Weather Station

I worked on a portable, wind-powered weather station designed for remote environmental data collection without external power. The goal was to integrate renewable energy generation with real-time monitoring of wind speed, barometric pressure, and temperature using affordable, off-the-shelf components.

We engineered the system around a stepper motor, chosen for its ability to generate usable voltage at low wind speeds. After testing multiple power configurations, we implemented a voltage quadrupler to convert the AC output to DC and boost voltage levels for battery charging via a buck-boost converter. While voltage was sufficient, the current remained too low for sustained charging—highlighting the need for a higher-capacity motor in future designs.

To measure wind speed, we developed a custom laser tripwire system. A 3D-printed mount aligned a laser diode and phototransistor across the fan blades, allowing the Arduino to calculate RPM based on beam interruptions and convert that to linear wind speed. Sensor data was displayed on a two-digit seven-segment display, with a toggle button and LEDs used to switch between wind speed, pressure, and temperature readings.

I led the integration of the barometric pressure and temperature sensor, debugging I2C communication conflicts and modifying pin assignments to resolve display interference. We chose to control the LED display without a shift register, simplifying the code and maintaining flexibility.

The project demonstrates how small-scale renewable energy systems can support environmental monitoring and STEM education.