| name | project |
|---|---|
@VelocityDesign |
Nature's Eye - A Weather System and Bird Watcher + Other Home Improvements |
I'm planning to build an all-in-one Weather System, Bird Cam, and Home Dashboard with Home Assistant, Weather Sensors, and a Google Pixel.
Currently, I have a home assistant setup running on my home server. We have a small forest in our backyard, and it is often visited by birds. Additionally, Oklahoma is known for (if anything) weird weather patterns.
So, I'd like to set up a small setup out in this forest to monitor the weather, and to see/monitor the birds that visit.
Humidity is kinda an issue for electronics, so I'm using a plastic enclosure to shield the components from humidity.
These components require power, and I have to get it from somewhere. For power, I'm using a combination solar panel and battery pack I found from amazon. This should work for now, but I hope to potentially examine adding more batteries, or maybe even completely overhauling this system.
The whole project had a major problem: The forest is outside of the WiFi range. To solve this issue, I'm using a Pixel 5, so it can connect over Cellular Data to my Home Assistant instance.
Since the pixel can't natively connect to the sensor, I'll be using this library with a custom-made app and the FT232H chip to connect to the chip and "phone home."
Another driving factor in using a Google Pixel instead of a Raspberry Pi are the ongoing supply chain issues. Raspberry Pi's are extremely hard, if not impossible, to find. That, and the cost for a camera that's comparable to the Pixel and a Cellular modem would be even more expensive than the pixel itself.
While we're on the topic of Home Assistant, I have some RGB lighting in my room that is REALLY annoying to turn off at night. I'd like to automate this process using Home Assistant and a Pi Pico W, which I've found (for an arm and a leg) on Amazon. This is just something to add for the fun and convenience of it.
- Add AI bird detection? (As seen in The MagPi)
- Create Mastodon Bird Watcher Bot? (Powered by the AI)
- Add a Humidity Sensor?
- Add a Wind Speed Sensor?
- Add a bird perch near it?
I will release the code (App for Android Connection, RGB Lighting Controller) I create for this project under an Open Source License.
I will, if all goes correctly, document the process of making this project as an Instructable and/or post the process to my Blog.
| Product | Supplier/Link | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MPL3115A2 | https://www.adafruit.com/product/1893 | $9.95 |
| Google Pixel 5a 5g | https://swappa.com/listing/view/LWNS25918 | $156 |
| FT232H | https://www.adafruit.com/product/2264 | $14.95 |
| Solar Panel + Battery Pack | https://www.amazon.com/Portable-20000mah-Waterproof-Flashlights-CellPhones/dp/B07NVM4L1C/ | ~$16.80 (Deal Applied) |
| Raspberry Pi Pico W (x2, it's only a little more, and I'll put the second to a good use case) | https://www.amazon.com/Hosyond-Raspberry-Dual-core-Microcontroller-Development/dp/B0BJD4R1LV/ | |
| USB-C Hub | Owned | ? |
| Micro-usb, USB-C Cable | Owned | ? |
| Wood (For Enclosure) | Owned | ? |
| Humidity Enclosure (Made from Plastic) | Owned | ? |
| Additional Decorations for Enclosure | Owned/Will Be Purchased from own funds if more needed | ? |
| Shipping/Tax | See Above | $6.00 (AdaFruit) + $9.07 (Swappa) = $15.07 |
| Total | $237.76 |
Thanks to my Grandma for the inspiration for this project <3