Adsum Connect 1K

Adsum Connect 1K is an innovative IoT solution designed to streamline the connection and management of up to 1,000 BLE beacons using a single nRF52840 dongle. This project utilizes Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52840 dongle with the nRF Connect SDK, which is based on Zephyr RTOS, to deliver a scalable, reliable, and easy-to-implement system for BLE scanning and data transmission to the cloud.

Project Overview

The Adsum Connect 1K project is composed of two main components:

• Adsum Connect 1K - BLE Scanner: The firmware for the nRF52840 dongle that scans BLE beacons.
• Adsum Connect 1K - USB Connector: A Python-based application that bridges the BLE scanner to the cloud via MQTT.

Why Adsum Connect 1K?

• Scalability: Capable of managing up to 1,000 BLE beacons with a single dongle. For larger deployments, multiple dongles can be used to scale the system, potentially managing tens of thousands of beacons.
• Simplicity: Easy setup with minimal configuration required.
• Reliability: Ensures consistent data transmission from BLE beacons to the cloud.

Repository Structure

The project is divided into two sub-repositories:

• Adsum Connect 1K - BLE Scanner:

  • Description: This firmware, built on the nRF Connect SDK, allows the nRF52840 dongle to scan for BLE beacons, process their advertising packets, and prepare the data for transmission.
  • How it Works: The firmware captures advertising data, including MAC addresses, RSSI, and payloads, and formats this information for easy consumption by the USB Connector.

• Adsum Connect 1K - USB Connector:

  • Description: This Python application handles the data received from the BLE scanner and forwards it to the cloud using MQTT.
  • How it Works: It connects to the serial port of the BLE scanner, processes the incoming data, converts it to JSON format, and publishes it to an MQTT broker.

How They Work Together

The BLE Scanner and USB Connector work in tandem to create a seamless data pipeline from BLE beacons to the cloud:

1. Scanning: The BLE Scanner firmware runs on the nRF52840 dongle, continuously scanning for BLE beacons and capturing their data.
2. Data Transmission: This data is sent to the USB Connector via USB.
3. Cloud Integration: The USB Connector application, which can run on any Windows, Linux, or macOS PC with a USB port and internet connection, processes the data and publishes it to an MQTT broker. A Raspberry Pi is an excellent example of a suitable platform for running this application.

Benefits of Adsum Connect 1K

IoT Use Cases

Adsum Connect 1K is particularly valuable in IoT environments where managing large numbers of BLE beacons is critical. Here are some use cases where this project shines:

• Smart Cities: Monitor thousands of environmental sensors spread across a city, collecting data on air quality, temperature, and humidity via BLE beacons.
• Warehouses: Track the location and status of inventory items with BLE tags, ensuring efficient operations.
• Supermarkets: Manage smart shelves and product tracking in large retail environments using BLE advertising beacons.
• Healthcare: Monitor patients and equipment in hospitals using BLE-enabled beacons for asset tracking and patient monitoring.
• Smart Farming: Collect data from hundreds of BLE beacons deployed across large agricultural fields to optimize farming operations.

Simplifying IoT Beacon Management

Managing a large number of BLE beacons can be complex and resource-intensive. Adsum Connect 1K simplifies this process by allowing a single dongle to handle up to 1,000 devices, reducing the need for multiple receivers and minimizing infrastructure costs. With its robust design, it ensures reliable data transmission, making it an ideal solution for mission-critical IoT applications.

Getting started

1. Clone the Main Repository (if you haven't already):

git clone https://github.com/adsumnetworks/Adsum_Connect_1K.git

2. Once the repository is cloned, you can navigate to the specific subfolder that you're interested in:

   • For the BLE Scanner code, enter the following command:

   cd Adsum_Connect_1K/adsum_connect_1k_ble_scanner

   • For the USB Connector code, enter the following command:

   cd Adsum_Connect_1K/adsum_connect_1k_usb_connector

3. Proceed with the Project Setup:

   Once you're in the desired directory, follow the setup instructions provided in that folder's README.

Roadmap

We have several exciting features and enhancements planned for Adsum Connect 1K:

• Adding Beacons Filter: Implementing filters to selectively process only specific beacons based on defined criteria.
• Enhanced Security: Implementing end-to-end encryption for data transmission.
• Expanded Protocol Support: Adding support for other IoT protocols such as CoAP.
• Advanced Data Analytics: Integrating real-time data analytics tools for more insightful data processing.

Contribution Guidelines

We welcome contributions from the community! Whether it's bug fixes, new features, or improving documentation, your help is invaluable.

To contribute:

1. Fork the Repository: Create a personal copy of the project.
2. Create a Branch: Develop your changes in a new branch.
3. Submit a Pull Request: Once your changes are ready, submit a pull request for review.

Please ensure that your contributions align with the project's coding standards and add value to the project.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

Contact Information

For questions, suggestions, or support, feel free to reach out:

• Website:
• Maintainers: Omar Morceli
• Support Channels: GitHub Issues