ESP8266 Community Forum

Recently, I saw many people creating smart-home equipment on the Internet, which aroused my interest, and then I created an automatic watering artifact which could surf the Internet. Programming of my device is based on DFRobot automatic watering kit. With ESP8266 module, the flower-watering kit could realize real time monitoring.



Required hardware:

ESP8266 Wifi Bee (Arduino Compatible)

Xbee USB adapter (FTDI ready)

EcoDuino - An Auto Planting Kit

12 Battery


As for mobile phone software, I used Blynk which is easy to build up and providing Arduino library. Throughout the communication, ESP8266 WiFi Bee module was used as communication module. Arduino is the main controller here.


1. Create A Blynk Item

Open Blynk software.

Add the following controls:

Adjust the size and arrangement of controls, and then set their parameters respectively, as follows:

Interface after adjustment is as follows:

Channels (pins) used in controls are virtual, which transmit data to ESP8266, and then ESP8266 transfers data to watering kit motherboard.


2. Download program to ESP8266

Program source code can be found here.

Switch WiFi Bee SEP module to UART port, and plug it into Sbee USB Adapter board to connect with the computer. Select FireBeetle-ESP8266 on Arduino IDE (Click here to link to the installation tutorial of FireBeetle-ESP8266).

Download program to WiFi Bee ESP module, as follows:

After downloading, switch WiFi Bee ESP module to BOOT port.


Note: before downloading program, you need to change your WiFi and password as well as the corresponding AUTHTOKENS code.

3. Download Program to Watering Kit Motherboard

Program source code can be found here.

Open Arduino programmer, select Leonrdo motherboard and download source program to motherboard:

4. Hardware Connecting
Plug WiFi Bee ESP module into watering kit motherboard in right direction:

Connect each sensor according to the silk screen of connection mode on motherboard:

Assemble the watering kit:

Check the effect of watering…

Hello

I’m attempting to build this project and have been having difficulty getting the esp8266Software code to compile/upload without errors.

Here is a link to the code:

https://github.com/Chocho2017/ESP8266-f ... ng?files=1

Here are the error messages:

WARNING: library ESP8266WiFi claims to run on (esp8266) architecture(s) and may be incompatible with your current board which runs on (firebeetle8266) architecture(s).
Sketch uses 237437 bytes (22%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1044464 bytes.
Global variables use 34332 bytes (41%) of dynamic memory, leaving 47588 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 81920 bytes.
warning: espcomm_sync failed
error: espcomm_open failed
error: espcomm_upload_mem failed
error: Invalid argument or value after -cf (argument #10)
error: Invalid argument or value after -cf (argument #10)

Any advice regarding troubleshooting this would be much appreciated.

Thanks
NG

NatGuy wrote:WARNING: library ESP8266WiFi claims to run on (esp8266) architecture(s)

You can safely ignore this warning.

NatGuy wrote:warning: espcomm_sync failed
error: espcomm_open failed

The Arduino IDE is unable to connect to your board, please check the COM-port settings and try again.

Also: please state what your hardware looks like: kind of ESP8266 module or board (Firebeetle?), what USB -> UART convertor (on-board CH-340?), power supply (battery?), etc.

Thank you for your reply. I am using the hardware specified in the project post with the exception of the adapter:
ESP8266 WiFiBee
https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1279.html
Xbee to USB adapter
https://www.dfrobot.com/product-588.html
(This is the V2 model with the Atmega8u2, the V1 ftdi model was out of stock when I placed my order)

I’m working with the tech support at DFRobot to resolve this but haven’t had any success yet.

I’m beginning to think the issue is with my choice of adapter. In the description for this model it states:
“The Atmega8U2 firmware uses the standard USB COM drivers, and no external driver is needed. However, on Windows, a .inf file is required.”

I’m using an older laptop that runs on Windows Vista 32bit. When I plug the adapter into a USB port it is listed in the device manager and I can select it in the tools menu of the Arduino IDE. I have been looking for a new driver but have been unable to so far. All that I have tried to load when using the device manager returns the message “the most up to date driver already installed”.

I’m not sure what .inf file is required or where to find it (it is not on the DFRobot site). Would you have any ideas where to look?

I might bite the bullet and order the ftdi adapter...it was back in stock when I looked today.

NG