Project Hub /IoT & Connected Devices/Telemetry & Remote Logging/Reading a bunch of BLE sensors with raspberryZero

Intermediate

RASPBERRY PI

₹5,000 – ₹15,000

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

Reading a bunch of BLE sensors with raspberryZero

Connects and reads up to 9 Xiaomi Mi temperature and humidity sensors simultaneously using a Raspberry Pi Zero, Node-RED, and Bluetooth gatttool.

Originally published on Hackaday.io

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

Raspberry Pi 3 - Model B+ 1.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core Processor with 1 GB Ram (Original) Rs. 9,810.00
DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor Module for Arduino Raspberry Pi Rs. 243.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: Other Dev Board (Indusboard / Maixduino / misc)
SD / MicroSD Card

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How It Works

This system operates by utilizing the built-in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio on a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W to periodically poll and collect environmental telemetry from a cluster of nine Xiaomi Mi Temperature and Humidity sensors (LYWSD03MMC). Running a headless Debian operating system, the Raspberry Pi executes system utilities like hcitool and gatttool via automated scripts or flow nodes to scan for advertising packets and connect to the individual MAC addresses of the BLE peripheral sensors. Once a connection is established, the Bluetooth Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) reads out the specific characteristic values representing current ambient temperature and relative humidity. These retrieved data strings are then ingested into a Node-RED processing environment, where they can be displayed visually using node-red-dashboard. For long-term historical analysis and persistent storage, the local Node-RED flows can optionally pipe the structured time-series data into an InfluxDB database instance, which is subsequently queried by Grafana to generate comprehensive graphical charts and system analytics dashboards. Power is supplied independently to the Raspberry Pi Zero via a standard dedicated power supply, ensuring continuous, uninterrupted monitoring of all nine peripheral sensor nodes distributed throughout the deployment area.

Why Build This

Deploy a scalable, multi-node environmental monitoring network for tracking temperature and humidity gradients across a smart home or experimental greenhouse.

Gain practical engineering experience in interfacing wireless Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) peripherals with a Linux-based single-board computer.

Implement an end-to-end IoT data pipeline leveraging Node-RED, local databases, and custom visualization dashboards.

Real-World Application

Whole-home environmental monitoring, smart climate control, or greenhouse condition tracking.

Skills You'll Learn

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication

GATT characteristic reading

Linux command-line peripheral scanning

IoT data pipeline architecture

Node-RED flow development

time-series data logging

Safety Precautions

No specific precautions noted for this build — always follow general electronics safety practices.

Technology Tags

BLE

BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY

NODE-RED

BASH

GATTTOOL

INFLUXDB

GRAFANA

LINUX

IOT

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a standard Raspberry Pi Zero instead of the Zero 2 W?

Yes, but ensure the model you use includes integrated wireless capabilities or that you attach a compatible USB Bluetooth adapter to handle communication with the nine sensors.

Are InfluxDB and Grafana strictly required to make the system work?

No, they are optional components. You can view real-time data directly using node-red-dashboard without setting up a historical database.

How are the Xiaomi sensors powered during operation?

The Xiaomi Mi Temperature and Humidity sensors run on their own internal coin cell batteries, while only the Raspberry Pi Zero requires an external power supply.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

PRJ-00484