diff --git a/lib/mock_device.rb b/lib/mock_device.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d0bdca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/mock_device.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# mocks a device by sending random data to a channel
+# usage: ruby mock_device.rb API_KEY
+# example: ruby lib/mock_device.rb XN2D3V54EWEQBKO6
+
+require 'net/http'
+
+# get the api key from the arguments
+api_key = ARGV[0]
+
+# domain
+domain = URI.parse("http://localhost:3000/")
+
+# start the data randomly
+data = rand(1000)/10.to_f
+
+# infinite loop
+while true do
+  # drift the data points
+  data += rand(-5.to_f..5.to_f)
+  data = data.round(1)
+  puts "update: #{data}"
+
+  # send the data
+  full_url = "#{domain}update?api_key=#{api_key}&field1=#{data}"
+  Net::HTTP.get(URI.parse(full_url))
+
+  # wait 15 seconds before POSTing again
+  sleep 15
+end
+