AWS IoT Core with ESP32: Build a Real Android App

Course Overview

This course helps beginners learn how to connect microcontrollers like ESP32 to AWS IoT Core, exchange data using MQTT, and build real-world smart IoT applications.

You will start from absolute basics—no prior AWS, cloud, or embedded experience is required. Step by step, you will build a complete IoT system covering hardware, cloud, and mobile application integration.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Securely connect ESP32 devices to AWS IoT Core

Target Audience

• Beginners in IoT or AWS

Course Structure

SECTION 1: Introduction to IoT and AWS IoT Core

• What is IoT? Real-world use cases

SECTION 2: Setting Up the Environment

• Create an AWS Free Tier account safely

SECTION 3: AWS IoT Core Basics

• Understanding AWS IoT Core architecture (Thing, Certificate, Policy)

SECTION 4: Connect ESP32 to AWS IoT Core

• Install PubSubClient and WiFiClientSecure libraries

SECTION 5: Bi-Directional Communication

• Subscribe ESP32 to AWS topics

SECTION 6: Real-World Project #1 – Smart Home Switch

• Project overview and demo

SECTION 7: Android App for Smart Home Control

• Build an Android app using AWS IoT Core SDK

Section Outcome

Students will build an Android application that communicates with AWS IoT Core to control a real ESP32-based smart home switch (Light ON/OFF).

This completes a full end-to-end IoT solution:

ESP32 Hardware → AWS IoT Core → Android Mobile App

Section 8: Production-Grade Authentication & Authorization Architecture

This section moves beyond basic IoT connectivity and dives into real-world security architecture using Amazon Cognito.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of:

• How User Pools authenticate users and issue JWT tokens

We also clarify the critical difference between user authentication and device authentication, ensuring you understand when to use Cognito versus X.509 certificates in IoT architectures.

This section equips you with the architectural knowledge required to design secure, scalable, and production-ready IoT systems — not just demo projects.

Section 9: MQTT Protocol Explained (From Basics to AWS IoT Core)

Learn the MQTT protocol in depth, the backbone of modern IoT communication.

This section explains how publish/subscribe works, how topics are structured, how QoS affects reliability, and how AWS IoT Core securely manages MQTT traffic at scale. You’ll gain a clear mental model of how messages flow between devices, cloud, and applications.

Section 10: Security & Scalability Best Practices for IoT Applications

Move beyond demos and learn industry best practices for building secure and scalable IoT solutions.

This section covers secure access patterns, least-privilege IAM usage, scalable topic design, device lifecycle management, and cost-aware architecture decisions—helping you build applications that are ready for real production environments.