Buoy!

Plan

This buoy will be built with:

• Raspberry Pi Pico 2x
• 18650 3200 mAh batteries
• NEO-6M GPS Module
• DS18B20 Temperature Sensor
• 4.33” x 2.36” 5V 200mA Solar Panels x4
• Waveshare SX1262 LoRa Node Module x2
• Waveshare DS3231 RTC
• Pico UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
• DC5521 Male cable 
• Solar Panel Charging Module TP4056
• Micro USB to USB-C
• 1N5819 Schottky Diodes
• MicroSD Card Module
• MicroSd Card x2

Function:

The buoy will be anchored right next to a marina where every hour, it will colect the water temperature (among other parameters), record the data to a local SD card, and send the data over LoRa to the reveiver pico at the marina to send the data over WiFI to a API on my homelab server. The website to predict wind speed will pull the latest weather points from weather stations nearby as well as these buoy points to predict the wind speed based on the approach choosen (which model)

Buoy Hardware Plan

• Every hour, the Pico is reset by the real-time clock module (RTC) to restart the program.
• Upon restart, the program will set the next wake-up alarm and note the data collection number.
• Water temperature, GPS data, buoy temperature, sequence, (data collection number), and battery voltage will be collected.
• The data is then saved to an onboard MicroSD card before being sent by LoRa radio at 915 MHz (North America Standard)
• The buoy will be put in a plastic mooring buoy.
• All electronics will be in an IP68 (or greater) rated box with epoxied holes for wires inside of the buoy.
• The top of the buoy will be sliced at the seam with a 3D printed replacement (Brightly colored) that is flat and has slots on the inside for the solar panels to attach. 
• A LoRa antenna will come out the top.
• It is epoxied close with a designed opening latch using gaskets on the top to provide access in case of emergency.
• Water Temperature Probe will come out of a drilled hole in the bottom of the buoy and be epoxied close.
• Local Township Dive Team Logo will be put on the buoy to deter anyone from interacting with it.

Code status:

Most of the buoy and receiver code is coded, however it is untested as parts haven’t arrived yet.

Parts? (WHEN):

I am still waiting on parts ;-;
Once I receive them I will be able to assemble the parts and start testing my code.
Then, I will 3D design a top case to go on top of the buoy