11

FORGE

Extract the zip file. Inside the extracted folder,
open up the WayHomeMeter folder and open the
WayHomeMeter.ino file.
This sketch requires some additional Arduino
libraries to be installed; start by opening the Arduino
Library Manager by going to Sketch > Include Library

Manage Libraries.

You will need to add the following libraries:

• Universal Arduino Telegram Bot by Brian
  Lough – for creating a Telegram bot on the
  ESP8266.


• Google Maps API by Brian Lough – for getting
  the live traffic data.


• Arduino JSON by Benoît Blanchon – used by
  the libraries to parse the responses. Note: There
  is a breaking change in V6 of this library that

will cause it not to work with the Telegram and

Google Maps library, so use the drop-down on

the left of the window to change the version

to V5.13.2.

• MD_MAX72XX by majicDesigns – for
  communicating with the dot matrix display.


• MD_Parola by majicDesigns – handles
  animations on the dot matrix display.


• Adafruit NeoPixel by Adafruit – for controlling
  the NeoPixels.


• NTPClient by Fabrice Weinberg – for getting the
  time from the internet.


• Timezone by Jack Christensen – for automatically
  switching the time for daylight savings.

Left

Screw terminals are

useful for projects

where components

are separated from

the PCB

PROGRAMMING THE ESP8266

The standard Arduino IDE isn’t set up to program the

ESP8266, so before we can program the board, we need to

set this up (you can skip this bit if you’ve already used the

IDE with an ESP8266).

First, let’s get the raw IDE. You can download this from

the Arduino website and install it as you would any other

software: hsmag.cc/TAfEJp.

Next, you will need to set up the IDE so it knows how to

communicate with an ESP8266. Open the Arduino IDE, go

to File > Preferences, and paste the following URL into the

Additional Boards Manager URLs, then click OK:

http://arduino.esp8266.com/versions/2.4.2/package_

esp8266com_index.json

Back on the main screen of the Arduino IDE, go to Tools

> Board > Boards Manager. When this screen opens,

search for ‘ESP8266’ and install it; this may take a few

minutes depending on your internet connection.

After setting up a new board it is recommended

to get the simple example blink sketch before trying

anything more complicated; this can save a huge amount

of headache down the line! You can find this in File >

Examples > 01. Basics > Blink.

Upload this to your ESP8266 and you should see an LED

blink on and off. If you get an error or don’t get a blinking

light, make sure you’ve got everything installed correctly

and the ESP8266 is properly connected.

YOU’LL NEED

An ESP8266

Wemos D1 mini

microcontroller

(or equivalent

e.g. Adafruit

Feather Huzzah or

NodeMCU etc.)

4-in-1 Max7219

dot matrix display

A small servo

(sg90)

A 3D-printed

dial for the servo

(optional, could

be made from

anything!)

11 × through-hole

NeoPixel (I used

PL9823 LEDs)

220 pF capacitor

Passive buzzer

1 kΩ resistor

NPN transistor

Protoboard (I used

a prototype PCB I

designed, but the

project can easily be

built with standard

protoboard)

Screw terminals

(optional)

IKEA RIBBA frame

A3 piece of 3 mm

foam board

Hot glue gun

4 mm wood

drill bit

Sharp knife

A metal ruler

A compass and a

protractor

Micro USB

phone charger

(for powering the

project)