IoT with Cayenne MQTT

Cayenne is entirely built around a dashboard, available through a browser or with an iOS or Android app. The dashboard includes widgets, and each widget is connected to sensors or actuators. On top of that, ​Cayenne adds two unique features: a scheduler and triggers.

After the previous hectic test with Cayenne for Arduino, I was luckier with the new release of Cayenne MQTT. Cayenne MQTT relies on the standard MQTT protocol for short messages.

I ported the Cayenne MQTT libraries to Energia and used them with two configurations:
​On the right, the project includes a CC3200 LaunchPad and two BoosterPacks, the Sensors BoosterPack and the Fuel Tank MK-II BoosterPack.

Cayenne MQTT with Energia

I reused the Weather and Security Station with Blynk project and tried to replicate with Cayenne MQTT.

Porting the Cayenne MQTT library to the CC3200 and CC3100 was fast, thanks to the clean implementation of the Cayenne libraries and the high level of compatibility of the Energia libraries.

The modified library is available at Cayenne MQTT Arduino Library for Energia. The library for the weather sensors is available at Sensors BoosterPack library. The example discussed here is available at CC3200_Sensors_Cayenne.

To install the libraries on Energia, please follow this step-by-step Managing Energia Libraries procedure.

Just edit Credentials.h header file and specify:
  • ​For the WiFi network: SSID and password
  • For Cayenne MQTT: username, password and client ID on the Credentials.h header file. 

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Then launch the standard build and link, upload and run process.

​Cayenne waits for the board, connects directly and updates to the dashboard page. 
I was delighted to see the dashboard recognised the data I was sending automatically.
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The Cayenne dashboard even detected the content (temperature) and the unit used (°C).

I confirmed each widget by clicking on the green +, selected the options and rearrange the widgets on the dashboard.
Here is the final result.

The dashboard is ready!

Conclusion

I was very happy with Cayenne MQTT and completed my project in less than 10 minutes. The dashboard recognised the data sent automatically.

Cayenne MQTT offers great features and versatility for a cloud-based dashboard read with any browser. Additional features include a scheduler and triggers.

​Now, let's expect a local-server based option!

Pros

  • Any browser to visualise data
  • Schedules and triggers

Cons

  • No local server option

Wrap-Up

  • Easy to implement 
  • Nice dashboards 

Links