Wireless Weather Monitoring
Based on EPS8266, BME280
A real-time weather logging and display system.
This Project was published ot the newspapers (printed and online version):
Google translated article from the newspaper "Ύπαιθρος Χώρα":
"Smart balloons" collect and transmit meteorological precision data
Greek scientists exploit space technologies and facilitate everyday life
A flying meteorological station hangs over the field permanently and transmits real-time meteorological data accurately. Through a mobile or tablet, the farmer is informed of the weather conditions that will prevail in the microclimate of the field in the next hours to accurately program each task.
A few years earlier, even the most imaginative director might have returned the script as unacceptably unrealistic. Today, three new Greek scientists, exploiting space technologies, not only make it feasible but have already done so.
Indeed, they are already working to transform it from an excellent idea into a mature commercial product, affordable and technologically advanced, which aspires to test its forces on the domestic and international market, where, incidentally, there is currently no corresponding product.
The idea of Smart Weather Balloon was presented in the first Greek ActInSpace contest for the creation of solutions and products using space data. The idea of Kostas David, a mechanical engineer, Kostas Anastasakis, studying geology, and Andreas Frangou, civil engineer, was to build "smart balloons" for the transmission of accurate meteorological data. It aims at a technologically advanced precision meteorological data collection system, the cost of which will be at least ten times smaller than the current one.
How does the smart balloon work?
We asked the team to explain the Smart Weather Balloon logic. "Today, meteorological stations around the world collect data via radio lamps, which are projected through the atmosphere with the help of a large balloon filled with sun. These are compact devices, the logic of which has its origins in the 1990s, which collect and transmit information on pressure, temperature, humidity, speed and wind direction, which, in turn, through algorithms, evolve into a meteorological prognosis. The balloon explodes at a certain height due to the very low atmospheric pressure, the radio loupe is lost, and the sun is used. Practically, after each shot, all equipment is lost, "explained Kostas David.
The team of three young scientists is developing this data collection system, building on a technology patent for the European Space Agency (ESA). "We thought we could build a space-saving model to collect more accurate information at a much lower cost, as no part of the equipment would be lost in the black hole of the atmosphere," adds David. .
At 1/10 of the cost
The flying meteorological stations, envisioned by the team of Greek scientists, carry data sensors, camera, GPS and GPRS modules and communicate with Earth in real time. The radio loudspeaker acquires energy autonomy using solar panels, and with the addition of a valve controlled by a microcontroller, the balloon does not "pop", but it is kept at a certain height, and when it finishes its work, it begins to descend and recover by his owner.
"The total cost of the equipment per launch does not exceed 50-60 euros when the National Meteorological Service spends around 600 euros for each of its three single launches per day", explains to the "CO" on its behalf Smart Weather Balloon by David.
"It sees" a commercial future
Although it is related to near space, since it receives data from it, Smart Weather Balloon shows to be strong on the ground. "It is a mature commercial idea, immediately exploitable, that responds to real market needs," said David. Besides, as he notes, "an idea that is not economically viable is practically a bad idea." And the idea seems to be good, since the prospective businessmen have already communicated it to the NMS, which has shown eagerness.
He explained that "smart balloons" can bring economies of scale to the agricultural sector as they "snap" with intelligent agriculture applications: "Given the low cost, an individual could access local meteorological data, even at field level, so that he knows what time he will do on his own farm in the next few hours. "
The competition
New scientists, engineers and developers created solutions and products using space data during the Greek ActInSpace. Over 24 hours, innovative products and applications have been created, highlighting the talent and appetite of young scientists and their need to "try" innovating.
The ActInSpace national competition was co-ordinated by Corallia and si-Cluster, active in the field of aerospace technologies and applications.
- Natasha Frangouli
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