NautiGuard: BilgeMonitor

NautiGuard is part of NauticApp and it is a collection of marine IoT (Internet of Things) projects designed to enhance the boating experience for users. Each project within NautiGuard focuses on specific aspects of marine monitoring and safety. These projects are open source, meaning users can build and customize their own solutions using readily available components.

BilgeMonitor is one of the NautiGuard projects, it is a boat safety system designed to monitor the water level in the bilge of your vessel. It offers real-time water level tracking, automatic bilge pump control, and remote access via NauticApp. Keep your vessel safe and dry with this essential marine monitoring solution.

Features

• Real-time water level tracking
• Automatic bilge pump control
• Remote access via NauticApp
• User-friendly interface
• Customizable alerts and notifications

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Hardware Requirements
• Software Requirements
• Installation
• Getting Started
  • Connecting Ultrasonic Sensor to ESP32
    • Example Connection
  • Software Setup with VS Code and PlatformIO
• NauticApp Setup
• Accessing Sensor Data via Web Browser
• Troubleshooting
• Contributing
• License

Overview

BilgeMonitor is a cost-effective solution for vessel owners to monitor water levels in their bilges. It utilizes an ESP32 microcontroller and an ultrasonic distance sensor to provide accurate readings. The system can be easily set up and customized to fit various vessel configurations.

Hardware Requirements

• ESP32 microcontroller
• Ultrasonic distance sensor (HC-SR04 or similar)
• Soldering iron, wires etc

Software Requirements

• VS code IDE with PlatformIO

Installation

1. Clone this repository to your local machine:

   git clone https://github.com/username/BilgeMonitor.git
   

Getting Started

Connecting Ultrasonic Sensor to ESP32

• Ultrasonic Sensor Pins:

  • VCC: Connect to 5V pin on ESP32.
  • Trig: Connect to any digital pin on ESP32 (e.g., GPIO 4).
  • Echo: Connect to any digital pin on ESP32 (e.g., GPIO 5).
  • GND: Connect to GND pin on ESP32.

• ESP32 Microcontroller:

  • 5V Pin: Connect to VCC of Ultrasonic Sensor.
  • GND Pin: Connect to GND of Ultrasonic Sensor.
  • Digital Pins (Trig and Echo): Connect to the respective Trig and Echo pins of the Ultrasonic Sensor.

• Power Source:

  • Connect a power source (e.g., USB cable) to the ESP32 for providing power.

Example Connection:

• Ultrasonic Sensor VCC -> ESP32 5V
• Ultrasonic Sensor Trig -> ESP32 GPIO 4
• Ultrasonic Sensor Echo -> ESP32 GPIO 5
• Ultrasonic Sensor GND -> ESP32 GND

Software Setup with VS Code and PlatformIO

• Clone this Repository:
  • Open VS Code and navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository.
  • Open the terminal in VS Code and run the following command to clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/NauticApp/BilgeMonitor.git

Alternatively, you can download the ZIP file and extract its contents into the desired directory

1. Open Project in VS Code:

• In VS Code, go to File > Open Folder and select the folder containing the cloned/unzipped repository.

2. Install PlatformIO Extension:

• In VS Code, go to the Extensions view by clicking on the square icon on the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
• Search for "PlatformIO" and click "Install" on the PlatformIO IDE extension.

3. Open PlatformIO:

• Click on the PlatformIO icon on the sidebar to open the PlatformIO home.
• Under PROJECT TASKS, click on Build to compile the project.

4. Configure ESP32 Environment:

• Open platformio.ini file in the root directory of your project.
• Make sure the platform is set to espressif32.
• Check if board is set to the appropriate ESP32 variant (esp32dev).

5. Add your WiFi and IP details to your code:

• navegate to src/main.cpp
• Locate the following lines of code:

const char* ssid = "your_WiFi_details"; 
const char* password = "and_the_WiFi_password"; 

• Replace "your_WiFi_details" with your Service Set Identifier (SSID), which is the name of your WiFi network.
• Replace "and_the_WiFi_password" with your WiFi password.

Safety Disclaimer: Please exercise caution when entering your WiFi details. Ensure you do not share your code or upload it to public repositories with sensitive information. It's recommended to keep this information private and secure.

• You need to assign an IP to your ESP32. By default, it is set to:

Serial.print("192.168.0.61");

You can keep this IP or replace it with one of your choice. Just ensure that the chosen IP is unique within your network to avoid conflicts. If you decide to change the IP, make sure to update it in NauticApp as well.

6. Upload Code to ESP32:

• Connect your ESP32 board to your computer using a USB cable.
• In PlatformIO, under PROJECT TASKS, click on Upload to flash the code to the ESP32.

7. Monitor Serial Output:

• Open the Serial Monitor in PlatformIO to view the output from the ESP32.
• Make sure the baud rate in your code and the Serial Monitor match (e.g., Serial.begin(115200)).

NauticApp Setup

1. Open NauticApp on your Android device.

2. Navigate to the NauticGuard section (the last icon at the bottom left of the screen).

3. Click on the "Add ESP32 Device" button to add a new device.

4. Enter a name for your device (e.g., "Bilge Monitor").

5. Enter the ESP32 IP Address (e.g., http://192.168.0.61/sensors) in the IP Address field. You can obtain this IP address from the ESP32 Serial Monitor.

6. Click "Save" to add the device.

7. Once added, your BilgeMonitor device will appear in the list of devices in NauticApp.

8. You can now monitor the real-time water level data from your BilgeMonitor in NauticApp.

Note: Ensure that your Android device and ESP32 are connected to the same network for proper communication.

Accessing Sensor Data via Web Browser

Once you have set up your ESP32 and it's connected to your local network, you can easily check the sensor data using a web browser. Follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser on any device connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your ESP32.

2. In the address bar, type the IP address of your ESP32. If you haven't changed it, the default IP is:

http://192.168.0.61

Press Enter.

3. The web page will display real-time sensor data from the ultrasonic distance sensor. You should see information such as water level measurements.

4. Please note that you need to be on the same local network as the ESP32 for this to work. If everything is set up correctly, data should refresh each 2 seconds or so.

Troubleshooting

• Screen Refresh: If you encounter any issues with the viewing, you can try refreshing the screen by rotating your phone. NauticApp has a feature that allows you to refresh the display by simply rotating the device.

• Proper URL Format: Ensure that you input the correct URL in the format http://ip_address/sensors when adding your ESP32 device. This is crucial for NauticApp to properly communicate with your device and retrieve the sensor data.

• Check ESP32 Connectivity: Double-check that your ESP32 is connected to the same network as your Android device. If the ESP32 is not properly connected to the network, NauticApp won't be able to communicate with it.

• Verify ESP32 IP Address: Make sure you have entered the correct IP address of your ESP32. You can obtain this address from the ESP32 Serial Monitor.

• Check Wi-Fi Connection: Ensure that your Android device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network. If the Wi-Fi connection is weak or unstable, it may cause communication issues between NauticApp and the ESP32.

• Inspect ESP32 Serial Monitor: Monitor the ESP32 Serial Monitor for any error messages or logs. This can provide valuable information about the status and any potential issues with the ESP32.

• Review ESP32 Code: Double-check the ESP32 code to ensure there are no syntax errors or logical issues that may be causing communication problems.

• Verify NauticApp Version: Make sure you have the latest version of NauticApp installed on your Android device. Outdated versions may have compatibility issues.

• Check Permissions: Ensure that NauticApp has the necessary permissions to access the network on your Android device. This can be checked in your device's settings.

• Restart Devices: Sometimes, simply restarting both your Android device and the ESP32 can resolve connectivity issues.

• Community Support: If you continue to experience issues, consider reaching out to the NauticApp community or forums for additional help and insights.

Contributing

We welcome contributions to the NautiGuard BilgeMonitor project. If you have ideas for improvements, bug reports, or other feedback, feel free to open an issue or create a pull request.

License

The NautiGuard BilgeMonitor is open source software released under the MIT License.

Non-Commercial Use Disclaimer: While the code is under the MIT License, the primary intent is to support personal and non-commercial use. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code for personal and non-commercial projects. For any commercial use or redistribution, please contact us for licensing arrangements.