Firmware updates play a pivotal function within the environment friendly functioning of IoT, IIoT, and embedded digital techniques. Nevertheless, the traditional technique of updating firmware by connecting microcontroller chips to laptops poses important challenges throughout mass deployments, upkeep, and international updates.
These challenges are additional compounded when coping with distant or inaccessible places, resulting in elevated prices and downtime.
In response to those challenges, an progressive method emerges – leveraging Telegram bots for distant system monitoring and firmware updates. This revolutionary answer permits distant firmware updates from anyplace on this planet, so long as there’s an energetic web connection.
By harnessing Over-The-Air (OTA) firmware updates, the necessity for bodily entry to units is eradicated, streamlining the replace course of and decreasing complexities.
OTA firmware updates have gained prominence attributable to their means to reinforce operational effectivity. By incorporating Telegram bots into this course of, the whole firmware administration panorama adjustments.
This transformative answer holds specific significance for units positioned in hard-to-reach locations like mines, towers, excessive pillars, and subway pillars.
Additionally Learn: Attention-grabbing Mini Tasks
In abstract, the combination of recent communication applied sciences with OTA firmware updates affords a breakthrough answer to the challenges of firmware administration. This method ensures international accessibility, decreased prices, and streamlined operations for firmware updates throughout various industries, ushering in a brand new period of distant effectivity.
Invoice of Materials
| Elements | Description | Amount | Worth Approx -INR |
| ESP CHIP (Buttonboard/ ESP 8266) | WiFi MCU | 1 | 900 |
| FTDI USB | USB to TTL converter | 1 | 60 |
| Wires | Skinny connecting wire | 5 | 10 |
| Complete | 970 |
OTA Firmware Replace – Coding
First, we have to create the telegram account after which we have to create the telegram bot that may be made simply within the telegram app. You’ll be able to verify the earlier DIY to be taught how you can make Telegram BoT.
Subsequent, we’re diving into the coding half. We wish our system to talk with Telegram and replace its firmware when wanted. To start out, we’ll set up a useful software referred to as the AsyncTelegram library. Simply observe the set up steps to get it arrange.
Now, open up a brand new digital canvas, like a clean sheet of paper, to put in writing our code. The very first thing we do is carry within the Telegram library to assist us talk. Then, we enter the main points of your WiFi community, form of like connecting your system to the web at residence.
After that, we add the actual key for our created Telegram bot. This key acts like a secret password for the system to speak to Telegram.
Our code must do a couple of issues. It wants to attach with the Telegram bot and maintain a watch out for any new firmware updates that the bot may ship. We’ve made a particular half within the code that handles these updates.
When new firmware is available in, the system takes a have a look at it, replaces the previous stuff with the brand new stuff, after which restarts itself to work with the up to date firmware.
On your magic contact, you’ll be able to add your distinctive capabilities and software program to the elements of the code we’ve marked as “add your code right here” (you’ll see this within the code). That is the place you may get inventive and make the system do exactly what you need.
In a nutshell, we’re ensuring that your system and Telegram can chat easily, and if new firmware comes alongside, the system can replace itself. Plus, you’ve bought loads of room so as to add your particular options to make your system even cooler.
Connection
You probably have one other CHIP outfitted with FTDI, you’ll be able to simply join it on to a USB port. If that’s not an possibility, you’ll be able to nonetheless make a connection utilizing FTDI.
Alternatively, if in case you have a button board obtainable, you’ll be able to join the FTDI pins within the following method. It’s essential to notice that we’re using an ESP chip in our case.
| Board Pin | FTDI |
| RX | TX |
| TX | RX |
| VCC/3V | 3V |
| GND | GND |
Within the Arduino IDE, proceed by choosing the suitable CHIP model identify and port identify. Should you’re utilizing a button board, go for the CHIP sort as “Generic esp8285” after which select the corresponding port related to the FTDI connection. This step will assist configure your setting accurately for the meant system.
Testing
Now, transfer forward by compiling the specified code utilizing the Arduino IDE. As soon as the compilation is full, export the compiled binary file. Now, entry the Telegram bot and proceed to add this firmware binary file. The bot will immediate you to carry out a flash operation. Merely faucet the “flash” possibility, and the firmware replace course of will provoke.
Wait patiently for a couple of moments, and also you’ll obtain a message on Telegram notifying you that the brand new firmware has been efficiently up to date.
Congratulations! At this level, your chip is up and operating with the brand new firmware, and the exceptional half is that you just completed this replace with out requiring any bodily wire connections. This technique supplies a wire-free answer for firmware updates from now onwards.
