Developing an Android Application for Internet of Things (IoT) Based Light Control using Android Studio

Abstract

Technological advancements are driving the development of home automation systems, one of which is Internet of Things (IoT)-based light control. Popular applications such as Blynk are often used in these systems, but they have limitations in automation flexibility, interface design, and backend control that make further development less than optimal. This research aims to develop an Android application to control IoT-based lights by utilizing the Firebase Realtime Database as a more flexible and independent backend. The system is designed using Android Studio and integrated with the NodeMCU ESP32 and the FC-04 sound sensor to enable both online and offline light control. The research method uses prototyping, which includes creating an initial version of the application, testing, and iterative improvements based on feedback. Testing was conducted using the Arduino IDE for IoT devices, Android Studio for mobile applications, and Black Box Testing to verify system functionality. The test results show that the application is able to control lights in real-time over the internet and can still be controlled using sound sensors when offline. Available features include ON/OFF control, automatic schedule settings, and light status monitoring through Firebase. This system offers a cost-effective, flexible solution that does not rely on third-party platforms, so it has the potential to be further developed to support other smart home systems.