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diff --git a/content/post/weather-snowman.md b/content/post/weather-snowman.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5c8ec5 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/post/weather-snowman.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +categories: +- embedded +date: 2015-12-12 +title: Weather snowman - Embedded LED forecast +--- + +It's christmas time! As a kind of pre-christmas gift, I built an Internet of Things enabled snowman for one of my best friends. + +Like in [my last project]({{< ref "internet-is-magic.md" >}}), I used an ESP8266 again, some LEDs and an old acrylic snowman that I cut open. + + + +_The electronics were cheaper than the snowman._ + +Inside the snowman was a fading RGB led, a switch and batteries. Boring! + +I replaced it with the ESP8266, which had 3 LEDs attached to it (red, green, blue). Via a USB cable and a voltage converter, I powered it: + + + +_Luckily, you don't see how messy it really becomes once you put all this in that tiny snowman…_ + + + +Coding took a while. + +The ESP creates a wireless access point with a web server after powerup and asks you to enter your WiFi credentials. After first setup and whenever the module is started again, it connects to your wireless network and queries [OpenWeatherMap](http://openweathermap.org/) every hour for a 3 hour forecast. + +Depending on the forecast, the blue and red LEDs glow in different patterns. If a rainy day is to be expected, the top red LED lights up and the bottom blue LED fades in and out. A storm at night is displayed via a deep blue head and a blinking snowman's body. + +If you inspect [the source code](https://git.schneefux.xyz/?p=weather-snowman;a=tree), you'll see that there also is an Android app. The app simplifies the setup and runs a background service that makes your snowman's green LED flash on new notifications. + + + +_Gotta check my mails._ + + |