[P-07] ESP32 Based LoRa Text Terminals.

I designed and made this during my internship at the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), Steel Authority of India (SAIL). Over there I worked in the Telecomm. Deptartment. I came up with this idea of a system that uses LoRa for unified workplace communication between humans and machinery alike. I then came up with this 2 node network as a proof of concept for human to human communication. The original project was ment to be a 4 node network to showcase server node in the network but due to cost overruns the idea shifted towards a 2 node network to just showcase data transfer over LoRa. This does NOT use meshtastic (yet).

This project was also my submission to BSP as I interend as a project intern.

My initial concept proposed for 2 types of devices - (1) Human-to-Network (H2N) and (2) Machine-to-network (M2N). These would be use the same network to send data in an industrial workplace. The first type of devce (H2N) is meant to be used by humans. So they need to have some kind of HID (Human Interface Device) and need to account for human centric design. They are primarily an infomation terminal. Like half way between blackberries and smartphones. A suitable use case of such a device can be secured departmental communication for things like notifications, updates, alerts, etc and comms inside an organization or even be used as personal communicator for plant wide emergency broadcasting services.

While the M2N type of devices notably would lack major or all HID as they are to be mounted onto machies both stationary or mobile. Use cases can include live sensor reading fed to a central server, control of PA systems like digital signage, speakers,etc and even motor fleet management by the use of such devices installed onboard vehicles.

Youtube : here.

Printables : here.

For more Info: click here

Specifications

• MCU: ESP32-WROOM-32
• Range: 10km
• Battery: 18650 3.7v battery
• Display: 16x2 I2C LCD Display
• Radio: SX1278 LoRa
• Antenna: Helix antenna
• Weight: 150g