A Wireless Weather Alerting System

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A Wireless Weather Alerting System

Page last updated 30 Apr 2013, by Yongqiang Wang. 0 replies

by Yongqiang Wang and Jammie R. Proctor for ECE 4180 Final Project @ Gatech

Introduction

In this final project for ECE 4180 @ Gatech, we built a wireless severe weather alerting system. The main purpose for this system is to monitor various weather conditions and alert the user of the device if there is any severe weather present that the user needs to be aware of.

This system has two different subsystems, the transmitter and receiver for the indoor location and outdoor location respectively. The sensors in the transmitter include: temperature and humidity sensor, air pressure sensor, wind direction sensor, wind speed sensor and rain gauge, sunlight intensity sensor, an Xbee kit for wireless communication and an mBed microcontroller for data collecting and processing.

The receiver has a Nokia LCD display, Pizeoelectric speaker, an Xbee kit for wireless communication, a weather band receiver and an mBed microcontroller for data receiving and processing.

Concept

The basic idea behind this project is similar to that of an alarm clock. However, instead of alerting the user at a certain time, the user is alerted during certain weather conditions.

Operation

The sensors mounted on the transmitter will collect the following weather information: temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, rain precipitation and sunlight intensity. The Xbee Module of the outside subsystem will then transmit all of the information to the Xbee of the receiver in the form of a character string.

From the receiver the string of characters will then be parsed and converted by the indoor mBed microcontroller and each item will be displayed on a Nokia LCD display. If the weather condition becomes severe, the indoor subsytem will sound an alarm in addition to activating a weather band receiver. This receiver automatically tunes into the local weather broadcast radio station which updates the user on the present environmental conditions and any precautionary steps that need to be executed with regards to those conditions.

This wireless weather alerting system could save lives especially in areas where there is no tornado warning systems and during the night when outside conditions are not clear and the user may be sleeping.

Code

Code for Outdoor

#include "mbed.h"
#include "SCP1000.h"
#include "SHTx/sht15.hpp"
#include "WeatherMeters.h"
 
Serial Xbee1(p13, p14);
DigitalOut rst1(p16);

SCP1000 scp1000(p5,p6,p7,p17);

SHTx::SHT15 sensor(p28, p27);

AnalogIn ain(p20);
DigitalOut busy(LED1);

Serial pc(USBTX, USBRX);

WeatherMeters station(p8, p15, p10, Weather_auto);

float w_speed = 0.0;
float w_direction = 0.0;
float w_raingauge = 0.0;

char a = 'T';
char data[15];
 
void xbeesend(float x)
{
    sprintf(data, "%5.1f", x);
        
    int i = 0;
    while (data[i] != NULL)
    {
        Xbee1.putc(data[i]);
        i++;
    }

    Xbee1.putc (' ');
}
 
int main() {

    rst1 = 0;   //Set reset pin to 0
    wait_ms(1);
    rst1 = 1;   //Set reset pin to 1
    wait_ms(1);
   
    while(1) {               
              
        w_speed = station.get_windspeed();
        w_direction = station.get_windvane();
        w_raingauge = station.get_raingauge();
        
        pc.printf("Wind speed: %4.1f m/s\r\n", w_speed);
        Xbee1.putc ('S');
        xbeesend (w_speed);
        
        pc.printf("Wind direction: %4.0f\r\n", w_direction);
        xbeesend (w_direction);
        
        pc.printf("Rain Gauge: %4.1f\r\n\n", w_raingauge);
        xbeesend (w_raingauge);
     
        
        busy = true;
        sensor.update();
        busy = false;     
        
        sensor.setOTPReload(false);
        sensor.setResolution(true);
 
        sensor.setScale(false);
        pc.printf("Temperature [ %3.1f C ]\r\n", sensor.getTemperature());

        xbeesend (sensor.getTemperature());
        
        pc.printf("Humdity     [ %3.1f %% ]\r\n\n", sensor.getHumidity());
        xbeesend (sensor.getHumidity());
       
        pc.printf("The pressure is %d Pa \r\n\n", scp1000.readPressure());
        xbeesend (scp1000.readPressure());
        
        pc.printf("Sun light intensity is %3.1f %%\r\n\n", ain * 100 );
        xbeesend (ain * 100);
        
        Xbee1.putc ('@');

        wait(5);
    }
}

Import library WeatherMeters

Weather Alert System

Code for Indoor

// - Weather Warning Alert System Receiver
// - Jammie Proctor

#include "mbed.h"
#include "NokiaLCD.h"

Serial Xbee1(p13, p14);                                 // TX, RX
I2C radio(p28, p27);                                    // sda, scl
NokiaLCD lcd(p5, p7, p8, p9, NokiaLCD::LCD6610);        // mosi, sclk, cs, rst, type LCD6610, PCF8833
DigitalOut Weather_rst(p29);                            // Weather band radio reset
DigitalOut rst1(p26);                                   // Xbee reset
DigitalOut beep(p21);                                   // Piezo speaker
DigitalOut MyRx(LED1);                                  // Data receive

//====================================== Global Variables =============================================
const int write_addr=0x22;                          
int wb_pwr_up[3]={0x01, 0x13, 0x05};                    // Weather band power-up command
int wb_station[4]={0x50, 0x00, 0xFD, 0xFC};             // Set weather band station to 162.55MHz
int reg_station=0xFDFC, i=0, Response, ack=0, pwr_down=0x11, tune=0x31;
int count,j;
int* p_pwr_down = &pwr_down;
int* p_tune = &tune;
float f = 162.5500;
float wndspd=0, wnddir=0,rngg=0,temp=0,humdty=0,press=0,sunint=0;
char c;
char t[100],                                            // Debug String ==> S1.2 34.5 6.7 89.0 12.8 34.5 67890.1@
ws[10], wd[10], rg[10], tp[10], hd[10], ps[10], sn[10]; 
bool alert=0;

//=============================== Support Functions for WB Radio ======================================
void SendCommand(int* array, int length) {              /* Send Command to Si4707 */
    radio.start();
    ack=radio.write(write_addr);
    for(i=0; i<length; i++) ack=radio.write(array[i]);
    Response=radio.read(ack);
    radio.stop();
    wait(.2);
}
    
void Reset(void) {                                      /* Reset weather band radio */
    Weather_rst=0;
    wait(.2);
    Weather_rst=1;
    wait(.2);
}

void WB_Restart(void) {                                 /* Reinitialize Weather band receiver */                          
    SendCommand(p_tune, 1);                             // Disable carrier
    wait(.2);
    SendCommand(p_pwr_down, 1);                         // Power down sequence
    wait(.2); 
    Reset();
    SendCommand(wb_pwr_up, 3);                          // Launch Weather band radio
    wait(.5);
    SendCommand(wb_station, 4);                         // Play current weather band station
}
 
// =========================================== Main Program ===========================================
int main() {
    beep=0;
    MyRx=0;
    rst1 = 0;   
    wait_ms(200);
    rst1 = 1;                                           // Reset Xbee
    radio.frequency(100000);                            // I^2C frequency setting 100kHz
    lcd.cls();                                          // Clear LCD 
    lcd.background(0x0000FF);                           // Set LCD background to blue  
    while(1) {
        if(alert) {
            beep=1; 
            wait(1);
            beep=0; 
            wait(1);
            beep=1; 
            wait(1);
            beep=0; 
            wait(1);
            beep=1; 
            wait(1);
            beep=0; 
            wait(1);
            beep=1; 
            wait(1);
            beep=0; 
            wait(1);
            Reset();                                            
            WB_Restart();                               // Start WB radio
            while(1);                                   // Reset mBed to break loop
            alert=0;
            lcd.cls();
            lcd.background(0x0000FF);
            SendCommand(p_tune, 1);                     
            wait(.2);
            SendCommand(p_pwr_down, 1);                 // Stop WB radio
            wait(.2); 
        }
        if(Xbee1.readable()) {                          // Data available to receive
           c=Xbee1.getc();
           if(c=='A') alert=1;                          // Send 'A' on serial port to sound speaker
           if(c=='S'){                                  // Beginning of data array
                int i=0;                                
                while((c=Xbee1.getc())!='@')            // Loop until terminator reached
                    t[i++]=c;
                t[i]='\0';
                count=0;
                j=0;  
                MyRx=1;
                wait_ms(200);
                MyRx=0;                
                for(int i=0; i<sizeof(t); i++) {        // Parse data array
                    if(t[i]=='\0') break;
                    if(t[i]==' ') continue;
                    if((t[i]!=' ')&&(t[i-1]==' ')) {
                        j=0;
                        count++;
                    }
                    switch(count) {                     // Space count of data array
                        case 1:                         // Build wind speed subarray
                            ws[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        case 2:                         // Build wind direction subarray
                            wd[j++]=t[i];               
                            break;
                        case 3:                         // Build rain gauge subarray
                            rg[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        case 4:                         // Build temperature subarray
                            tp[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        case 5:                         // Build humidity subarray
                            hd[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        case 6:                         // Build pressure subarray
                            ps[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        case 7:                         // Build sunlight intensity subarray
                            sn[j++]=t[i];
                            break;
                        default:;
                    }
                }
                wndspd=atof(ws);
                wnddir=atof(wd);
                rngg=atof(rg);
                temp=atof(tp);
                humdty=atof(hd);
                press=atof(ps);
                sunint=atof(sn);
                lcd.cls();
                //------------------- Define alerts (Thresholds can be adjusted by designer) -------------------
                if((temp>40)||(temp<0)) {
                    alert=1;
                    lcd.locate(0,10);
                    lcd.printf("Temperature!!!");
                    lcd.background(0xFF0000);
                }
                else if (wndspd>4){
                    alert=1;
                    lcd.locate(0,10);
                    lcd.printf("Wind!!!");
                    lcd.background(0xFF0000);
                }
                else if (humdty>95){
                    alert=1;
                    lcd.locate(0,10);
                    lcd.printf("Humidity!!!");
                    lcd.background(0xFF0000);
                }
                else if (sunint<10){
                    alert=1;
                    lcd.locate(0,10);
                    lcd.printf("Cloudy!!!");
                    lcd.background(0xFF0000);
                }
                else if ((3*rngg)>25){
                    alert=1;
                    lcd.locate(0,10);
                    lcd.printf("Flood!!!");
                    lcd.background(0xFF0000);
                }
                else lcd.background(0x0000FF);
                lcd.locate(0,1);
                lcd.printf("WndSPd: %3.1fm/s",wndspd);
                lcd.locate(0,2);
                lcd.printf("WndDir: %3.1fdg",wnddir);
                lcd.locate(0,3);
                lcd.printf("Rain: %3.1fmm/hr",3*rngg);
                lcd.locate(0,4);
                lcd.printf("TEMP: %3.1fC",temp); 
                lcd.locate(0,5);
                lcd.printf("Humidity: %3.1f%%",humdty); 
                lcd.locate(0,6);
                lcd.printf("Press: %5.1fPa",press); 
                lcd.locate(0,7);
                lcd.printf("Sun: %3.1f%%",sunint);
                wait(1); 
           }
           MyRx=1;
           wait_ms(200);
           MyRx=0;     
        }
    } 
}

Import program Receiver

Weather Band Receiver

Wiring and Bill of Materials

Transmitter:

mBed Microcontroller https://mbed.org/handbook/mbed-NXP-LPC1768-Getting-Started
Sensirion SHT15 Dual Temperature and Humidity Sensor http://mbed.org/cookbook/SHT15
SCP1000 Pressure Sensor https://mbed.org/cookbook/SCP1000-Pressure-Sensor
Weather Meter https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8942
Xbee https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8665

Temperature and Humidity Sensor

SHT15	mBed
GND	GND
V3.3	Vcc
Data	p28
Sck	p27

Air Pressure Sensor

SCP1000	mBed
Csb	p8
Miso	p6
Mosi	p5
Sck	p7

Xbee Wireless Connection

Xbee	mBed
GND	GND
Vdd	Vout
Dout	p14
Din	p13
Reset	p16

RainGauge

RainGauge	mBed
p3	p10
GND	GND

WindStation

WindStation	mBed
p2	GND
p3	GND
p4	p8
p5	p15

Receiver:

mBed Microcontroller https://mbed.org/handbook/mbed-NXP-LPC1768-Getting-Started
Nokia LCD https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11062
Weather Band Receiver https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11129
Piezoelectric Speaker http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062397&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_term=2730059&utm_content=Exact&utm_campaign=PLA&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CICc_urC8bYCFRSN7AodsXAAAA&gclsrc=ds
Xbee https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8665

Nokia LCD

LCD6610	mBed
GND	GND
3.3V	3.3V
Vbatt	5V
Reset	p9
DIO	p5
SCK	p7
CS	p8

Weather Band Receiver

Si4707	mBed
GND	GND
3.3V	3.3V
RST	p29
SEN	GND
SCLK	p27
SDIO	p28

Xbee Wireless Connection

Xbee	mBed
GND	GND
Vdd	Vout
Dout	p14
Din	p13
Reset	p26

RainGauge

Piezo Speaker	mBed
Black Wire	GND
Red Wire	p21

Future Works

For further extension of this project, we will: a) use WiFly wireless communication kits to post weather information in the website, such as Weather underground b) use mulitple Xbee receiver to display the weather information

Image

Weather Station Sensors Setup Photo /media/uploads/yongqiangwang/photo_5.jpg

Weather Information Display Subsystem /media/uploads/yongqiangwang/photo_6.jpg

Screen Shot When Weather Alert Occurs /media/uploads/yongqiangwang/photo_2.jpg

Video

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