Solarometer & AQM conversion to Websockets

🔳Continuing with our plan to convert to 'Websockets' our 📶WiFi connected projects with web-page servers,  the🌞 'Solarometer' ( from 📅13.10.2024 & 23.03.2023 ) and😷 'Air Quality Monitor - AQM' ( from 📅15.03.2023 ) are the latest, and possibly the last, candidates for conversion; also getting redesigned webpages in the process.🔳

Webpage: solarometer5.html

Webpage: air-quality-monitor-v1.html

Solarometer 🔆

🔘The Ultra Violet Radiation Meter 𐆁- UVRM, (📅 see 23-3-2023), 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 & JavaScript ), and automatically configures itself as a 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.

꩜ 

Note:  css = cascading style sheets.

Solar UV Radiation Meter🌤

Frequent or prolonged exposure to high levels of solar 🌞 ultra-violet ( UV ) radiation can damage the human skin.

The SpacerLabs solar 'UV Radiation Meter' ( abbreviated UVRM ) provides a way to measure the radiation and display the result as the UV Index and UV Level. Informed decisions about appropriate precautions can then be taken if necessary. 😎🤠

The UVRM is based on the Silicon Labs SI1145 'UV Index sensor', together with a 32bit micro-controller, blue 0.96" 128x64px OLED display module and power management system. The UVRM is powered by an internal 3.7V rechargeable Lithium battery, which can be charged in-situ via the micro USB connector. A custom 3-D printed blue & white hand-held enclosure gives the UVRM a smart appearance.

UV Index ( zero to 11+ with a resolution of 0.01 ), and UV Level are displayed according to the W.H.O definitions; Low, Moderate, High, Very High & Extreme. The SI1145 also derives a "Visible Light Index" ( VIS ) and an "Infra-Red Index" ( IR ). These indices are not displayed directly by the current versions of the UVRM.

UVRM displaying an indoor UV reading

Two main options have been developed allowing the UVRM to be used as a stand-alone device when extended battery life is important or the option of wireless connectivity using BluetoothⓇ.

SpacerLabs has developed a custom App called  "Light_Meter" to connect to the UVRM using BluetoothⓇ communications.

The SpacerLabs 'Light_Meter' App

Using one of the BluetoothⓇ versions of the UVRM with a paired and connected mobile device running the App makes it easier to view the data in some outdoor situations 🌞. The VIS and IR indices are also exposed.

 

( W.H.O = World Health Organisation )