Project with Arduino

Wireless & IoT
1

Firstly. I have not bought an Arduino yet (or anything for that matter). (And this is my first post!!! Woo! Hi everyone :wink: )

I have always done programming for websites and applications, never having anything “do” something outside of my computer or its monitor. After reading an article in IEEE Spectrum the other day talking about the Arduino and mentioning Sparkfun.com I became interested in playing with some hardware ideas. So lets get to my question.

Would it be possible to use an Arduino (Just 1) to wire up and program a little unit that could be powered by a wall outlet (so it doesn’t have to stay plugged into the computer) and have a LCD backlit display on it which would automatically light at night (Unless a button push disables/re-enables it), which would display the current temperature/humidity (1 at a time), include a knob for settings (4 position knob for settings which will be detailed below) a speaker of some sort (just something to make a noise or chirp), a wireless connection (Bluetooth/Wifi/whatever with the computer [or straight to internet without comp, whichever]) and two LED’s 1 Green and 1 RED. (Or 1 MultiColor LED would be better)

Four Position Knob

Pos1 - Enable Warnings/Sounds/Emails

Pos2 - Enable Silent Mode. Display & Email Only

Pos3 - Unit Only Mode - (Will not connect to network & request Data. Uses only data directly connected via sensors)

Pos4 - Unit Off - (Disables LED Screen, Sensors, Wireless, and LED’s)

Basically the unit would Display its sensor data 1 at a time on the LCD screen. It would show Temperature in Farenheit for 10 seconds, then show humidity for 10 seconds, then show Warnings (from internet) if any, otherwise it would skip immediately back to Temperature. The green light would indicate that the wireless connection is active and working (solid green), solid red would indicate network issue or trouble connecting, Blinking Red would indicate a weather warning. If there is a weather warning, that would stay on the LCD screen and the LCD would enable the backlight. The speaker would chirp or something to indicate the warning. And using the internet connection/web server would email me to inform me of the warning.

I may obviously change this up a bit, but thats the jist of what I want the little unit to do. Once I program it I’d like to put it in a little box and stick it in the wall. (it would still be removable from the wall and the box for future updates). Can the Arduino store enough programming to do this? Would it have enough connections avaliable? What kind of hardware would you suggest I purchase to do this? Would it be cost effective? (Including the fact I’ll have fun doing it)

I already have a web-server/websites. I can already pull the data I need and think I can program the unit so that it will do these functions. I can set up my server so that it will only send warnings/alerts that I want the unit to recieve.

I was thinking of definately including 1 temperature sensor, but two would be great as well (1 in/1 outside) I would assume this would depend on space.

I assume the length of the wires wouldn’t affect anything. (wouldn’t travel wire for more than say 10 feet to get outside).

Components I think I need for this:

1 Arduino

1 Small spool of Insulated wire to connect temperature sensor (outside one)

2 Temperature sensors

1 Humidity Sensor (Inside or Outside, haven’t decided yet, but only 1 in either case)

1 Control Knob (Four Position or more [other positions would be null or use what position 4 code calls for])

1 speaker

1 LCD screen (or multiple attached together) (Must have backlight)

2 Wireless Devices capable of two way communication (I would assume this would be the most difficult part…)

1 MultiColor LCD (Or 1 Green and 1 Red)

1 Push Button

1 Light Sensor (To detect Day/Night or Lights On/Off in room at least…)

Anyway, does this sound like a workable Idea? Any other suggestions?

EDIT: I might should have posted this in the other forum, but it does deal with wireless, so my mistake if so… please feel free to move it if this is not the most appropriate location. Thanks!

2

Poll/survey response for me was web page error.

Your goal is doable, but it’s one that would need a face to face mentor or an implementer with a lot of experience and time.

The WiFi interface is doable but costly - using, say, a Lantronix Xport Direct to do WiFi to serial. A Bluetooth interface probably doesn’t have the RF range you want. Best if done by simple USB or RS232 at first. Fancier later.

An easy wireless is a pair of XBee series 1 modules.

LCD easy if you find/use a fonts library and device driver.

beeper easy.

Temp/Humidity: SHT-1 and there’s software out there for it. Humidity is what adds cost!

knob/control easy.

3

Thanks so much for the reply. I agree wireless would be difficult, I probably will do as you suggest and go with USB to start with and then maybe try out the Xbee or Bluetooth. The thing would only be about 15 feet from my router (I’m buying a small house :slight_smile: so I think BT would reach okay) but still illl try to get it all working via USB first, i just want to make sure I get more the parts that I’ll need so I don’t have to rebuy parts after doing USB only because I could have gotten stuff that was compatible with both USB prototype and working wireless version.

How much would you guestimate the parts for this build would cost if I go the easiest to build route (using Xbee or BT)?