Overview
This project introduces a scalable, ESP32-based IoT sensor designed for logistics companies that handle environmentally sensitive goods. Each device collects temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure data at regular intervals and transmits it over the network to a central monitoring system. These compact, low-power devices ensure continuous tracking of shipment conditions from origin to destination.
Future iterations will support multi-sensor networks using a central host unit with cellular (SIM) connectivity and GPS, enabling remote tracking without local Wi-Fi infrastructure.
Use Cases
- Cold chain logistics
- Pharmaceutical supply chain monitoring
- Aerospace or electronics freight with humidity/pressure constraints
Key Features
Periodic Pinging
The device pings a backend endpoint at fixed intervals, sending temperature, humidity, pressure, battery level, and timestamps. The ping rate is configurable, allowing flexible deployment depending on the shipment’s sensitivity.
Network Connectivity
It connects over Wi-Fi for now, automatically reconnecting after power cycles or network loss. Future versions will support local sensor-to-host communication using ESP-NOW or BLE mesh.
Hot-Swappable Power
Battery packs are hot-swappable, with onboard capacitors or hardware bridging ensuring the device doesn't lose power during a swap. This means it resumes operation instantly without any reset or user intervention.
Self-Healing Boot Logic
The boot logic restores the previous configuration automatically on startup, resuming network communication and sensor reporting with zero user input. Even after full power loss, the system remembers its identity and upload endpoint.
BLE
A planned host unit will aggregate data from multiple sensors using short-range wireless protocols, then upload everything via a SIM-based LTE connection. It will also feature GPS tracking to provide live shipment location without needing external Wi-Fi.