Sentinel AI System
An intelligent notification and security system powered by AI, combining RGB lighting, audio alerts, and smart automation to transform how we interact with our digital world.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Intelligence: Smart prioritization and context-aware notifications
- Multi-Purpose Design: Work notifications, calendar alerts, and home security
- Real-time Response: Instant visual and audio feedback for critical events
💡Why Sentinel AI?
AI is the future and it's not limited to phones and computers - it's coming to more and more devices. Sentinel AI utilizes IoT + AI technology to assist me in my daily life.
When most people think of alarms, they imagine a loud ringing clock or a simple door sensor. But what if one device could monitor your home using a CCTV camera, run AI analytics and trigger an alarm if intrusion is detected, send telegram messages with live footage of the intruder, ring the alarm and flash the lights in multiple locations?
What if one device could handle...
🏢 Work & Productivity
- Work urgent notifications
- Calendar reminders
- Meeting alerts
🏠 Home Security
- AI-powered motion detection
- Multi-location alerts
- Immersive notifications
⚙️The Core Setup
The system consists of three main components working in harmony:
System Components
💡 WLED
Handles dynamic lighting effects - flashing, pulsing, or ambient cues for different notification types. The RGB LED ring provides immediate visual feedback that's impossible to miss.
→ View WLED Firmware Code🔊 DFPlayer Mini
Plays different audio tones or music depending on the type of alert or notification. From gentle chimes to urgent alarms, audio reinforces the visual cues.
🤖 n8n Automation
Orchestrates workflows, connects to Gmail and Calendar, processes CCTV triggers. This is the brain that decides when and how to activate Sentinel.
With this combination, Sentinel becomes more than just a smart alarm. It's a multi-purpose notification and security hub.
External connections
Back panel view
🔧Hardware Overview
The hardware design focuses on reliability and modularity. Each component serves a specific purpose while working together seamlessly.
Core Components
ESP8266 & electronic modules
Audio Module
DFPlayer Mini for sound alerts
Custom PCB
Circuit board design & layout
Internal Assembly
Component placement & wiring
Internal View
Component organization
Power Supply
External power connection
Key Hardware Components
- • ESP8266 Microcontroller
- • WS2812B LED Ring
- • DFPlayer Mini Audio Module
- • Custom PCB Design
- • 3D Printed Enclosure
- • Integrated Speaker System
🎯Use Cases
1. Smart Office Notifications
In today's world, we are bombarded with notifications on screens and devices. The problem? They're easy to miss, especially if you're deep in work or away from your phone. I wanted a system that would cut through the noise through AI, using lights and sound in the physical world to make notifications impossible to ignore.
🚨 Urgent Email Handling
- n8n detects high-priority messages in Gmail
- Sentinel flashes bright red lights and plays urgent alert music
- No more missed critical messages buried in inbox clutter
📧 Non-urgent Email Processing
- Plays a softer chime with gentle blue light effect
- Stay informed without breaking focus
- Customizable priority levels based on sender and content
2. Smart Calendar Notifications
Meetings are easy to forget in the middle of deep work. With Google Calendar wired into n8n:
- When a meeting starts → Sentinel flashes blue lights and plays notification tone
- 5-minute warnings with gentle amber lighting
- Different tones for different meeting types
3. Advanced Home Security System
This is where Sentinel really shines. I connected my CCTV camera to a custom Node.js bridge that uses ONVIF to listen for motion or person detection events.→ View ONVIF AI Bridge Code
🔒 Security Alert Flow
- 1. CCTV detects motion/person using AI analytics
- 2. Node.js bridge sends webhook to n8n workflow
- 3. n8n triggers Sentinel → flashing red/blue lights and alarm sound
- 4. Effect is intimidating, designed to scare off intruders
- 5. Telegram notification sent with live footage
🎬Live Demo
See Sentinel AI in action with these demonstration videos showing different lighting effects and system responses.
🎬 Complete Sentinel AI System Demonstration
Additional Demo Videos
Sentinel AI in action - Dark room demonstration
LED ring lighting effects demonstration
What you're seeing:
- • Dynamic LED ring responding to different notification types
- • Audio feedback synchronized with visual effects
- • Real-time response to n8n workflow triggers
- • Ambient lighting that adapts to room conditions
⚡Challenges Along the Way
Building Sentinel wasn't without its hurdles, but solving these challenges made the system more robust and reliable:
Technical Challenges
🔊 DFPlayer Integration Issues
Getting consistent sound playback required careful debugging of connections and SD card formatting. The module is sensitive to power fluctuations and requires specific file naming conventions.
💡 WLED Synchronization
Timing effects to sync light with sound took experimentation. Had to account for network latency and ensure the ESP8266 could handle rapid API calls without freezing.
🤖 n8n Workflow Complexity
Filtering urgent vs. non-urgent emails and handling multiple services without overlap was a balancing act. Required careful webhook management and error handling.
🚀What's Next for Sentinel
This project is just the beginning. Here are some exciting extensions on the roadmap:
Planned Enhancements
🗣️ Voice Alerts
Personalized spoken notifications using text-to-speech (e.g., "Meeting in 5 minutes with John")
🎨 Context-Aware Lighting
Morning vs. evening alerts with different tones and colors. Weather-based mood lighting integration.
🏠 Expanded IoT Integration
Connect with smart locks, motion sensors, coffee machines, and other home automation devices.
🧠 Advanced AI Features
Let AI decide which notifications truly matter based on context, patterns, and user behavior analysis.
💻Source Code & Implementation
The complete Sentinel AI system is open source and available on GitHub. Here are the key repositories that power this intelligent notification system:
WLED Firmware
Custom WLED firmware with DFPlayer Mini integration for audio alerts and RGB lighting effects.
View on GitHubONVIF AI Bridge
Node.js application that connects to CCTV cameras via ONVIF protocol and provides AI-powered motion detection.
View on GitHub🛠️ Getting Started
Both repositories include detailed setup instructions, wiring diagrams, and configuration examples. The code is well-documented and includes:
- • Step-by-step installation guides
- • Hardware connection diagrams
- • Configuration templates
- • API documentation
- • Troubleshooting guides
✨Conclusion
The Sentinel AI System proves that with a few inexpensive components and the power of automation, you can build a multi-purpose alert and security system that's smarter than any off-the-shelf alarm.
Whether it's saving you from missing an urgent email, reminding you of a meeting, or protecting your home, Sentinel turns ordinary hardware into an intelligent assistant that lives in the physical world.
"It's not just an alarm. It's your Sentinel."
Key Takeaways
- • IoT + AI creates powerful automation possibilities
- • Physical notifications are more effective than digital ones
- • Modular design allows for easy expansion and customization
- • Open-source tools like n8n make complex workflows accessible
About Rishabh Gusain
I'm a passionate maker and AI enthusiast who loves building intelligent IoT solutions. With a background in software engineering and a fascination with automation, I enjoy creating projects that blend AI, hardware, and real-world problem solving.