DEV Community: Harshan.M

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT: ESP8266-Based Real-Time Object Detection

Harshan.M — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:59:04 +0000

Harshan.M

Oct 14

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT: ESP8266-Based Real-Time Object Detection

#hardware #iot #programming #tutorial

4 min read

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Harshan.M — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:58:12 +0000

Harshan.M

Oct 14

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT: ESP8266-Based Real-Time Object Detection

#hardware #iot #programming #tutorial

4 min read

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT: ESP8266-Based Real-Time Object Detection

Harshan.M — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:45:04 +0000

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT: ESP8266-Based Real-Time Object Detection

Introduction

Hello Dev Community! 👋

I built IR Sentinel KiwisIoT, a simple IoT-based object detection project using an ESP8266 NodeMCU, an IR sensor module, and the KiwisIoT platform.

The system detects nearby objects using an infrared sensor, processes the sensor's digital output through the ESP8266, and sends the object status to a KiwisIoT dashboard over Wi-Fi.

This project helped me explore sensor interfacing, embedded programming, wireless communication, and IoT dashboard monitoring.

🛠️ Components Used

ESP8266 NodeMCU development board
IR obstacle detection sensor module
Jumper wires
USB cable for power and programming
Arduino IDE
KiwisIoT account and dashboard
Wi-Fi connection

🔌 Circuit Diagram and Connection Explanation

The IR sensor module is connected to the ESP8266 NodeMCU using three main connections:

IR sensor pin	ESP8266 connection	Purpose
VCC	Suitable power pin	Powers the sensor
GND	GND	Common ground
DO	D7 (GPIO13)	Digital detection signal
AO	Not connected	Analog output is unused

The digital output pin sends a signal to the ESP8266 whenever the sensor detects an object according to its sensitivity setting.

Important: The circuit illustration shows D6 in its simplified connection table, while the code below uses D7. For this code, connect DO to D7. If your actual hardware uses D6, change the pin definition in the code to D6. Also, verify the sensor's voltage requirements and ensure its output is safe for the ESP8266's 3.3 V GPIO.

⚙️ How It Works

The project follows these steps:

The IR sensor monitors the area in front of it.
The ESP8266 reads the sensor's digital output.
The program converts the signal into DETECTED or NOT DETECTED.
The ESP8266 sends the status to KiwisIoT through Wi-Fi.
The dashboard displays the received object detection status.

The code checks the sensor periodically and sends an update approximately every two seconds.

💻 Arduino Code

The following Arduino sketch uses the ESP8266 NodeMCU, the IR sensor's digital output, and the KiwisIoT library.

Before uploading, replace the Wi-Fi and dashboard placeholders with your own settings. Never publish your Wi-Fi password in a public post.

/*
 * Project: IR Sentinel KiwisIoT
 * Project ID: KIWISIOT-002
 * Board: ESP8266 NodeMCU
 * Sensor: IR Obstacle Detection Module
 */

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <KiwisIoT.h>

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";
const char* topic = "YOUR_DASHBOARD_TOPIC_ID";

#define IR_PIN D7

KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

void sendObjectStatus() {
  int irState = digitalRead(IR_PIN);

  String objectStatus;

  // Many IR modules output LOW when an object is detected.
  if (irState == LOW) {
    objectStatus = "DETECTED";
  } else {
    objectStatus = "NOT DETECTED";
  }

  Serial.println("\\n--- IR SENTINEL MONITORING ---");
  Serial.print("IR Sensor Value: ");
  Serial.println(irState);

  Serial.print("Object Status: ");
  Serial.println(objectStatus);

  // Send the status to KiwisIoT Channel 0.
  kiwisiot.send("0", objectStatus);

  Serial.println("Status sent to KiwisIoT");
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  pinMode(IR_PIN, INPUT);

  Serial.println("\\nIR Sentinel KiwisIoT");
  Serial.println("Initializing KiwisIoT...");

  kiwisiot.begin();
}

void loop() {
  kiwisiot.run();

  static unsigned long lastSend = 0;

  if (millis() - lastSend >= 2000) {
    lastSend = millis();
    sendObjectStatus();
  }

  delay(100);
}

☁️ KiwisIoT Dashboard Configuration

I configured a KiwisIoT dashboard to display the object detection status received from the ESP8266. The program sends the status string to Channel 0 using the KiwisIoT library.

The dashboard screenshot shows DETECTED in green. This demonstrates the status displayed by the dashboard during my test.

To reproduce the setup:

Create or open your KiwisIoT dashboard.
Configure the topic ID used by your ESP8266 program.
Add a suitable text or label widget.
Configure the widget to display the data from Channel 0.
Upload the program and verify that the displayed status changes when an object enters or leaves the sensor's detection range.

The exact dashboard configuration may depend on the KiwisIoT interface and widget settings.

🧪 Live Test Result

I connected the IR sensor module to the ESP8266 NodeMCU and powered the board through USB. The sensor's digital output was used to determine the detection status.

The KiwisIoT dashboard screenshot captured during testing displays DETECTED in green.

Expected observations:

Object detected: DETECTED
No object detected: NOT DETECTED
Wi-Fi unavailable: New remote dashboard updates may stop

The results depend on sensor sensitivity, object distance and surface, sensor output logic, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

🔄 System Architecture

IR Sensor → ESP8266 NodeMCU → Wi-Fi → KiwisIoT Dashboard

The IR sensor provides the input, the ESP8266 processes the signal, and KiwisIoT displays the received status for remote monitoring.

🌍 Possible Applications

Basic object presence monitoring
Educational IoT experiments
Proximity detection demonstrations
Entry or passage monitoring prototypes
Learning embedded systems and wireless communication

This is an educational project and is not intended to replace safety-certified detection systems.

🚀 Future Improvements

Add an LED or buzzer alert.
Send notifications when an object is detected.
Record detection events over time.
Add multiple sensors for monitoring different locations.
Build a compact enclosure for the electronics.

📚 References

KiwisIoT Projects Repository: https://github.com/Kiwistron/KiwisIoT-Projects
ESP8266 Arduino Core: https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino
ESP8266 Documentation: https://arduino-esp8266.readthedocs.io/
Arduino IDE: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Conclusion

IR Sentinel KiwisIoT demonstrates how a low-cost IR sensor and ESP8266 NodeMCU can be combined with an IoT dashboard for remote object detection monitoring.

Building this project provided practical experience with sensor interfacing, Arduino programming, Wi-Fi communication, and dashboard integration.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to share your suggestions and ideas for improving this project. 🚀

GlowGuard– KiwisIoT Smart Light Monitoring System

Harshan.M — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:42:08 +0000

GlowGuard: Building an IoT-Based Smart Light Monitoring System

Introduction

Hi everyone! I am a CSE student exploring IoT and hardware development. I built GlowGuard, a simple smart light monitoring system that detects surrounding light intensity and displays the result through an IoT dashboard.

Components Used

ESP8266 NodeMCU
LDR Sensor Module
Jumper Wires
USB Cable
Wi-Fi Connection
KiwisIoT Platform

How It Works

The LDR sensor detects the surrounding light intensity. The ESP8266 reads the sensor value, processes it, and sends the data through Wi-Fi to the KiwisIoT platform.

The system classifies the light condition as BRIGHT, MEDIUM, or DARK.

Circuit Diagram and Connections

GlowGuard uses an LDR sensor module connected to an ESP8266 NodeMCU. The sensor detects surrounding light intensity, and the ESP8266 processes the readings before sending the data to KiwisIoT through Wi-Fi.

Circuit Connections

LDR Sensor Module	ESP8266 NodeMCU
VCC	3.3V
GND	GND
AO	A0
DO	Not connected

How the Circuit Works

The LDR sensor detects the surrounding light.
The analog output (AO) sends the sensor reading to the ESP8266 A0 pin.
The ESP8266 processes the reading and classifies the light condition as BRIGHT, MEDIUM, or DARK.
The ESP8266 sends the light level and status to KiwisIoT through Wi-Fi.

System Flow

LDR Sensor → ESP8266 NodeMCU → Wi-Fi → KiwisIoT Dashboard

Note: Check that your particular NodeMCU board and LDR module are compatible with the stated voltage and analog-input range before powering the circuit.

Real-Time Working

GlowGuard continuously monitors the surrounding light using an LDR sensor connected to the ESP8266 NodeMCU. The ESP8266 processes the sensor readings and sends the light level and status to the KiwisIoT platform through Wi-Fi.

Hardware Setup

The LDR sensor is connected to the ESP8266 NodeMCU to detect changes in the surrounding light intensity.

Image caption: GlowGuard hardware setup using ESP8266 NodeMCU and an LDR sensor.

KiwisIoT Dashboard Output

The KiwisIoT dashboard displays the light level and its corresponding status. The system classifies the detected condition as BRIGHT, MEDIUM, or DARK.

Example result: Light Level: 607 | Status: MEDIUM

Image caption: Live GlowGuard sensor readings displayed on the KiwisIoT dashboard.

Result

GlowGuard successfully demonstrates IoT-based light monitoring by collecting sensor readings, processing the data, and displaying the results through an online dashboard.

What I Learned

Through this project, I explored sensor interfacing, analog readings, Wi-Fi communication, Arduino programming, and IoT dashboard monitoring.

Future Improvements

I would like to extend GlowGuard with automatic light control, historical data graphs, notifications, and a protective enclosure.

References

KiwisIoT Projects:
https://github.com/Kiwistron/KiwisIoT-Projects

ESP8266 Arduino Core:
https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino

Thanks for reading! I welcome your suggestions and feedback to improve this project.