IoT Smart Plug based on ESP8266 Wi-Fi Chip

The “Internet of Things” or IoT is a term that has been gaining a lot of traction over the last couple of years. It is intricately linked with the ideas of home automation and making devices “smart” by connecting them to the internet. Smart versions of everyday devices found in homes are now manufactured on large scales, from smart TVs all the way to smart refrigerators. Such devices are fitted with a slew of different sensors along with in built Wi-Fi capabilities. While these devices can be readily purchased, it is not always feasible to replace existing devices with their smart counterparts. Instead, regular non-smart devices can be made smart through external means. This project proposes to build a plug which can fit into the standard single phase 6A wall socket, to which regular devices/ appliances of the appropriate rating can be connected. Doing so will give the connected device smart capabilities, such as being able to control it remotely using a smartphone from anywhere in the world. The proposed “smart plug” will be based on the ESP8266 Wi-Fi chip, a relay circuit, and an Android application to control it.