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Building a tracking application using the Thingy:91, Azure IoT Hub and Power BI#

Introduction#

Build a tracking application using the Thingy:91 devkit, while leveraging the benefits of the LwM2M protocol and visualizing its data on Microsoft Power BI.

Prerequisites#

Architecture#

Architecture tracking app

This tutorial uses the Thingy:91 prototyping platform in combination with the Coiote IoT Device Management platform to build a cellular-connected tracking application. The integration with nRF Cloud Locator enables cell-based localization and optimizes the usage of the onboard GNSS. The location data, in combination with additional telemetry data is sent to Azure IoT Hub and visualized using Microsoft Power BI.

See also a tutorial on how to Connect Coiote IoT DM to Azure IoT Hub and visualize data on Power Bi on our YouTube channel.

Part 1 - Connect the Thingy:91 to Coiote IoT DM using the LwM2M Anjay client#

Set up the Anjay Zephyr Client#

Get Zephyr and Python dependencies#

To get the Zephyr SDK and dependencies follow the first 4 steps of the instruction provided by the Zephyr Project.

  1. Select and update OS
  2. Install dependencies
  3. Get Zephyr and install Python dependencies
  4. Install Zephyr SDK

Clone the Anjay Zephyr repository#

Open the command line interface on your machine and clone the Anjay Zephyr repository using Git:

git clone https://github.com/AVSystem/Anjay-zephyr-client

Compile the demo project#

  1. Connect the Thingy:91 board to a USB port of your machine.

  2. Set West manifest path to Anjay-zephyr-client/demo, manifest file to west-nrf.yml, and run west update using the following commands:

    west config manifest.path Anjay-zephyr-client/demo
west config manifest.file west-nrf.yml
west update

    For more information about the west build commands, see the Zephyr Project documentation.

  3. Go to the directory Anjay-zephyr-client/demo and configure the client using menuconfig.

    Menuconfig allows for, among others, enabling the GPS and cell-based location services. To open the configuration menu, run the command:

    west build -b thingy91_nrf9160ns -p -t menuconfig

    In the config screen:

    • Open the folder: anjay-zephyr-client --->
      • Select: Enable manual requests for cell-based location
      • Open the folder: Enable GPS on nRF9160-based devices --->
        • Select Enable A-GPS using Nordic Location Services over LwM2M

    menuconfig

    After making the configuration changes, close the config menu by pressing Q and save it by pressing Y.

    Build the project using the updated configuration by running: 

    west build

  4. Find the app_signed.hex file under the build/zephyr directory in the project folder.

Write the firmware to the Thingy:91#

  • When using the Thingy:91, use the app_signed.hex file which you can find in the build/zephyr directory.

  • Flash it using Programmer application in nRF Cloud for Desktop via MCUboot.

    For more information on flashing the Thingy:91 using MCU Boot, see link

nrf - write.png

  • Powercycle the Thingy:91 to activate the application.

Connect the Thingy:91 to Coiote IoT Device Management platform#

To connect the board:

  1. Log in to Coiote IoT DM and from the left side menu, select Device Inventory.
  2. In Device Inventory, select Add device.

  3. Select the Connect your LwM2M device directly via the Management server tile.

    Add via Management server

  4. In the Device credentials step:

    • Think of a unique Endpoint name.
    • Key Identity is the same as the Endpoint name.
    • Create a Key and store it somewhere to retrieve later when configuring your device.
    • Click the Add device button and click Confirm in the confirmation pop-up.

    Add Management quick

Configure the Client#

  1. With the Thingy:91 still connected to a serial port interface, connect to your device using a serial communication program (e.g. Minicom, RealTerm or PuTTY).

  2. Use the anjay command to list possible options:

    uart:~$ anjay
anjay - Anjay commands
Subcommands:
start   :Save config and start Anjay
stop    :Stop Anjay
config  :Configure Anjay params

    Tip

    To show available subcommands, press Tab.

  3. Check your default credentials by following the instructions in the program:

    anjay config show

    Anjay configuration

  4. Update your device credentials by running the following commands:

    • To make any changes to the configuration, stop the client:

      anjay stop

    • To update the endpoint name, enter the endpoint name you created in Coiote IoT DM:

      anjay config set endpoint <endpoint name>

    • To update the Pre-Shared Key, enter the key you created in Coiote IoT DM:

      anjay config set psk <key>

  5. Start the client using the new configurations:

    anjay start

  6. Go to the Coiote IoT DM. If your device is connected successfully its status will change to Registered.

    nrf - coiote dashboard.png

Part 2 - Enable nRF Cloud integration#

Follow the instructions listed here to enable the nRF Location Service integration.

If the connection to nRF Cloud Locator was successful, you will see the device location as a widget in the Coiote IoT DM Device Center.

nrf - location.png

Part 3 - Connect Coiote IoT DM to Microsoft Azure#

  1. Start by logging into your Azure account. Create a new IoT Hub and a new storage account.

  2. Get the IoT Hub connection string and Azure Blob storage string from your Azure account. For information on how to retrieve these details, see Get the IoT hub connection string.

  3. In Coiote IoT DM, click Integrations from the left-side menu and select Hyperscaler Integration Center.

    Go to the Azure IoT Hub section and click Connect.

    Start Azure Integration

  4. In the dialog window, paste the IoT Hub connection string and Azure Blob storage string into the relevant fields.

Create a new LwM2M template#

  1. In Coiote IoT DM, go to Integrations, open the tab Templates and create a new template by clicking the green button + Add new.

    new template

  2. Name your template and click the button + Add missing objects

    add missing objects

  3. Select all of the following objects:

    • 0 - LwM2M Security
    • 1 - LwM2M Server
    • 3 - Device
    • 4 - Connectivity Monitoring
    • 5 - Firmware Update
    • 6 - Location
    • 3303 - Temperature
    • 3304 - Humidity
    • 3313 - Accelerometer
    • 3315 - Barometer
    • 3347 - Push button
    • 3420 - LED color light
    • 10256 - ECID-Signal Measurement information
    • 50001 - Location Assistance

  4. Set the CAPABILITY TYPE to Telemetry for the resources:

    • 3303 - Temperature
      • /5601 - Min Measured Value
      • /5602 - Max Measured Value
      • /5700 - Sensor Value
    • 3304 - Humidity
      • /5601 - Min Measured Value
      • /5602 - Max Measured Value
      • /5700 - Sensor Value
    • 3313 - Accelerometer
      • /5702 - X Value
      • /5703 - Y Value
      • /5704 - Z Value
    • 3315 - Barometer
      • /5601 - Min Measured Value
      • /5602 - Max Measured Value
      • /5700 - Sensor Value
    • 3347 - LED color light
      • /5500 - Digital Input State
      • /5501 - Digital Input Counter

Note

Although the Location object 6 sends telemetry data, all location resources need to be configured as Property.

new template

Connect your device to Azure#

In Coiote IoT DM, visit your Device inventory. Find the device you want to connect to Azure, click the three dots icon and select Connect to Azure.

azure connect

If the connection was successful, your device is now added to your Azure IoT Hub. You can find your device under: Device management > Devices.

azure device

Set group value tracking on resources in Coiote IoT DM#

  1. In Coiote IoT DM, go to Device Groups.
  2. Open up the folder hyperscalercenter and open the subfolder which contains your device which is connected to Azure.
  3. Go to the Value tracking panel and click Add new. In the pop-up:
    • Provide the resource path: Temperature.0.Sensor Value.
    • In the Notification frequency section, provide the following values:
      • At least once every - set it to 1 hour.
      • Not more often than once every - set it to 10 minutes.
    • Click Add new.
  4. Go through the same process for the resources: Humidity.0.Sensor Value, Barometer.0.Sensor Value, Location.0.Latitude and Location.0.Longitude.

azure device

Part 4 - Connect Microsoft Azure to Power BI#

Configuring message routing for sending telemetry data in Azure IoT Hub#

Set up message routing#

  1. Go to your Azure IoT hub and add message routing:

    • In the left-side menu, under Hub settings, select Message routing and click + Add. azure message routing
    • Provide a name for your event, e.g. EventRoute.
    • From the Endpoint drop-down list, select events.
    • From the Data source drop-down list, select Device Telemetry Messages.
    • In the Routing query, paste the following:
    IS_DEFINED($body.lwm2m.6.0.0.value) OR IS_DEFINED($body.lwm2m.6.0.1.value) OR IS_DEFINED($body.lwm2m.3303.0.5700.value) OR IS_DEFINED($body.lwm2m.3304.0.5700.value) OR IS_DEFINED($body.lwm2m.3315.0.5700.value)
    • Click Save.

    Message Route

  2. While in the Message routing panel, go to the Enrich messages tab to set up location tracking:

    • For latitude:
      • Name - type lat
      • Value - copy and paste $twin.properties.reported.lwm2m.6.0.0.value
      • Endpoint(s) - select events
    • For longitude:
      • Name - type lon
      • Value - copy and paste $twin.properties.reported.lwm2m.6.0.1.value
      • Endpoint(s) - select events

    azure enrich message

Set up a Stream Analytics Job#

  1. Use search to go to Stream analytics jobs and create a job for transferring the gathered data to Power BI.

    • Click + Create and provide the following:

      stream-analytics-click.png

      • Resource group - pick your resource group.
      • Instance Name - e.g. lwm2m-to-powerbi.
      • Region - select the region closest to your device’s location
      • Click Review + Create.
        • Once your deployment is complete, click Go to resource.

  2. While in your Stream Analytics job panel, add a stream input and output and write a query:

    • Under Job topology, select Inputs.
      • From the + Add stream input drop-down list, select IoT Hub and provide the following:
        • Input alias - e.g. thingy91-input.
        • Consumer group - pick the $Default group.
        • Click Save.
    • Under Job topology, select Outputs.
      • From the + Add drop-down list, select Power BI
      • In the Power BI right-hand side panel, provide the following:
        • Output alias - e.g. thingy91-output
        • Select - Provide Power BI settings manually
        • Group workspace - The ID can be found in the powerBI URL for the workspace.
        • Authentication mode - User token
        • Dataset name - e.g. AVSystemIoTHubDataSet
        • Table name - e.g. Data
        • Click the button Authorize and login to your Power BI account
      • Click Save.

    • Under Job topology, select Query.

      • Paste the following query into the query input field (remember to adjust your naming inside the query if needed):
      SELECT
    CAST("lwm2m"."3303"."0"."5700".value  as float) as temperature,
    CAST("lwm2m"."3304"."0"."5700".value as float) as humidity,
    CAST("lwm2m"."3315"."0"."5700".value as float) as barometer,
    CAST("lwm2m"."3313"."0"."5702".value as float) as xValue,
    CAST("lwm2m"."3313"."0"."5703".value as float) as yValue,
    CAST("lwm2m"."3313"."0"."5704".value as float) as zValue,
    GetMetadataPropertyValue("thingy91-input", '[User].[lat]') as lat,
    GetMetadataPropertyValue("thingy91-input", '[User].[lon]') as lon,
    EventProcessedUtcTime as processedTimestamp,
    IoTHub.EnqueuedTime as iotHubTimestamp,
    IoTHub.ConnectionDeviceId as deviceId
INTO
    "thingy91-output"
FROM
    "thingy91-input"
      • Click Save query.
        • Click Test query to validate if the query works as expected.

      Stream Analytics Test

    • In your Stream analytics job, go to Overview and click Start. Confirm by clicking Start again in the right-wide window to run the created query.

      Start Stream Analytics Test

Data visualization using Power BI#

Once the query is finished, you can go to Power BI to create a visualization for the data you have gathered.

  1. Go to https://powerbi.microsoft.com/ and sign in to your account.
  2. Go to the workspace you connected via Stream Analytics Jobs and find your recently created dataset.

  3. Click the more options icon and select Create report.

    Powerbi dataset.png

  4. Now start building some nice visualizations, such as a map for your location and line charts for your temperature, humidity and barometer values.

    Eventually, it may look something like this:

Powerbi Visualization.png

Info

Did you manage to setup the integration and display data in Power BI? Congratulations! If not, don't worry, there are many engineers ready to support you. Join our AVSystem Discord to get in touch with our experts.

Join Discord.png

Last update: July 19, 2023