Microcontrollers in IoT
• Central control units that interface with
sensors, process data, and communicate over
networks.
Arduino Overview
• Open-source platform with simple hardware
and software. Great for beginners and
hobbyists.
Arduino Features
• • 8-bit Atmel AVR (ATmega328P)
• • Clock speed: 16 MHz
• • No built-in networking
• • Digital/Analog I/O, 5V power
• • Uses Arduino IDE (C/C++)
Arduino Pros and Cons
• ✅ Easy to learn, good documentation
• ❌ No built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, limited power
• 📦 Uses: Home automation, temperature
monitoring
ESP32 Overview
• Low-cost SoC with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Suitable for wireless IoT applications.
ESP32 Features
• • Dual-core Xtensa LX6, up to 240 MHz
• • 520 KB SRAM, up to 16 MB Flash
• • Built-in Wi-Fi and BLE
• • Supports Arduino IDE, MicroPython
ESP32 Pros and Cons
• ✅ High performance, power-efficient
• ❌ Slightly complex to use
• 📦 Uses: Smart locks, energy monitors, health
trackers
Raspberry Pi Overview
• Single-board computer running Linux. Ideal for
complex, high-performance IoT tasks.
Raspberry Pi Features
• • Broadcom ARM CPU, 1.2–1.8 GHz
• • 512MB–8GB RAM
• • Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB
• • Uses microSD for storage
Raspberry Pi Pros and Cons
• ✅ Multitasking, language support, powerful
• ❌ Higher power usage, not ideal for simple
nodes
• 📦 Uses: Surveillance, edge computing
Comparison Table
• Arduino: 8-bit, no Wi-Fi, very low power
• ESP32: 32-bit dual-core, Wi-Fi/BLE, low power
• Raspberry Pi: 64-bit quad-core, Linux OS,
powerful
Summary
• Arduino: Best for beginners
• ESP32: Great for wireless IoT
• Raspberry Pi: Ideal for AI and complex systems
Comparison Summary
Feature Arduino ESP32 Raspberry Pi
Yes
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth No (needs module) Yes (built-in) (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth on
some models)
OS No No Yes (Linux-based)
Power Low Low Medium/High
Ease of Use Very Easy Moderate Moderate
Processing Power Low Medium High
Sensors and Actuators in IoT
Sensors:
• Sensors are electronic devices that detect and respond to changes in the environment and convert physical
parameters into electrical signals that can be measured and processed by microcontrollers.
1. Temperature Sensors
Function:
Measure ambient temperature in the surrounding environment.
Examples:
•LM35 – Analog sensor with high accuracy.
•DS18B20 – Digital sensor with 1-Wire interface.
•DHT11/DHT22 – Combined temperature and humidity sensors.
Applications:
•Smart thermostats (e.g., Nest)
•Industrial temperature monitoring
•Weather stations
Interfacing:
Connected to microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino, ESP32) via analog or digital pins.
Wireless Technologies in IoT
IoT (Internet of Things) devices rely on wireless technologies to communicate,
transfer data, and interact with each other or cloud platforms.
The most common short-range wireless communication protocols include Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, and Zigbee.
1. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)
🔹 Description:
Wi-Fi is a widely used wireless networking technology that allows devices to connect
to the internet and each other through a local area network (LAN).
🔹 Features:
•High data rate (up to hundreds of Mbps)
•Range: ~50 meters indoors
•Power consumption: High
•Standard: IEEE 802.11
•Use Case: Best for smart home appliances like smart TVs, security cameras, and
router
Pros:
•High-speed data transfer.
•Easily connects to the internet.
•Supports multiple devices.
Cons:
•High power consumption (not suitable for battery-powered devices).
•Congested frequency bands (2.4GHz)
2. Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless communication technology used for
device-to-device communication.
Features:
•Range: ~10 meters (Bluetooth 5.0 extends up to 50 meters)
•Low data rate (1–3 Mbps)
•Power consumption: Low (especially BLE – Bluetooth Low Energy)
•Standard: IEEE 802.15.1
•Use Case: Wearables, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and mobile peripherals .
Pros:
•Very low power usage.
•Widely available on smartphones.
•Secure pairing mechanism.
Cons:
•Limited range.
•Low bandwidth (not suitable for high-data applications).
3. Zigbee:
Zigbee is a low-power wireless mesh network protocol designed for communication
between IoT devices.
•Range: ~10–100 meters (extends via mesh network)
•Data rate: Low (~250 kbps)
•Power consumption: Very low
•Standard: IEEE 802.15.4
•Use Case: Smart lighting, home automation, industrial monitoring.
Pros:
•Mesh networking increases range and reliability.
•Very low power usage.
•Supports hundreds of devices.
Cons:
•Lower data rate
•Requires a central hub/coordinator
Comparison Table
Feature Wi-Fi Bluetooth Zigbee
Range ~50 meters ~10–50 meters ~10–100 meters
Power High Low Very Low
Data Rate High (Mbps) Medium (~2 Mbps) Low (~250 kbps)
Topology Star Star Mesh
Best Use Internet Access Wearables Smart Home Mesh
