IntroThis Project was created as part of the “Internet of Things Ecosystems” lecture at the University of Applied Science Esslingen. The lecture gave a rough topic around IoT systems and students had to design any kind of IoT application that solves real world problems. The Project was done in the context of a real pitch and the business aspects of the product.
This project was created in the 2024 winter semester.
ContactsIdea and application: Breezely Team (see contributers) - breezelyIoT@proton.me
Lecture: dionysios.satikidis@gmail.com; Janfabian Fabriczek
MotivationIn today’s fast-paced world, where smart living and sustainability are becoming increasingly important, Breezely offers a simple yet powerful solution to modern home monitoring challenges. Designed with renters and eco-conscious individuals in mind, Breezely’s non-destructive, easy-to-install sensors provide real-time insights into your home environment without the need for permanent modifications. Whether it’s monitoring humidity and temperature to ensure optimal indoor air quality or detecting open windows to prevent energy waste, Breezely helps users create healthier, more comfortable, and energy-efficient living spaces. Its intuitive app allows you to organize devices by rooms, track environmental conditions, and make smarter decisions about your home—all while being adaptable enough to move with you wherever life takes you. In a world where convenience, sustainability, and flexibility matter more than ever, Breezely is the smart home solution that fits seamlessly into modern lifestyles.
IdeaBreezely is built on a powerful, open-source, and self-hostable tech stack, making it a versatile solution for both individual users and organizations that prioritize data privacy and control. The system is designed around five core components: the frontend, backend, IoT cloud service, device provisioning, and identity provider, each contributing to a seamless and secure data flow.
Stack- Frontend (React Native):The frontend, developed with React Native, provides a cross-platform, user-friendly interface for Breezely. Users can register devices, create rooms, and monitor real-time environmental data such as humidity, temperature, and window status. Its intuitive design ensures a smooth experience for both casual users and tech-savvy individuals.
- Backend (Django):The backend, powered by Django, acts as a secure proxy between the frontend and the IoT cloud service. It manages room organization, device assignments, and data retrieval, simplifying complex relationships like grouping devices into specific rooms. By handling these tasks, the backend ensures efficient communication and data flow while maintaining flexibility for customization.
- IoT Cloud Service (Thingsboard):Thingsboard, an open-source IoT platform, serves as the backbone of Breezely’s data management. It handles device registration, data collection, and storage, enabling real-time and historical analysis of sensor data. Thingsboard’s scalability and self-hostable nature make it ideal for users or companies who want full control over their data without relying on external servers.
- Device Provisioning (C++ with Thingsboard Client):Devices are provisioned and connected to Thingsboard using a C++-based client. This ensures secure and reliable communication between the sensors (e.g., window magnet, humidity, and temperature modules) and the IoT platform. The provisioning process is straightforward, allowing devices to be easily integrated into the system.
- Identity Provider (Zitadel):Zitadel, an open-source identity and access management platform, handles user authentication and authorization. It ensures secure login processes, role-based access control, and seamless integration with the frontend and backend. By using Zitadel, Breezely guarantees robust security and privacy for user data, while also being self-hostable for organizations that require full control over their identity management.
Design philosophyBreezely is designed with simplicity and elegance in mind. The app features a white background for a clean and modern look, with dark navy blue (#1F204A) buttons for clarity and light blue (#D2E0EE) for accents. Default text is black to ensure readability. The minimalist design ensures that users can focus on functionality without distractions, catering to a global audience by using English.
Our logo, a house with a breeze, represents the core functionality of Breezely—monitoring and managing home environments.
Data FlowDevices collect environmental data and transmit it to Thingsboard via the C++ client.
Thingsboard processes and stores the data, making it accessible to the backend.
The backend retrieves data from Thingsboard and delivers it to the frontend.
Zitadel manages user authentication and authorization, ensuring secure access to the system.
The frontend displays the data in an intuitive interface, enabling users to monitor and manage their home environment effortlessly.
What It Achieves:Breezely’s stack combines the strengths of open-source technologies to deliver a secure, scalable, and customizable smart home solution. By using self-hostable tools like Django, Thingsboard, and Zitadel, Breezely ensures that users and organizations retain full control over their data, making it an ideal choice for tech enthusiasts, privacy-conscious individuals, and companies that avoid external databases or servers. Whether it’s tracking room conditions, optimizing energy efficiency, or ensuring data sovereignty, Breezely’s architecture is designed to make smart living accessible, flexible, and secure for everyone.
Communication Overview
Prototype Hardware1 / 2 • Installed Prototype
Future Plans
In the future, our system will be enhanced with a weather warning feature that alerts users to extreme weather conditions in advance. We are also planning improved hardware with a casing that includes a battery compartment, providing more flexibility in power supply. Additionally, we are working on integrating a Home Assistant plugin to enable even easier integration and control within smart home systems.
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