Wind Fan

Description

This project reads data from Yahoo's rss weather feed in xml format.  Processing receives the xml data (for a zip code that can be specified in the program) and identifies the current speed of the wind at the specified location.  Processing then writes a value to the serial port depending on the wind speed.  Arduino receives the serial input and accordingly writes a value to the connected DC motor, which has a fan attached to it.  So, in effect, the speed of the fan reflects the actual speed of the wind a a specified location.

Materials

Arduino board, DC motor, battery pack,

Processing Code

/* This program reads in xml data from yahoo's rss weather feed.
 * The zip code for the location to use can be entered in the "zip" string field.
 * The program processes the xml data and locates the wind speed at the specfied location.
 * The program then prints out the current wind speed.
 * Depending on the wind speed, a certain value is written to the serial port.
 *
 * Written by Jon Breitbart with help from the code for project at:
 * http://www.doryexmachina.com/projects/arboroptics/
 */

import processing.xml.*;
import processing.serial.*;

XMLElement xml;

int wind = 0;
String zip = "94709";
String portname = "COM4"; // or "COM5"
Serial myPort;

void setup() {
  myPort = new Serial(this, portname, 9600);
  size(200, 200);
  xml = new XMLElement(this, "http://xml.weather.yahoo.com/forecastrss?p=" + zip);
  String string = xml.toString();
  String name = xml.getName();
  XMLElement channel = xml.getChild(0);
  int numSites = channel.getChildCount();
 
  XMLElement windspeed = channel.getChild(8);
  String speed = windspeed.getStringAttribute("speed");
  wind = int (speed);
  println("Wind = " + wind + " mph");
}
void draw(){
  if (wind < 1){
    myPort.write('1');
  }
  if (wind >= 1 && wind < 3){
    myPort.write('2');
  }
  if (wind >= 3 && wind < 5){
    myPort.write('3');
  }
  if (wind >=5 && wind < 10){
    myPort.write('4');
  }
  if (wind >=10 && wind < 20){
    myPort.write('5');
  }
  if (wind >=20 && wind < 30){
    myPort.write('6');
  }
  if (wind >=30 && wind < 50){
    myPort.write('7');
  }
  if (wind >=50){
    myPort.write('8');
  }
}

Arduino Code

/*
 * modified version of AnalogInput
 * by DojoDave <http://www.0j0.org>
 * http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/AnalogInput
 * Modified again by dave and then modified by Jon Breitbart
 *
 * This program reads input from the serial port (from Processing).
 * It then writes a value to a motor (which has a fan attached) depending on serial input.
 *
 * By Jon Breitbart with help from the code for project at:
 * http://www.doryexmachina.com/projects/arboroptics/
 */

int motorPin = 9; // select the pin for the Motor
int val = 0;      // variable to store the value coming from the serial port
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
  val = Serial.read();    // read the value from the serial port
  if (val == '1'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 0); // write a value to the motor
  }
  if (val == '2'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 15);
  }
  if (val == '3'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 30);
  }
  if (val == '4'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 45);
  }
  if (val == '5'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 70);
  }
  if (val == '6'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 110);
  }
  if (val == '7'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 170);
  }
  if (val == '8'){
    analogWrite(motorPin, 240);
  }
 
}

Pictures/Video

forthcoming