Cost to Build This?

Community Projects
1

Hey Guys,

I’d like to first thank whoever decides to read this. I sincerely appreciate it. I really do. If our shoes were swapped I would do the same for you. Anyways, I just want to make clear that the respect is there and the thanks is there for any advice given.

I’m wondering if anyone could give me a basic estimate of the cheapest that this could me made for. I’ll give you all the details as it really comes down to this, but if i’m missing anything please let me know.

  1. Microcontroller of some sort, that simply monitors a digital sensor connected to it. No fancy analog signals just a simple on or off.

  2. When the microcontroller detects a rising edge or 1 from the sensor, it passes this data to the web… (Welp. I assume this will be where it becomes impossible to do it inexpensively.)

  3. This needs to be powered by solar since the device is outside at all times…

As far as the sensor cost, it is a very basic sensor so just take that completely out of the equation. Could this be built(microcontroller included) with $50 or is that unrealistic?

Guys. Again, thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this and reply.

  • QuestionAsker
2

I assume this will be where it becomes impossible to do it inexpensively.

Where? This will define almost all of the cost.

3

Parts cost should be under $10 @ qty 1. Look into the ESP8266

4

Lyndon and Jremington. Thanks to the both of you for the replies.

@jremington: yes I believe getting this data to the web will be too expensive

@lyndon: I looked up the ESP8266 and I am shocked at how little it costs for a Wifi Module. That is eye opening. However, what if I have no wireless internet access nearby? Are there alternative ways to get the data to the web? Again, I know nothing, you guys are the experts, but is SMS at all an option? Or am I pretty much screwed due to the fact that there is no wireless networks to join…

Thanks again guys.

5

For $50 in parts cost? No. Probably doable for $100 though. e.g., using a pay-as-you-go phone as a hotspot to get online.

There are a number of other options, one of which I may be able to help you with depending on how my research turns out. Send me a PM if you need to get more in depth.

6

lyndon:
For $50 in parts cost? No. Probably doable for $100 though. e.g., using a pay-as-you-go phone as a hotspot to get online.

There are a number of other options, one of which I may be able to help you with depending on how my research turns out. Send me a PM if you need to get more in depth.

@Lyndon: You are awesome. I will send you a PM once I’m back from work.

Cheers.

7

QuestionAsker:
Hey Guys,

I’d like to first thank whoever decides to read this. I sincerely appreciate it. I really do. If our shoes were swapped I would do the same for you. Anyways, I just want to make clear that the respect is there and the thanks is there for any advice given.

I’m wondering if anyone could give me a basic estimate of the cheapest that this could me made for. I’ll give you all the details as it really comes down to this, but if i’m missing anything please let me know.

  1. Microcontroller of some sort, that simply monitors a digital sensor connected to it. No fancy analog signals just a simple on or off.

  2. When the microcontroller detects a rising edge or 1 from the sensor, it passes this data to the web… (Welp. I assume this will be where it becomes impossible to do it inexpensively.)

  3. This needs to be powered by solar since the device is outside at all times…

As far as the sensor cost, it is a very basic sensor so just take that completely out of the equation. Could this be built(microcontroller included) with $50 or is that unrealistic?

Guys. Again, thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this and reply.

  • QuestionAsker

Engineer here…

Connection to Internet: Being solar powered, there would be no CAT5 cable. That leaves 4 options:

(1) WiFi (router/AP nearby)

(2) Cellular (recurring cost undesired?)

(3) 868/900MHz band data radio linked to mating radio which connects to bridge and on to network

(4) same as (3) but using Bluetooth if range of 10m is OK

Only (3) or (4) is solar-friendly in terms of power consumption.

Will data be pushed from this device infrequently?

Device does not have to try to honor ad-hoc inquiries for data (very solar power unfriendly).

These are the design drivers.

the big thing now is (3) with LoRa (long range, low data rate). Solar friendly.

8

stevech:
Engineer here…

Connection to Internet: Being solar powered, there would be no CAT5 cable. That leaves 4 options:

(1) WiFi (router/AP nearby)

(2) Cellular (recurring cost undesired?)

(3) 868/900MHz band data radio linked to mating radio which connects to bridge and on to network

(4) same as (3) but using Bluetooth if range of 10m is OK

Only (3) or (4) is solar-friendly in terms of power consumption.

Will data be pushed from this device infrequently?

Device does not have to try to honor ad-hoc inquiries for data (very solar power unfriendly).

These are the design drivers.

the big thing now is (3) with LoRa (long range, low data rate). Solar friendly.

Thank you very much for the response Stevech. Much appreciated.

I’ll just go through your points and yes you are completely right, no CAT5 cable here.

(1) Not applicable. Gawd it would be so nice, but sadly no access.

(2) Recurring cost probably undesired since there will be many of these units. Out of curiosity though, and I apologize for wrong terminology here, but what is the cheapest a sms transmitter/shield would cost?

(3) THIS. Sounds very interesting. There will be multiple of these units performing the same job scattered around in different places, think about all over a city for example… can they sort of transmit to one another, sort of like a chain, all the way down to something that does have access to a network? Please enlighten me on all of this and again I apologize for my nomenclature.

(4) 10m sadly wayyy to small.

Cheers Stevech.