driver module to LED Strip:

From 12V Power supply to MOSFET driver module:

1. Set up your device/hardware by visiting config.ezlopi.com

2. Log in using the credentials which you just set earlier while signing up.

3. Now, click on the Connect Device button and a pop-up window will appear.

4. Now, select COM Port to which your ESP32 device is connected. In our case, the COM3 port is used.

Click Connect

5. If you are new to this and it's your first time configuring, select Create new Device ID. Enter Wifi SSID and Wifi Password.
6. In the Device Configuration, tab click on Digital Input.

7. A window will open for inputting the following parameters:

• Set a device name of your choosing. In our case, we set it to Proximity Sensor.
• Set OUT GPIO to 4.
• Set Device Subtype to IR Proximity Sensor.
• Set default value to LOW.
• Then Click Apply Button.

8. Again, In the Device Configuration, tab click on Digital Output.

9. A window will open for inputting the following parameters:

• Set a device name of your choosing. In our case, we set it to Neon Light.
• Set Device Subtype to LED.
• Set OUT GPIO to 5.
• Set Resistor to PULL UP.
• Set default value to LOW.
• Then click Apply Button.
• After clicking the apply button you can see a table of your setting in the device configuration tab.
• Press the Flash Device button.

10. A window will appear on the bottom right side of the screen displaying “Please press BOOT button while flashing begins.”

11. Hold the BOOT button down until the next window appears on the bottom right side of the screen which says “Installation prepared. Please release the boot button now.”

12. Release the BOOT button from your ESP32 when this pop-up on the bottom right window appears.

13. After some time, a popup will appear saying Device Flashed Successfully! This means that your device has been set up successfully.

1. After configuring the controller with the EzloPi web flasher, head to ezlogic.mios.com

2. Use the same credential to log in that you used for configuring the controller with the web flasher.

3. On the MiOS web dashboard, you will be able to see the tile for proximity sensor and Neon light. These tiles show the status of proximity sensor and the neon light.

MeshBots:

4. On the right side of the screen under Automation, click on MeshBots.

5. On meshbot screen, click on Create new MeshBot button present on the top right corner of the screen.
6. After clicking on Create new MeshBot you will see new options, now under Automation MeshBot click on Local.

7. On the next screen you will see that we can create a name of our choosing, in this case we write it as Proximity with Neon Light.

7. In the trigger tab you can set the TRIGGER for your device and in the ACTION tab you can set the action to be performed based on the trigger which you have created.

9. Set these things in TRIGGER section:

• Set Node Type to Device.
• Set the Node to Proximity Sensor.
• Set the Capability to Motion.
• Set the Value to True.

10. Set these values in the True part of the ACTION section.

• Set Controllable Type to Device.
• Set the Controllable to Neon Light.
• Set the Capability to switch.
• Set the Value to true.

11. Set these values in the False part of the ACTION section.

• Set Controllable Type to Device.
• Set the Controllable to Neon Light.
• Set the Capability to switch.
• Set the Value to false.

12. After clicking the save button you can see this screen on the top right corner of the screen.

13. Here you can see your saved MeshBot. Now click on Dashboard.

14. After opening the MiOS web dashboard, you will be able to see the tile of your connected device, in our case the proximity sensor and neon light.
15. While parking, whenever the car is away from the proximity sensor, it will not detect any motion or trigger the neon light, For now no motion is being detected.

16. Similarly, it can be seen that when the car comes close to the proximity sensor, it detects motion and the neon light gets triggered. This is because of the meshbot rules we have set earlier.

You can download the MIOS Android app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

1. After downloading the app, proceed to install the application and open it.

2. Using the MIOS mobile application, create a new Ezlo Cloud account using the sign-up option. If you already have an account, you may proceed to log in.

3. After successfully logging in, you will be able to see the number of controllers connected such as a lamp, fan, or any other device in the MiOS app. Tap on any controller of your desired ID:

4. You will be able to see the status of your controller whether it is online or offline. Access the device dashboard, and tap the device. The following view of the dashboard will appear:

5. After opening the MiOS mobile dashboard, you will be able to see the tile of your connected device, in our case the proximity sensor and neon light.
6. While parking, whenever the car is away from the proximity sensor, it will not detect any motion or trigger the neon light, For now no motion is being detected.

7. Similarly, it can be seen that when the car comes close to the proximity sensor, it detects motion and the neon light gets triggered. This is because of the meshbot rules we have set earlier.