From bd8464abb8deee0d31bb84cc47cd3335c0e688d5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: schneefux Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 19:46:37 +0200 Subject: move posts into 'tech' section --- content/tech/weather-snowman.md | 38 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 38 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/tech/weather-snowman.md (limited to 'content/tech/weather-snowman.md') diff --git a/content/tech/weather-snowman.md b/content/tech/weather-snowman.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c55edcb --- /dev/null +++ b/content/tech/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. + +![blue glowing snowman](/images/weather-snowman/snowman-glowblue.jpg) + +_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: + +![inside setup](/images/weather-snowman/leds.jpg) + +_Luckily, you don't see how messy it really becomes once you put all this in that tiny snowman…_ + +![inside setup, top view](/images/weather-snowman/leds-esp.jpg) + +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. + +![new notification snowman](/images/weather-snowman/snowman-blink.jpg) + +_Gotta check my mails._ + +![blue and red glowing snowman](/images/weather-snowman/snowman-glowbluered.jpg) -- cgit v1.3.1