Arduino IoT Cloud – Getting Started

Connect, Control, and Visualize Your Projects Online

You’ve built your Arduino project, added sensors, maybe even a Wi-Fi module.
Now it’s time to bring it online — where it can collect data, send updates, and respond to commands from anywhere. 🌎

That’s exactly what the Arduino IoT Cloud does. It lets you connect your Arduino board to the internet, monitor sensor data in real time, and even control devices from your phone or computer — all without complicated setup.

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💡 What Is the Arduino IoT Cloud?

The Arduino IoT Cloud is a web-based platform where your Arduino can:

• Send and store sensor data
• Display values on dashboards
• Receive commands remotely
• Automate actions (turn things on/off)
• Integrate with Alexa or Google Home

It’s like giving your Arduino a personal control center — complete with gauges, charts, sliders, and buttons — that you can access from anywhere.

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🧠 How It Works

The Arduino IoT Cloud connects your physical board to the internet through a secure device link.
Here’s the basic workflow:

1. Hardware: Connect your Arduino or compatible board (like the Nano ESP32 or UNO R4 WiFi).
2. Cloud Setup: Create a Thing (your virtual device) on the Arduino IoT Cloud.
3. Variables: Define what data to send (like temperature, humidity, or switch status).
4. Dashboard: Add widgets (gauges, charts, buttons) to visualize or control it.
5. Automation: Use triggers to perform actions automatically.

You can think of the “Thing” as your digital twin — a cloud version of your real Arduino project.

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⚙️ Boards That Work with Arduino IoT Cloud

Board	Connectivity	Notes
Arduino UNO R4 WiFi	Wi-Fi + BLE	Fast hybrid board for IoT beginners
Arduino Nano ESP32	Wi-Fi + BLE	Compact board with ESP32 power
Arduino MKR1000	Wi-Fi	Lightweight and perfect for IoT basics
Arduino Nano 33 IoT	Wi-Fi + BLE	Reliable and small for sensor projects
Portenta H7 / X8	Wi-Fi + Ethernet	Advanced, industrial-level IoT control

Most boards connect directly, but others can use an external Wi-Fi or GSM module.

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🧩 Example: Sending Temperature Data

Here’s what a simple cloud-connected sketch looks like:

#include "thingProperties.h"

float temperature;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(1500); 
  initProperties();
  ArduinoCloud.begin(ArduinoIoTPreferredConnection);
}

void loop() {
  ArduinoCloud.update();
  temperature = analogRead(A0) * (5.0 / 1023.0) * 100;  
  Serial.println(temperature);
}

Once uploaded, your temperature data appears in the cloud dashboard automatically — no extra libraries, no complex APIs.

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📊 Creating Your First Dashboard

After setting up your Thing:

1. Go to Dashboards → Create Dashboard.
2. Add a Gauge widget to show live sensor data.
3. Add a Switch widget to control outputs (like LEDs).
4. Link each widget to your Thing’s variables.

Now you can watch readings update live and flip switches right from your screen! 🖥️📱

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💬 Why Use Arduino IoT Cloud

• No coding for dashboards – it’s all drag-and-drop.
• Secure connections with device IDs and tokens.
• Cross-platform – access from web or mobile app.
• Works with Alexa & Google Assistant.
• Great for learning and rapid prototyping.

“It’s like your project grew a brain — and a remote control!”