Sensor Networks
<tweet>http://twitter.com/tenfouragency/status/46306561118842880</tweet>
Definition
A sensor network is a set of sensors, inputs and outputs that collect data and are connected in some way.
A sensor module could be "a small box that could be mounted on a wall or set on a shelf, and would contain many sensors that can observe the surrounding environment. The goal is to create a standard "black-box" product that can communicate using simple protocols with a server somewhere else in the house. Ideally the actual sensors would be pluggable modules so that the box could contain one or more of the sensors available, to help cut down on the cost".[1]
Sensors
The environmental sensor should be a small box crammed with the following sensors:
- Temperature
- Barometric pressure
- Humidity
- Motion sensor
- Sound level
- Light level
- Carbon monoxide detector / smoke detector / other gases?
- A webcam
Output
- Loud buzzer for alarms
- Speaker to play audio
- Maybe the whole thing can glow with an RGB LED
- Or just a couple lights that can blink
- 2-line LCD display?
Interface
The sensors should be able to be queried multiple ways.
- HTTP requests should return an XML or JSON file with the current status of all sensors, as well as averages for the last minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes and hour.
- The box should be able to define triggers, so that when motion or change in light or sound levels are detected, it can make an HTTP request to a predefined URL.
Links
Here are some links to Sparkfun products, although it's only a matter of time before they go and build this whole contraption themselves.
Other resources
- Green Goose has built some small egg-sized sensors that communicate wirelessly using a simple serial protocol
References
