Internet of Things
reality of raindrop shapes, and then applies this knowledge to the design and shipping inspection processes. We would like to express our gratitude to OMRON for demonstrating the ability to take action through various experiments and other means to achieve a high level of quality.”
Of course, results obtained under laboratory conditions are no substitute for the real- world environment. For instance, when a prototype sensor was installed on the rooftop of a building or in other high-rise locations, Omron’s engineers observed an unexpected phenomenon whereby the number of raindrop detections jumped due to raindrops adhering to the sensor and staying there when it rained, and also due to the shaking of the raindrops caused by the wind. In order to prevent this phenomenon, engineers obtained weather knowledge and feedback from Weathernews and reviewed the product’s structure in terms of software and hardware, resulting in a product structure preventing raindrops from staying on the sensor.
The wind direction and velocity sensors presented additional challenges. The sensor needed to be able to detect wind velocity of up to 50 m/s. 50 m/s is an extremely strong wind, equivalent to 180 km/h, and capable of
plug-and-play, requiring only a power supply to function. Installation and maintenance are much simpler compared to more complex weather sensor systems and requires little in the way of specialist training.
The sensor is rated IPx3 and optimised for outdoor installation. It contains no moving parts, which reduces the risk of malfunction and breakage, and has minimal cleaning and maintenance requirements. Currently, only wired communication via RS232 is available for Europe, while wireless methods like LTE-M and LoRa are being considered for future implementation. This allows the sensor to connect seamlessly with various devices and systems, with expanded communication options on the roadmap.
downing trees and overturning heavy vehicles. Since the sensor was developed for use in environments such as construction sites where strong winds at altitude can put equipment at risk, it was necessary to fi nd a solution. Omron designed and built a wind tunnel machine specifi cally to test the sensor, however this could not create truly representative conditions simulating 50 m/s wind. Instead, the company used a more powerful wind tunnel at an external site, which allowed engineers to make the necessary calibrations
to ensure that the sensor would perform. By the end of the rapid 15-month development period, Omron had developed a composite sensor capable of acquiring multiple streams of weather data simultaneously from a single unit. The sensor in effect combines seven separate sensors into one, providing accurate real-time measurement of wind direction, wind velocity, rainfall, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and light levels – all within a single compact unit. Crucially, the sensor is
The weather sensor holds great potential as a cost-effective, fl exible, and highly accurate solution for real-time weather monitoring, particularly in remote areas and sites where reliable data is diffi cult to obtain. Its capabilities enable higher effi ciency in data collection and analysis, helping to reduce the risks associated with natural disasters by providing more effective early warnings at a local level.
https://components.omron.com/eu-en
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Components in Electronics
March 2025 43
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