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Smarter Spaces Powered by W55RP20

As smart offices and connected buildings become the new standard, real-time room occupancy monitoring is emerging as an essential IoT application.
This project demonstrates how the WIZnet W55RP20, an Ethernet-enabled RP2040 microcontroller, can work seamlessly with a TinyML sensor to build a room occupation watcher — a simple, powerful, and scalable solution for detecting human presence over a stable wired connection.

The W55RP20 acts as the IoT gateway, connecting the SenseCAP Watcher (a TinyML-based motion sensor) to a local web dashboard via Ethernet.
The result: instant, reliable detection of whether a meeting room, classroom, or workspace is occupied — all without Wi-Fi, cloud dependency, or latency.

🧠 TinyML intelligence + Ethernet reliability = Smart, stable IoT with W55RP20

Why Use WIZnet W55RP20 for IoT?

When designing connected systems, many developers face three key challenges:

1. Unstable Wi-Fi connectivity in corporate or industrial environments
2. Complex cloud dependencies increasing latency and cost
3. Security concerns when transmitting sensor data wirelessly

The W55RP20 solves all three.
It integrates high-performance Ethernet (WIZnet chip) with Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core MCU, enabling developers to:

• Build low-latency, always-connected IoT systems
• Host local web servers for real-time data visualization
• Run lightweight frameworks like MicroPython + Microdot for rapid prototyping

In this project, those strengths are used to create a TinyML room occupancy watcher that demonstrates the W55RP20’s reliability, simplicity, and versatility.

System Architecture

The setup is simple:

• SenseCAP TX → W55RP20 GP0 (UART RX)
• SenseCAP RX → W55RP20 GP1 (UART TX)
• Ethernet cable connects the board to the LAN
• Users access the status via the board’s local IP (e.g., 192.168.x.x)

How It Works

1. The TinyML sensor continuously monitors human presence.
2. When someone enters the room, it sends a UART signal to the W55RP20.
3. The W55RP20, running MicroPython, updates the web interface to “Occupied.”
4. If no presence is detected, the page automatically changes to “Vacant.”

Everything runs locally — fast, private, and reliable.
No cloud delays, no dropped Wi-Fi, no external dependencies.

Applications

• 🏢 Smart Office Management: monitor meeting room usage in real time
• 🏫 Educational Spaces: track classroom occupancy for efficient scheduling
• 🧠 TinyML Demonstrations: showcase edge AI with wired network performance
• 🌱 Energy Saving Systems: trigger HVAC or lighting only when people are present
• 🏠 Smart Home Automation: integrate with Ethernet-based home networks

Why This Matters for Smart-Building Developers

Developers building reliable and commercial-grade IoT systems need solutions that are:

• Always connected (no Wi-Fi dropouts)
• Secure by design (no open wireless broadcast)
• Easy to deploy and maintain

The WIZnet W55RP20 delivers on all fronts.
With native Ethernet, low-power RP2040 cores, and open software support (CircuitPython, MicroPython, C SDK), it empowers engineers and makers to design industrial-ready IoT systems — from smart sensors to energy dashboards and factory controllers.

💡 Whether you’re building a home automation system, a factory sensor network, or a smart office dashboard, the W55RP20 ensures that your IoT connection is as stable as your ideas.

Benefits Summary

The TinyML Room Occupation Watcher project perfectly demonstrates how WIZnet’s W55RP20 bridges the gap between AI sensing and industrial IoT reliability.
By combining edge intelligence with wired Ethernet networking, it delivers a dependable foundation for smart spaces — from offices and labs to homes and factories.

🚀 Build your next IoT innovation with WIZnet W55RP20 —
where Ethernet meets intelligence.