6.3.1.7 Lab - Draw A Flowchart For Your Project

Lab – Draw a Flowchart for Your Project
Objectives
 List the project steps
 Draw the flowchart
Background / Scenario
Flowcharts are diagrams used to represent processes or workflows. Taking advantage of different shapes,
boxes and connecting arrows, a flowchart represents the solution flow to a given problem. Flowcharts are
commonly used to represent programs, algorithms, or any ordered process in various disciplines. Flowcharts
are typically created prior to starting a process or writing an application in order to catch potential logic
problems before they are implemented.
Flowcharts can be hand drawn or created using a number of packages including Microsoft Office applications,
LibreOffice, GoogleDocs, and various web applications such as draw.io.
Some of the most common flowchart symbols are shown in the diagram along with the intended purpose for
the symbol. Lines with arrows show the flow of the process.
Part 1: List the project steps

In a future lab activity, we will use the IoT components to record the sunrise and sunset as an event on
Google Calendar. To restate the problem: Build a device that can sense the amount of light outside and
decide if the sunset or the sunrise has happened. This device will take a specific action when sunrise or
sunset is detected.
© 2017 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public. Page 1 of 9
The basic steps to create the IoT project need to be determined in order to create a flowchart of the process.
Step 1: List the steps to complete the project.

a. Set up IFTTT (If This Then That) recipes.
b. Determine if an account exists.
c. Create an account if none exists.
d. Log into the IFTTT account.
e. Create the SunRise and SunSet recipes to record an event in Google Calendar.
f. Design and Build the Electronic Circuit to detect the light levels.
g. Create and run an application to read light levels.
h. Read the current light level.
i. Check to see if the light level exceeds the predefined threshold.
j. Trigger SunRise if the threshold is exceeded and not already triggered.
k. Wait 1 second for next reading.
l. Trigger SunSet if the previous reading detected light and not already triggered.
m. Wait 1 second for next reading.
n. Continue the loop as long as the application is running.
Part 2: Draw the Flowchart

Step 1: Create a new flowchart diagram
a. Navigate to https://www.draw.io.
b. Choose a preferred method for saving the diagram.
c. Click Create a new diagram.

d. Choose an appropriate name for the diagram.
Step 2: Select the appropriate symbols and label them on the first page.
a. From the flowchart menu, choose a Terminator symbol and set the text to Start.
b.
c. Choose a Process symbol centering it below the Start symbol and set the text to Set up IFTTT Recipes,
d. Choose a Decision symbol centering it below the previous Process. Change the text to “Does Account
Exist?”
e. Choose a Process symbol centering it below the Decision symbol. Change the text to “Log into IFTTT
Account”.
f. Choose another Process symbol and center it to the left of Decision symbol. Change the text to “Create
IFTTT Account”
g. Choose a Process symbol and center it below the Process to log into the IFTTT Account. Change the
text to “Create SunRise/SunSet Recipes”.
h. Connect the symbols with arrows to look similar to the flowchart shown and add the text for the yes/no
decisions.
i. Choose two more Process symbols changing the text to “Design & Build Circuit” and “Create & Run
Application”.
j. In order to keep things readable choose an Off Page Connector and center it below the last Process
symbol added and connect arrows as in the graphic.
Completed Page 1 Flowchart with Continuation Symbol
Step 3: Complete the second page of the flowchart.

a. Start a new page with another Off Page Connector, center a Connector directly below it. The
Connector will be used to start a loop within the flowchart.
b. Choose a Data symbol centering it below the previous Connector. Change the text to “Read Light
Level”.
c. Choose a Decision symbol centering it below the previous Data symbol. Change the text to “Is level >
Threshold?”
d. Choose two more Decision symbols centering one directly below previous Decision and the other one
centered to the right. Change the text to what is shown in the diagram.
e. Choose a Predefined Process symbol and center it to the right of the Previous light detected decision
symbol. Change the text as shown.
Note: The Predefined Process was selected since the recipes are already configured within IFTTT.
f. Choose a Predefined Process symbol and center it below the Same as previous reading decision
symbol. Change the text as shown.
g. Choose a Process symbol and place it to the right of the Same as previous reading decision symbol.
Change the text “Wait 1 second”.
h. Choose a Connector centering it below the previous Process symbol.
i. Connect all of the symbols with arrow lines as shown in the diagram and label the decisions as indicated.
Completed Page 2 Flowchart
Note: The Connectors are a common junction point when more than one process or decision creates the
same flow. In the case of the connector above the Read Light Level data symbol it provides a
starting/return point for the continuous loop. Typically processes have both a start and an end however
this process will only terminate when the application is terminated or the equipment is turned off.
Reflection
What is the purpose of diagraming IoT interactions?
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Lab – Draw a Flowchart for Your Project

Part 1: List the project steps

Step 1: List the steps to complete the project.

Part 2: Draw the Flowchart

c. Click Create a new diagram.

Completed Page 1 Flowchart with Continuation Symbol

Step 3: Complete the second page of the flowchart.

Completed Page 2 Flowchart

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