https://github.com/teyk0o/weather-station-telemetry
Professional-grade weather station telemetry system demonstrating embedded systems engineering principles.
https://github.com/teyk0o/weather-station-telemetry
aerospace arduino cpp data-acquisition embedded-systems iot nasa-standards serial-communication telemetry weather-station
Last synced: 4 months ago
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Professional-grade weather station telemetry system demonstrating embedded systems engineering principles.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/teyk0o/weather-station-telemetry
- Owner: Teyk0o
- License: mit
- Created: 2025-06-08T18:00:38.000Z (4 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2025-06-08T18:20:08.000Z (4 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-06-08T19:26:38.084Z (4 months ago)
- Topics: aerospace, arduino, cpp, data-acquisition, embedded-systems, iot, nasa-standards, serial-communication, telemetry, weather-station
- Language: C++
- Homepage: https://teyk0o.github.io/weather-station-telemetry/
- Size: 30.3 KB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# 🛰️ Weather Station Telemetry System - Space Mission Simulation
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[](https://www.arduino.cc/)
[](https://isocpp.org/)
## 📡 Project Overview
This project implements an embedded weather station that simulates telemetry systems used in real space missions. Developed following NASA modular development standards, the system demonstrates fundamental principles of data acquisition, robust serial communication, and error handling in critical embedded systems.
The architecture showcases professional-grade software engineering practices including defensive programming, graceful degradation, and comprehensive error recovery mechanisms that would be essential for autonomous systems operating in remote or hostile environments.
### 🎯 Technical Objectives
- **Data Acquisition**: Temperature and humidity collection with robust validation protocols
- **Serial Communication**: Bidirectional protocol with health monitoring capabilities
- **Modular Architecture**: Clear separation of concerns following industrial standards
- **Error Management**: Retry mechanisms and degraded mode operation
- **Professional Documentation**: Code documented according to aerospace industry best practices
## 🏗️ System Architecture
The system follows a three-tier modular architecture that separates concerns and facilitates maintenance, exactly as implemented in professional space mission software:
```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Main Program │
│ (Orchestration & Coordination) │
└─────────────┬───────────────────────────┘
│
┌─────────┴─────────┐
│ │
┌───▼────────────┐ ┌───▼──────────────┐
│ Sensor Module │ │ Communication │
│ │ │ Module │
│ • DHT22 │ │ │
│ • Temperature │ │ • UART 9600 bps │
│ • Humidity │ │ • JSON Protocol │
│ • Validation │ │ • Ping/Pong │
└────────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
```
This modular design enables independent testing of each component, facilitates debugging through isolation of concerns, and allows for future expansion without requiring complete system rewrites.
## 🔧 Hardware Requirements
- **Arduino Uno R3** - Primary microcontroller platform
- **DHT22 Sensor** - Temperature and humidity measurement (±0.5°C, ±2% RH accuracy)
- **Wiring Configuration**:
- DHT22 Data → Digital Pin 2
- DHT22 VCC → 5V Rail
- DHT22 GND → Ground
## 📋 Technical Specifications
### DHT22 Sensor Characteristics
- **Operating Voltage**: 3.3 - 6V DC
- **Temperature Range**: -40°C to +80°C (±0.5°C accuracy)
- **Humidity Range**: 0% to 100% RH (±2% RH accuracy)
- **Resolution**: 0.1°C temperature / 0.1% RH humidity
- **Sampling Rate**: Maximum 0.5 Hz (2-second intervals)
### Communication Protocol
- **Interface**: UART serial at 9600 baud rate (optimized for reliability over speed)
- **Data Format**: Structured JSON messages with metadata
- **Features**: Bidirectional health checks, timestamping, sequential message numbering
- **Error Handling**: Automatic retry mechanisms with exponential backoff
## 🚀 Setup and Deployment
### Prerequisites
The system requires specific Arduino libraries to interface with the DHT22 sensor:
```bash
# Required Arduino Libraries
- DHT sensor library (Adafruit)
- Adafruit Unified Sensor
```
### Installation Process
1. **Clone the repository**:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/your-username/weather-station-telemetry.git
cd weather-station-telemetry
```
2. **Configure Arduino IDE**:
- Load `mainWeatherStation.ino` as the primary file
- Ensure all module files are in the same project directory
- Verify that the Arduino IDE recognizes all tabs
3. **Install dependencies**:
- Navigate to Library Manager in Arduino IDE
- Search for "DHT sensor library" by Adafruit
- Install both "DHT sensor library" and "Adafruit Unified Sensor"
4. **Hardware assembly** following the wiring diagram specifications
5. **Deploy and monitor**:
- Compile and upload the complete system
- Open Serial Monitor at 9600 baud rate
- Observe real-time telemetry JSON messages
## 📊 Telemetry Message Format
### Sensor Data Transmission
```json
{
"timestamp": 1234567,
"id": 42,
"type": "sensor_data",
"sensor_type": "temperature",
"value": 23.5,
"success": true
}
```
### Health Check Protocol
```
Ground → Station: ping
Station → Ground: pong
```
The ping-pong mechanism ensures bidirectional communication capability, which is critical for command reception verification in real space missions.
## 🔍 Advanced Features
### Robust Error Handling Framework
- **Automatic Retry Logic**: Up to 5 initialization attempts with progressive delays
- **Graceful Degradation**: Partial operation when individual sensors fail
- **Data Validation**: Range checking against sensor specifications
- **Communication Health Monitoring**: Periodic link verification with automatic recovery
### Professional Software Architecture
- **Separation of Concerns**: Each module maintains a single, well-defined responsibility
- **Standardized Interfaces**: Consistent data structures across all modules
- **Maintainable Code**: Comprehensive commenting and logical organization
- **Scalable Design**: Easy addition of new sensors or communication protocols
## 📈 Future Development Roadmap
- **Binary Protocol Optimization**: Migration from JSON to CCSDS-compliant binary format for bandwidth efficiency
- **Extended Sensor Suite**: Integration of barometric pressure, acceleration, and GPS positioning
- **Ground Station Interface**: Real-time dashboard for telemetry visualization and command transmission
- **Local Data Buffering**: Storage capabilities during communication outages
- **Encryption Layer**: Secure communication protocols for sensitive data transmission
## 📖 Complete Documentation
- **[Interactive Jupyter Analysis](./documentation/Weather_Station_Telemetry_Analysis.ipynb)** - Detailed technical analysis with visualizations
- **[Architecture Guide](./docs/ARCHITECTURE.md)** - Comprehensive system design documentation
- **[User Manual](./docs/USER_GUIDE.md)** - Complete installation and operation instructions
- **[Technical Specifications](./docs/SPECIFICATIONS.md)** - Detailed engineering specifications
## 🛑 AI-Assisted Learning Methodology
This project was developed through an AI-assisted learning approach, where I used Claude AI as an interactive tutor to guide me through embedded systems engineering concepts and best practices. The collaboration followed a structured educational methodology where I was given exercises and challenges to solve independently, with the AI providing guidance, corrections, and explanations when needed.
**Learning Process:**
- I provided the initial project specification and learning objectives to establish clear educational goals
- The AI guided me through modular design principles and helped me understand aerospace industry standards through progressive exercises
- I wrote all code implementations myself, receiving feedback and corrections on my approaches after completing each module
- No code was copied directly from AI suggestions; instead, I learned underlying concepts and implemented solutions independently based on my understanding
- The AI served as a technical mentor, explaining why certain approaches were superior to others and helping me understand professional development practices used in mission-critical systems
- Each module was built upon previous learning, creating a comprehensive understanding of telemetry system architecture
Original Project Specification (Click to expand)
**Basic Telemetry System**
- **Technologies:** C programming language, UART serial communication, I2C/SPI sensor interfaces
- **Description:** Embedded weather station designed to simulate space mission telemetry systems
- **Core Features:**
- Environmental data acquisition including temperature, pressure, humidity, and acceleration measurements
- Reliable serial communication link to ground station with Python-based receiving software
- Structured frame format inspired by CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems) standards
- Real-time data visualization interface for monitoring and analysis
- **Technical Skills Demonstrated:**
- Low-level C programming with direct hardware interface control
- Implementation of robust serial communication protocols
- Multi-sensor data acquisition and processing techniques
- Professional technical documentation and system architecture design
- **Suggested Hardware Platform:** Arduino or STM32 microcontroller with BME280 environmental sensor and MPU6050 accelerometer
*Note: The final implementation exceeded the original specification by incorporating advanced error handling, graceful degradation capabilities, and comprehensive system health monitoring that would be suitable for actual aerospace applications.*
**Educational Approach Benefits:**
This structured learning methodology allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of embedded systems architecture, sophisticated error handling strategies, and professional documentation practices while maintaining complete ownership of all implementation and design decisions. The AI assistance focused exclusively on teaching fundamental concepts and guiding problem-solving approaches rather than providing ready-made solutions, ensuring that every line of code and every architectural decision represents my own technical understanding and engineering judgment.
The iterative feedback process helped me understand not just what works, but why certain approaches are preferred in professional embedded systems development, particularly for mission-critical applications where reliability and maintainability are paramount concerns.
---
## 📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for complete details.
---
*Developed as a demonstration of space telemetry systems and critical embedded system architectures. This project showcases professional software engineering practices suitable for aerospace and mission-critical applications.*