Pcb weather radar
This is what the final electronics PCB floor plan looks like (with cover off):
![pcb weather radar pcb weather radar](https://www.scirp.org/html/paperimages/30583_1.jpg)
I cut a hole in the cover so that I can connect a 12V/5V power cord to the power connector. I connect a standard 5V/12V power connector to the power block, then route the power signals from the block to the breadboard and the LED header. The system requires 5V for the level shifters and display driver, and 12V for the LEDs. Lastly, I allow room on the PCB for a power block.
PCB WEATHER RADAR DRIVER
I plan to have the display driver header next to the breadboard at the edge of the PCB, so that I can keep my wire lengths short, and also so that I can cut a hole in the cover and plug in a cable to the connector.į. Ideally, if I had more time, I would solder the components and wires directly to the PCB board instead of using a breadboard, but for my purposes it’s good enough.Į. There needs to be enough space around it that I can jumper wires to it from the Raspberry Pi and output signals to a header for driving the LEDs. Next I need to find room for the bread board that contains the discrete electronics components to drive the display LEDs. To provide access for these ports, holes are cut in the enclosure which match the port locations on the Raspberry Pi.ĭ. The ports I need to access are the USB port (OPS241-A module speed data), Ethernet port (PC interface for developing/debugging Python code), HDMI port (display Raspberry Pi window and debug/development), and the micro USB port (5V power for Raspberry Pi).Ĭ.
![pcb weather radar pcb weather radar](https://slidetodoc.com/presentation_image_h2/79349ee1caa5e10c34ea4d632c4516b3/image-2.jpg)
I also need to make sure that I will be able to easily access several of its ports once mounted. The PCB board needs to allow plenty of room for the Raspberry Pi, which takes up most of the area. The second cable is drives the 7-Segment display.ī. One cable is the USB cable that powers the OPS241-A module and receives the measured speed data. In this manner, only two cables need to run from the back of the board to the front. This keeps the board out of sight and safe from the elements. I want to place all electrical components other than the radar sensor and LED displays onto a single enclosed electronics PCB board mounted to the backside of the display board. This is then converted to be displayed on the large LED 7-segment display.Ī. The Raspberry Pi controls the OPS241-A radar sensor and takes in the reported speed information. The assumption here is that you already have a Raspberry Pi with the OS on it and have some Python coding experience. I started with the main control hardware which is the Raspberry Pi. By adding a sign that reads “Speed Checked by RADAR” above the display, I now have my very own radar speed sign that grabs drivers’ attention and slows them down! All this for less than $500! My display board can be attached on a pole at the side of the road. With a little bit of python coding and some large low-cost LEDs mounted to a board, I can display the speed. I use a low-cost Raspberry Pi (or Arduino, or anything else that has a USB port) to receive the data. The module takes all the speed measurements, handles all the signal processing, and then simply outputs the raw speed data over its USB port. The range for a large object such as a car is 50ft to 100ft (15m to 30m). The electronics are self-contained and fully-integrated, so there are no power tubes, bulky electronics, or the need for a lot of power. The PCB module form factor is very small at only 2.1 x 2.3 x 0.5 inches, and weighs only 11g. I discovered OmniPreSense which offers a low-cost short-range radar sensor module ideal for my application. Instead I decided to build a low-cost solution myself, and save some money while having some fun. I also don’t want to go through the long process of the city installing a sign, since I heard it can cost them upwards of $5,000-10,000. I looked online into buying a radar speed sign, but I found that most signs cost over $1,000, which is pretty expensive.
PCB WEATHER RADAR INSTALL
I thought it would be much safer if I could install a radar speed sign of my own that displays the speed so I can get drivers to slow down.
![pcb weather radar pcb weather radar](https://gray-wjhg-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/yc48neSR2VDYKIC_3-V5X7p-ZV4=/1200x800/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2QSCORJZ7ZA7DATVPQ5BHYBTCE.png)
Have you ever wanted to build your own low-cost radar speed sign? I live on a street where cars drive too fast, and I worry about the safety of my kids.