LoraGrowMesh

LoraGrowMesh is an open-source LoRa-based mesh network for environmental monitoring, designed for agroforestry, energy research, and off-grid communities.

Originally built to measure temperature and light for a solar concentrator, it has evolved into a scalable system that collects and shares data from multiple sensors over long distances. With Wi-Fi hotspots, HTTP servers, and flash memory storage, it supports real-time data access and integration with databases like PostgreSQL for visualization with tools like Grafana.

Learn more about the original solar application: Sun Factory

Based on the heltec_esp32_lora_v3 library for Heltec ESP32 LoRa V3 boards.

Features

• LoRa Mesh Network: Nodes communicate via LoRa (868/915 MHz) to relay data over long distances.
• Multi-Sensor Support: Up to six sensors per node (e.g., DS18B20 for temperature, BME280 for humidity, BH1750 for light).
• Wi-Fi Hotspot: Nodes provide Wi-Fi access points for local data viewing via an HTML interface.
• HTTP Server & API: Real-time data access and API endpoints for sensor measurements.
• Flash Memory: Stores data locally with overflow handling and manual clear options.
• Buzzer Alerts: Configurable temperature threshold alerts, toggleable via the web interface.
• Unique Node IDs: Uses MAC addresses as LoRa SSIDs to prevent conflicts.
• Data Replication: LoRa messages are replicated across nodes and stored with sender IDs.
• Power Autonomy: Supports LiPo batteries or 6V solar panels for off-grid use.

Applications

• Agroforestry: Monitor temperature, humidity, and light to optimize planting or study microclimates.
• Energy Research: Measure performance of solar concentrators, Peltier modules, or other systems.
• Environmental Monitoring: Track ecological interactions near rivers, wells, or other resources.
• Off-Grid Communities: Enable autonomous monitoring in remote areas.

Hardware Requirements

• Module: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 (ESP32-S3 + SX1262 LoRa) or compatible ESP32 LoRa boards.
• Sensors (up to 6 per node):
  • DS18B20 (temperature)
  • BME280 (temperature, humidity, pressure)
  • BH1750 (light)
  • Others (configurable via firmware)
• Power: LiPo battery or 6V solar panel with regulator.
• Optional: Wi-Fi router and server (e.g., Raspberry Pi with Ubuntu) for data streaming.
• Tools: Smartphone or computer for setup and data access.

References:

• Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3 Datasheet
• ESP32-S3 Datasheet

Installation

1. Assemble:
   • Connect sensors to I2C/SPI pins on the Heltec ESP32 LoRa V3. See schematics in the repository.
2. Program:
   • Download the firmware from GitHub.
   • Flash it using the Arduino IDE.
3. Configure Sensors:
   • Edit the firmware to specify sensor types and pins (e.g., DS18B20, BME280). Check the README for details.
4. Set Up Network:
   • Assign a unique node ID (based on MAC address).
   • Configure LoRa frequency (e.g., 868 MHz for Europe, 915 MHz for USA) per local regulations.
5. Power:
   • Connect a LiPo battery or solar panel with regulator.
6. Test:
   • Connect to the node’s Wi-Fi hotspot (SSID/password in docs).
   • Access the HTML interface (e.g., http://192.168.4.1) to verify sensor data.

Roadmap

Done

• Dual temperature monitoring (DS18B20)
• Light measurement (BH1750)
• Buzzer for temperature alerts
• Wi-Fi hotspot and HTTP server
• API for temperature data
• Flash memory with overflow handling
• LoRa send/receive with MAC-based SSIDs
• Message replication and storage with sender IDs
• Manual flash clear
• Web-based buzzer toggle

In Progress

• Test SunFactory mesh LoRa protocol
• Add PUT requests for server database storage
• Support DHT sensors (e.g., DHT22)
• Enable generic hardware modules
• Improve lux measurement accuracy
• Stress-test flash memory overflow

Planned

• Add Telegram integration for alerts
• Refactor code for modularity
• Optimize LoRa packets with fixed-length bytes
• Expand documentation and tutorials

Contributing

We welcome contributions! To get started:

1. Fork the repository: https://github.com/GypsyRobot/LoRaGrowMesh
2. Report bugs or suggest features via issues.
3. Submit pull requests with clear change descriptions.
4. Help improve the SunFactory mesh protocol or add sensor support.

Acknowledgments

• Everton Ramires for firmware development (GitHub).
• Heltec Automation for ESP32 LoRa V3 support.
• ropg for the heltec_esp32_lora_v3 library.
• Inspired by the Sun Factory Project.

License

MIT License. See LICENSE for details.