Solarometer 🔆

🔘The Ultra Violet Radiation Meter 𐆁- UVRM, (📅 see 23 March ), has been improved with some new features and functionality, and also given a new name -  "Solarometer".

There is a new version of the BluetoothⓇ mobile 📱App, now called "Solar_Meter", ( as not only the UV index is being displayed ), having more on-screen notifications e.g., 'About' screen, as well as the new signal strength indicator and a different appearance.

Solar_Meter App user interface

The Wifi firmware has also been upgraded. The Solarometer hosts a webserver with a basic embedded web 🕸 page, ( written in html & css ), and automatically configures itself as a stand-alone WiFi soft access point, ( IP 192.168.4.1, SSID "SpacerLabs WiFi Sensors" ). This was originally developed for the UVRM in 📅 January 2021 as a prototype only. At that time "http" server-client communication protocol was adopted, which required a page refresh to initiate an http request to get a new UV measurement value. The Solarometer, however, uses "Asynchronous JavaScript & XML" ( 'AJAX' ) protocol for near real-time updating of the measured 📏light intensities on the webpage opened in the client's browser.

Webpage displayed on a phone's browser

Alternatively, the new SpacerLabs 'VISUVIR_Viewer' WiFi App can be used to get and display the sun-light ☼ intensities , but still employing the original http protocol.

VISUVIR_Viewer App user interface

The 🔗  Node-Red 🟥visual programming tool contains an 'http request' node. A 'flow' 🔀was created to read data from 192.168.4.1 and update the readings 📈 on a dashboard.

SpacerLabs Node-Red dashboard for the Solarometer

Orange, blue, grey, yellow, white and translucent have been added to the choice of colours 🌈for the 3-D printed enclosure.

The Solarometer is intended for hand-held outdoor ⛅use; wireless version in range of client devices. It is powered by an internal 1000mAh 3.7V Li-Po rechargeable 🔋battery.

Looking ahead 📅,  the Solarometer, and/or new WiFi projects, will make use of websockets servers and protocol for even faster operation.

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Note:  css = cascading style sheets.