Hello! Right off the bat, I am currently a college student who's writing a capstone project. Unfortunately, I don't have any knowledge about Arduino. They were not introduced to us in our classes. My specialization is Networking which meant I didn't have much skill in programming and hardware.
My group are developing an IoT-based automated home window monitoring system using a wireless weather sensor that can record data. Here's the link for the sensor on a website named Shopee. https://shopee.ph/product/140621285/6810606067
My problem is that I want to use Arduino Uno to connect this wireless sensor, develop a program which can receive data from this sensor, send email notifications and gather weather forecast from the Internet. I also want to make the windows open and close using a program according to the gathered weather data from the sensor. What's the necessary motor/actuator (that will work with Arduino Uno) to achieve this? Is our idea even possible?
I am really sorry if my question is too deep, as I've said I am really unfamiliar with these types of things because the only thing that I've been learning is using Packet Tracer. I hope anyone can help me, thank you very much!
You really got deep!
Playing around with Arduinos for some time had been an advantage.
Thanks for the flow chart! Very few members know about that. Time for bed here, but... What will happen from the blob named "A"?
Packet tracer is unknown to me....
Cut down the project into smaller pieces. One is to read the sensor in a test sketch. The next, and bigger task, is to make contact with the Internet. The third task would be sending email notifications.
Make test sketches for each part of the project. Then add the second sketch to the first and verify it's working. That's named "system integration".
To do that an Uno would need additional hardware. Maybe a ESP32 with its built in WiFi and Bluetooth would be more suitable.
Pretty much any actuator can be controlled by a microcontroller whether it is Uno or ESP. It just takes the right interfacing hardware like a motor driver. Arduino boards are not power supplies. They can control things, not power them. Can't specify an actuator with the lack of information about the application.
This is quite a challenging project for a beginner. You have a lot to learn and quite a few challenges to overcome.
Some things to think about:
To be able to connect to the sensor unit you will need to understand the protocol that it uses to communicate with the current display uint. If you don't have the documentation for this unit, you will need to reverse engineer this communication, which is quite a large undertaking just by itself. You might want to consider using different sensors, that are better suited to use with Arduino.
You need to be able to connect to the Internet (email & weather receiving forecasts). The Uno doesn't do this so you will either need a different device - there are a number of Arduino boards that have WiFi, or use an ESP8266 or ESP32 device. Alternatively you will need something that enables the Uno to connect... a Wifi or Ethernet shield.
Sending to a smartphone (presumably SMS?), again requires that you have some form a modem that is able to connect to a network.
All possible... but collectively quite a lot of learning to do.
Thank you for answering! The A blob means it will go back to running the monitoring system (Run Weather Monitoring System). Don't worry, packet tracer is not needed for this project. I kind of get it now! Does our project require only 1 Arduino uno module?
Your project is pretty neat. I know it can be accomplished with some Arduino (like) board(s). I believe you will find similar pieces on this forum or the internet in general.
As stated previously the key is to work on each piece one at a time. When all are working you put together and test.
In your case you also have some mechanical challenges as well, specifically the window hardware/actuator.
I suggest you work on this first as if it found to be impractical the reset of the system won't be required. I would suggest you don't even start with an Arduino but simply get the window to move with simple switches or push buttons or potentiometer.
Thank you! The problem is I have not found a weather sensor that can be used with Arduino. Thant's the toughest part of our hardware methodology so far. Can an ESP32 device do the job of the system of receiving weather forecasts from the internet and sending notifications via email? We will not use SMS.
Thank you! We will look for an appropriate actuator first. We will be using a casement window. Do you have any knowledge on what is the specific actuator for that? It would really help. Our window looks like this:
Yeah, we can redesign the flowchart. Sorry if it made you confused. I have a question, would it be easier if we remove the sensor and just make the system COMPLETELY rely on weather forecast from the internet? Would it still be an IoT-based? I want to ask an experienced person, sorry for the question! Thank you in advance!
I have a question, would it be easier if we remove the sensor and instead just make the system COMPLETELY rely on weather forecast from the internet? Would it still be an IoT-based system? We are also think the possibility of changing that. Thank you!
Certainly it would be easier, as you are removing something fairly large from the scope of the project. Assuming you use a device that has onboard WiFi, you now only have the actuator to worry about.
Whether it works as well? ... I guess that really depends how good your local weather forecasts are, are how easily you can access the information you need.
I've not analyzed the flow chart that well.
In order to manage I urge You to follow the steps suggested in reply #2.
When those steps are done we can discuss the following action.
Design, build, & test one piece at time. Add only fully functional modules to the master build. Document EVERYTHING. If you didn't write it down, you didn't really do it. If a reading is "funny" document the amount of "funny". All data counts. Divvy the team up so each person gets one thing to build. Have a leader define the interface (physical/electrical/signal) for each piece to insure that each separately designed component works. Designate one person the "keeper of the docs" who is on EVERYONE's CC list and gets copies of all attachments. As the project progresses they will collate, formalize and ultimately present the completed project documentation for grade. Drawings, listings, pictures, data runs, everything funnels to ONE person.
