Home-made gsm-controlled weather station
This project is still running, but the idea is to build a home-made weather station remotely controlled by a gsm phone or internet connection.
We use the gsm shield provided by http://www.open-electronics.org/arduino-gsm-shield/
The GSM shield is mainly a communication channel, so it is commonly used with other instruments and sensors. This project goal is to build a remote-controlled solar-powered weather station. It will be a cheap home-made station with community impact. Home-made because we will try not to buy anything, and even build our own sensor. Community impact because we will made the SMS number available to the community to get fresh and accurate weather information.
This project was selected because it is achievable, fun, usable and it has a social impact.
The main features are:
We use the gsm shield provided by http://www.open-electronics.org/arduino-gsm-shield/
The GSM shield is mainly a communication channel, so it is commonly used with other instruments and sensors. This project goal is to build a remote-controlled solar-powered weather station. It will be a cheap home-made station with community impact. Home-made because we will try not to buy anything, and even build our own sensor. Community impact because we will made the SMS number available to the community to get fresh and accurate weather information.
This project was selected because it is achievable, fun, usable and it has a social impact.
The main features are:
- The Arduino and the shield use a battery that can be charged with solar power and probably wind power.
- Remotely controlled. Using sms messages it is possible to control and program the station. A complete set of instructions is planned: setting alarms, resetting the station, setting thresholds, etc.
- Home made sensors. Most of the sensors are expensive or can not be purchased by most of the people. We will buy some cheap sensors, but we will also recycle the sensors in old equipment. However, most of the sensors will be created from scratch.
- Event-triggered. The station will be able to send sms to certain numbers when an event is found, like wind change, humidity change or starts to rain.
- The sms number of the station will be available to the community. Any citizen will be able to get fresh information about the weather in the area. Most importantly, this information will be available world-wide.
- The GSM shield is used because the station will be located far from any Internet access.
- A protocol will be created to allow authorized people to remotely program the station.
Materials and sensors
These are the materials and sensors we are going to use.
- Arduino duemilanove or UNO.
- GSM Arduino shield.
- Temperature sensor (already recycled from an old Air Conditioner)
- Home built anemometer.
- Home built Wind vane.
- Home built barometer.
- Home built rain
- Home built pluviograph.
- Solar charger (Buyed already) and battery.
- Home made Wind charger
Wind vane
We started to build our own wind vane, here you can see some photos.