Overkill but didactic COVID epidemic display

This is a small Arduino-based project used to test the connection with NodeMCU V3 ESP8266-based dev kit.

It displays COVID epidemic indicators on a LCD display, and flashes LEDs for each contamination, hospital death or discharge (flashing frequency is based on the mean time between each event based on daily count).

• The NodeMCU module is connected to Internet

• Data are obtained online by the CoronavirusAPI-France : https://github.com/florianzemma/CoronavirusAPI-France

• The JSON is sent as a text string to the Arduino UNO through Serial

• The JSON string is parsed to update epidemic indicators on the Arduino UNO.

The codes need to be loaded on each board while they are physically disconnected to prevent Serial transmission error.

Why so much boards ?

The NodeMCU dev kit can do all the work by itself, without the hassle of connecting it to the Arduino Uno for such a simple output : it is only a didactic project I used as a pretext to discover that module.

For the same reason, I used the MB102 breadboard 5V/3.3V power supply to test it, but is is not mandatory : that project can be powered using the Arduino's 9V DC-in.

Connections

• D4(NodeMCU) to D0/Txpin(Arduino).

• Vin(NodeMCU) to +5V power supply (MB102 module or +5V Arduino).

• Count LEDs to pin 2, 3 and 4 (Arduino), through 220 Ω resistor.

• RBG LED green and red pins to pins 10 and 11 (Arduino), through 220 Ω resistor.

Result