What you'll learn

Learn how to install the OS (Operating System) on to your Raspberry Pi (RPi) and configure the settings for WiFi connection.
Learn how to communicate with your RPi via WiFi using SSH via Putty or Mac OS Terminal.
Learn how to install Node-Red's latest version 4 including setting up your username and password on your Raspberry Pi.
Learn how to interface using WiFi based Smart Plug to control lighting, heating, cooling or any electrical equipment using Node-Red
Learn how to connect and monitor a Modbus room temperature sensor to control a node-red thermostat flow for heating and cooling control.
Set up a Dashboard UI Time Scheduler to control your smart plug for lighting, cooling, heating, garden watering etc.
Create a functional web browser based GUI (Graphical User Interface) to monitor and control your Automated Smart Home system using Node-Red Dashboard
Trial test a secure personalized Cloud based version of your Node-Red Smart Home system to monitor and control from anywhere, anytime.
Use Node-red to set up and trial test your own email and dashboard alerts including downloadable flows.

Course content

5 sections • 19 lectures • 1h 38m total length

Introduction and Overview11:20
What will the course consist off?

There will be 5 main sections in this course as follows;

1. Introduction and Overview.

2. The Raspberry Pi.

3. Node-RED

4. IoT - The Internet of Things.

5. Bonus.

On completion of this course, you will have a working knowledge and hands-on experience of practically using the above technologies. You should also have a useful and functional smart home automation system. You will also learn how to connect your system to the Internet and trial test it remotely to control and monitor your system using a standard web browser, from anywhere, anytime.
The Course Teaching and Learning Philosophy.0:54
Here we introduce the following concepts that will be applied in this course:

A. Socratic Method.
The Socratic method is a philosophical approach to teaching and learning that emphasizes questioning and dialogue to encourage critical thinking, self-discovery, and understanding.

B. Autodidacticism.
Teach yourself what this means.

C. Confucius.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.”

D. K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simply Solvable.

The emphasis of this course will be in the ‘doing’ and creating a practical, functional system rather than theoretical knowledge.
Hardware Requirements4:56
This section details the hardware required to complete the course, advice on where to easily source the components and their indicative price.

Introduction1:34
In this lecture we will install the Raspberry Pi (RPi) Operating System (OS) on to the SD Card using RPi's imager application. You can download and install the imager from the following location;
https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/
We will also use the imager to setup the WiFi settings to communicate with the RPi.

NB: Always unplug and remove power from your RPi before inserting your SD card!
Installing the Raspberry Pi OS3:17

Introduction0:56
In this section we will do a step by step installation of Node-RED and the various nodes used to make the Smart Automated Home Flows. By the end of this section you will have learned how to install, configure and apply all the required nodes to end up with a functioning and useful system.
Installing Putty SSH3:46
Installing Node-RED7:06
This is a completely new installation method released by Node-Red in December 24. The step by step guide had to be updated to reflect this change.
Using Manage Pallet to Install Course Nodes11:09
Modbus Node Config7:24
In this lecture you will learn how to connect your Modbus Temperature and Humidity Sensor with the Node-RED Modbus node.
Note: If you decide to expand your system with additional Modbus sensors on the same bus, you will need to change the unit id from the default (1) . You can do this using the Chipkin Modbus Scanner app. (See resources.)
Thermostat Node Part 12:45
Thermostat Node Part 25:14
Smart Plug Node Config.6:24
Dashboard Node Config. Part 1.6:03
Dashboard Node Config. Part 2.4:52
UI Scheduler Node Config.6:01
Read the Modbus Humidity Sensor
Cooling Setpoint

Introduction5:16
In this section we examine the future of you as a NR learner; the support and resources to help you progress with sophisticated sample flows for Alarms and Alerts via email for you to download and 'Play' with a test trial.
Secondly, the exciting developments happening in the NR world. NR is now being accepted as a viable commercial product and is being used for numerous applications such as Smart Buildings AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Demand Response applications. We highlight a couple of companies using NR and the potential of using NR.

Requirements

A list of hardware components (provided in a preview Required Hardware lecture). If you already have a Raspberry Pi, you can still start the course without those other components.
You will need a PC or Laptop (Mac or Windows OS) connected to your home WiFi router.
You should have knowledge or ability to access your router to ascertain the IP addresses of connected devices.
Some beginners level experience of Linux would be helpful but not a requirement.
No software programming experience is needed.

Description

Introduction.

- No prior knowledge of Node-RED, Raspberry Pi, Linux, Modbus and the Internet of Things (IoT) is required.

- It will help if you are comfortable around computers and have a natural technical curiosity.

- The course philosophy is to take everything from first principles and to emphasize the Doing aspect of learning rather than getting too deep into the theoretical aspect of these technologies.

- Every lecture will have a video complete with a Step by Step guide.

Brief Overview.

This course will start with installing your Raspberry Pi (RPi) OS; specifying the required hardware equipment; then installing Node-RED (NR) and required nodes; creating a thermostat node flow to connect to a Modbus Temperature-Humidity Sensor and WiFi Smart Plug to automatically control your home Heating/Cooling and Lighting.

You will then create a Browser based NR Dashboard GUI. You will learn how to connect your Dashboard GUI to the Internet and to trial-test a Cloud connection to monitor and control your Smart Automated Home from any Internet connected device from anywhere, anytime. Ideal for holiday homes and second properties.

The Extra section will provide a sophisticated NR Flow (download) for Alerts and a trial-test of your email Alarms.

We will also discuss the exciting future potential of Node-RED, its growing use in commercial applications including corporations using it in conjunction with Artificial Intelligence (AI) for energy saving smart buildings and utility power supply Demand Response schemes.

Who this course is for - Additional Notes.

- Homeowners: who want a practical, economical, flexible, expandable, secure and functional smart automated home system.

- Educational Domain: teachers, students, schools/technical colleges, interested in a STEAM NR/RPi/IoT platform.

Note: This course is ideal for student projects and extracurricular activities.

- Home Schoolers: parents, students organizations interested in a STEAM NR/RPi/IoT platform.

Note: This course was designed to be young student friendly with step by step guides for teachers and parents who may not have a strong technical background. It should be also noted that STEM careers such as engineering are some the highest paid and most rewarding careers.

- Makers, Hobbyists: wanting to gain additional NR/RPi/MB/IoT experience.

- Building Controls engineers/technicians: wanting to upskill with RPi/NR/MB/IoT experience.

- Prospective Building Controls Engineers, Technicians: who want RPi/NR/MB/IoT experience.

Note: There is great demand for Building Control Engineers in most if not all western countries, so this course is very useful as an introduction into building environmental control principles such hysteresis (dead band) control, Modbus protocol etc. for those interested in a career in smart building control engineering.

Who this course is for:

Technically Curious Homeowners: who want a practical, economical, flexible, expandable, secure and functional smart automated home system and want to take control of their living environment.
Educational Domain: teachers, students, schools/technical colleges, interested in a STEAM NR/RPi/IoT platform.
Makers, Hobbyists: wanting to gain additional NR/RPi/MB/IoT experience.
Building Controls engineers/technicians: wanting to upskill with RPi/NR/MB/IoT experience.
Prospective Building Controls Engineers, Technicians: who want RPi/NR/MB/IoT experience.

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction3 lectures • 17min

The Raspberry Pi2 lectures • 5min

Node-RED11 lectures • 1hr 2min

The Internet of Things2 lectures • 10min

Extra1 lecture • 5min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: