Arduino, Seeeduino and XBee

Three weeks ago I have started to make a more deeply research on electronic platforms dedicated for Wireless Sensor Networks. I take into consideration 2 main aspects: cost (very important when the budget is low and the solution should be possible to be implemented even in not rich people houses) and characteristics (functionalities offered by the platform and how they could be extended more coresponding to our needs).

After many found solutions (iSense, Libelium Waspnode, MeshBean, Particle Computer, MicroStrain, Dust network, Econotag, Redbee, Tyndall, Mica2, etc.), I get to the conclusion that they are quite expensive :-s. If I had to continue the development from the scratch it will take me years. But I didn’t give up, I search more and more until … found it – something that really like… I found first Seeeduino Stalker v2.0, then Arduino and XBee. I knew XBees and before but I didn’t considered them suited for my project until now.

The Seeduino Stalker is a base platform for Wireless Sensor Network, and at a price of 39$, I considered much cheaper like other similar products. Also, it have enough functionalities for what we need. I ordered 2 pieces and hope to have them next week to start testing. Also, I ordered 2 XBee 2 Series with chip antenna for using with the Stalker. The full list of functionalities of the Stalker are presented in the second image bellow.

Maybe many people are used with Arduino but for me is something new. From Seeeduino, I found Arduino and bought one hardware board Duemilanove. I tested it a lot the last day and I was really happy what was able to implement. The programming of the microcontroller, using the Arduino IDE, is quite simple.

The XBee modules could test since I don’t have them but from reviews I uderstand that they could be very easily configured and used with Arduino board and Seeeduino Stalker.

Project description

Title of the project:

Contributions at the development of an intelligent area for increasing the energy efficiency in the Institute of research/development PRO-DD

Domain of research:

The technologies in the informational society

Description:

One idea of the project is to stimulate the experimental progress on the research of the wireless sensor networks (WSN) – pointing on the monitoring and control of the office/home spaces (smart office, smart home).

It will be developed a system, software and hardware, which to implement this functions. In the same time, it will be considered to integrate other functional systems, under development as research projects, dedicated for: energy management, for decreasing the energy consumption (by example: the control of photovoltaic panels, hot water panels, automatic change from one energy source to another, intelligent lightning, etc.) and for ensuring of other auxiliary functionality (by example: access control, ensuring the ambient conditions, security, etc.). All the systems considered are part or will be part of the research/development institution.

The system is based on a wireless sensor networks, which to permit the monitoring and control of the offices space or other type of rooms or external elements (equipments).

The final result is to obtain an intelligent building (smart building). All the room of the building will be monitoring using the wireless sensor nodes (hardware) and one system of software applications will permit to view the recorded information and the control of the entire system.