Welcome to Critter-Devices: Where Gadgets Come to Life!
Firefly is the ultimate device for makers of all levels. A handy development board based on the popular esp8266 micro controller using the Wemos D1 Mini board. The firmware allows for advanced customization and offers a web interface to setup different configurations, Firefly sparks creativity and innovation in every project.
Key Features
- 🌟 128x64 OLED display for clear status readouts
- 🔧 Screw terminals for easy sensor and actuator connections
- ⚡ Two relays with output terminals for device control
- 📡 IR receiver and buzzer for added functionality
- 🖥️ Built-in web dashboard: create panels, calibrate sensors, view live values
- 🤖 Rule-based automation, e.g. IF temperature > 25 THEN heater = 0
- 🏠 MQTT with Home Assistant auto-discovery
- 📝 Sensor data logging to file
🪄For Beginners: Your Playful Pal for Smart Living
Unleash the magic of automation with Firefly, the charming little device from Critter-Devices! Built around the versatile Wemos Mini, Firefly features a crisp 128x64 OLED display and easy-to-use screw terminals for connecting your choice of sensors or actuators. With two onboard relays, an IR receiver, and a playful buzzer, Firefly is perfect for anyone looking to dive into the world of home automation. Create custom panels and automate your daily life with our user-friendly web GUI. Whether you're tweaking your room's ambiance or automating your morning routine, Firefly is your tiny, tech-savvy companion!
🛠️For Advanced Users:
Your Gateway to Innovative Programming
For the curious minds and coding enthusiasts, Firefly from Critter-Devices offers more than just automation. It's a development board with the heart of an ESP8266, prepped for your next project. With I2C and OneWire pins readily mapped to screw terminals, plus one analog input and four digital I/O pins, Firefly is ideal for mechatronics students and anyone passionate about programming. Load your custom firmware, experiment with the OLED screen, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Whether for educational projects or personal gadgets, Firefly is your playground for creativity and innovation in electronics.
🛠️For the students and DIY enthusiasts:
Your ready to use PCB's and Kits
For DIY and electronics students, we have available printed circuit boards (PCB) in the form of shields designed specifically for the Wemos Mini ESP8266. These shields offer an excellent solution to facilitate the creation of electronic projects, allowing you to expand the functionalities of your Wemos Mini in a simple and efficient way. With our kits, you can explore various applications, from home automation to the creation of IoT devices, all while acquiring practical skills in electronics. Make the most of your creativity and learn while building your own innovative projects.
Board description:
Firefly is an advanced yet user-friendly platform designed to interface with various sensors and actuators using the Wemos D1 Mini board. The system is built to provide seamless integration and control through a web-based GUI, making it ideal for a wide range of applications, from home automation and DIY projects to scientific data logging.
Hardware Interface
The
Firefly system maps the pins of the Wemos D1 Mini board to screw
terminal connectors on the main board, providing easy access and
connectivity. The available connectors are:
• I2C Connector: A 4-way terminal block with +3.3V, SDA (D1), SCL (D2), and GND.
• OneWire Connector: A 3-way terminal block with +3.3V, ONEWIRE (D6), and GND.
• Analog Input Connector: A 3-way terminal block with +3.3V, AnalogIn (A0), and GND.
• Digital In/Out Connector: A 4-way terminal block with connections to D0, D5, D7, and D8.
• Relay Control: Pins D3 and D4 are connected to a 2-way relay board.
• Push Buttons: Pin D7 has a push button to GND, and Pin D8 has a push button to +3.3V.
• Display: A SSD1306 I2C OLED display header connected to D1 and D2.
Supported Sensors and Actuators
Firefly ships with a set of ready-made panel drivers you can mix and match on the board:
| Panel driver | What it does |
|---|---|
| Analog input | Reads any 0–3.3V analog sensor from the A0 terminal. |
| Digital input | Digital reading of buttons, switches and pulse sensors. |
| DS18B20 | OneWire temperature sensor. |
| BMP180 | I2C atmospheric pressure and temperature sensor. |
| Ultrasonic (HC-SR04) | Distance sensing for tanks, levels and clearances. |
| Digital output | Drive relays, LEDs and actuators. |
| Servo | Position any 0–180° servo motor (hardware PWM). |
Every input panel has calibration (offset/factor or two-point) and optional averaging built in.
Web-Based GUI
The
user interface for Firefly is a web page served by the ESP8266,
providing a rich and interactive experience. Key features include:
• Panel Creation: Users can create panels and define the type of
software interface attached to each panel. Panels are saved in memory
for persistent configuration.
• Data Logging: A logger interface allows users to log sensor
data into a file, which can be uploaded to a database and charted for
analysis.
• Interpreter: write automation as IF/THEN rules over any panel or
variable (for example IF temperature > 25 THEN heater = 0),
grouped into programs that can also run ordered SET and WAIT steps. Rules
fire once on a rising edge or continuously while true. This enables users
to automate actions based on sensor data.
• Calibration and Averaging: Each created panel has controls for
sensor calibration and the ability to average multiple values.
• OLED Display: The 128x64 OLED display can show values from
different panels, with user-configurable display options.
Firefly
is designed to be a versatile and powerful tool for anyone looking to
integrate and control various sensors and actuators with ease. Its
combination of hardware flexibility and a robust software interface
makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.
On top of that, the dashboard provides MQTT integration with Home Assistant auto-discovery, user-defined and computed variables, automation programs with IF/THEN rules, WAIT/SET statements and full backup and restore of your configuration.