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MicroPython Program: Update COVID-19 Data in Real Time

MicroPython Program: Update COVID-19 Data in Real Time

March 28, 2020

MicroPython Program: Update Coronavirus Disease(COVID-19) Data in Real-Time

As the outbreak of COVID-19, up to now(28th, Mar 2020) the globally confirmed cases is over 50,0000! The world health organization (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus pneumonia outbreak to be a global pandemic. The COVID-19 also affects the hearts of millions, Everyone's daily life is affected, and people in many areas are restricted from going out and isolated from home.
Global-Outbreak-Map-of-COVID-19
I was very anxious about this outbreak, and I had to go online every day to check the latest outbreak data, but it was very inconvenient and the large amount of COVID-19's news on the internet makes me more worrisome. As a team of engineers, Makerfabs made a project with MicroPython Program to update the coronavirus Disease(COVID-19) Data in Real-Time, we use MakePython ESP32 to get the global latest outbreak data in real-time, and keep us to know the latest situation in time without seeing much frustrating news.

Step 1: Supplies in this project

MicroPython-Program-Project-Supplies

1.1 Device:

1.2 Tool:

  • Foamboard
  • Knife
  • Paper box
  • Soldering iron
  • Hot melt glue gun
  • Double-sided tape
MakePython ESP32 is an ESP32 board with an integrated SSD1306 OLED display, you can buy it from this link: https://www.makerfabs.com/makepython-esp32.html.

1.3 Software:

  • uPyCraft V1.1
Click this link to download uPyCraft IDE for Windows: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/uPyCraftWindows.

Step 2: UPyCraft Direction for Use

UPyCraft-Direction-for-Use

Download the Get Started MicroPython ESP32 file, which is detailed in the MicroPython Development Tools section of the file, which will help you download and install the uPyCraft IDE and use it. It also helps you get started with MicroPython programming.
 
You can get the file from this link: https://www.makerfabs.com/makepython-esp32-starter-kit.html or here.

Step 3: Connect

  • Connect MakePython ESP32 to PC using a USB cable, Open device manager (Simply search for "device" in the Windows search box). When expanded, the port section should display something like the above. Make a note of the port number, such as COM20 in my case. If no port appears, try downloading the USB drive: https://www.silabs.com/products/development-tools/software/usb-to-uart-bridge-vcp-drivers.
  • Open uPyCraft and click: Tools →board → esp32，And then click: Tools → Serial → COM20(Your port).

Step 4: The Codes Download

Download the codes: boot.py, ssd1306.py and main.py files. Open and click DownloadAndRun to load it into MakePython ESP32.

Step 5: Modify the Code

Modify-the-Code-1Modify-the-Code-2
  • Open the boot.py file and change the ssid and password to your local network name and password, so that the module can be connected to WIFI for information after power.
ssid = "Makerfabs"
password = "20160704"
  • If you find that your country outbreak information is not displayed, please tell me to add it, or you can modify it by yourself. The method is as follows: open the main.py file, find CountryName[], add your CountryName (need to be translated into Chinese) on it, and change the number in range() to the corresponding number of countries, and run after saving it.

Step 6: Make the Mould

MicroPython-Program-Project-Make-the-Mold

Next, we started to make the shell of our own mold：
Use a knife to cut a small hole in the paper box to place the toggle switch, and a long hole to put the display screen.

Step 7: Soldering, manually.

MicroPython-Program-Project-Soldering-Manually.pngMicroPython-Program-Project-Soldering-Finished

The left pin of the toggle switch is welded to the power input of the MakePython ESP32 module with an electric soldering iron. The positive pole of the lithium battery is connected to the middle of the toggle switch, and the negative pole is connected to the GND of the module.

Step 8: Assembly

MicroPython-Program-Project-Assembly-1MicroPython-Program-Project-Assembly-2MicroPython-Program-Project-Assembly-3
  • Attach the module to the foam board with double-sided adhesive tape and the lithium battery to the other side of the foam board.
  • Attach toggle switch to carton hole and fix with a hot glue gun.
  • The paper cover is folded into a cardboard box, the display screen is inserted into the long cardboard box hole, and other parts are put into the cardboard box.

Step 9: Complete

MicroPython-Program-Project-Completed

By flipping the switch on the carton, MakePython ESP32 connects to the Internet automatically when powered on, and the screen displays the latest outbreak data information.

Step 10: Display

Look at the information on the screen, there are so many people infected with the coronavirus. Hope they get better soon! We should also protect ourselves, wash our hands frequently and gather less.
 
It displays the number of confirmed people, current people, cured people, and dead people. We do believe in the next days, the number of cured people will be more and more, and the current number to be 0.

May the virus end soon, and hope our daily life back to normal soon.

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