Electronics

Wimoto's tiny sensors to ensmartify the home

Wimoto's tiny sensors to ensmartify the home
Wimoto's Growmote ... obviously
Wimoto's Growmote ... obviously
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Wimoto's Growmote ... obviously
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Wimoto's Growmote ... obviously
How Wimito's Motes handle data
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How Wimito's Motes handle data
A Mote prototype PCB
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A Mote prototype PCB
Suggested uses of Wimoto Motes
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Suggested uses of Wimoto Motes
A possible use of the Climote
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A possible use of the Climote
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Wimoto has turned to crowdfunfing website Indiegogo to finance the first run of its range of small sensors designed to work remotely with mobile devices and computers. Sensors which monitor weather, soil conditions (for the green fingered) and water levels are available for under US$40 each, and are due to hit doormats this September.

Collectively known as Motes, Wimoto's range of sensors is designed to report data to iOS and Android devices and computers installed with either OS X or Linux (with the Raspberry Pi singled out with a special mention.) They are very small, a mere 30 x 30 x 8 mm (1.2 x 1.2 x 0.3 in) in size.

Among the sensors on offer are a Climote, which measures temperature, humidity and light; a Growmote, which tracks soil temperature and moisture; and a Thermote non-contact thermometer (which Wimoto suggests could be used to track the temperature of, say, a swimming pool). There's also a Watermote which Wimoto claims can monitor water levels, and a Securimote with a built in infrared motion detector.

Wimoto says that each sensor will work for roughly a year without need of a battery change. Though designed to talk to a computer or mobile device, with which data can be uploaded to a cloud service for "analysis" with a free app, Wimoto is also selling a $99 bridge which can automate the process. Sensors use Bluetooth SMART, and so should be able to communicate with devices up to a range of 30 m (100 ft). Though not designed to be used under water, Wimoto claims its Motes are suitable for outdoors.

With less than 3 days on the clock, the Wimoto campaign is a mere sniff away from its $100,000 stretch goal which would make the interval and duration of logging configurable.

You can find out more information about the Motes, including all manner of suggested uses, at the Indiegogo campaign page and the following video.

Source: Indiegogo via Ubergizmo

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1 comment
1 comment
The Skud
Seems designed for the 'yuppie' set with a few plants on a patio or apartment balcony. Any larger application would cost a fortune, even without the special link device. If they can get down to $5-$10 per item with perhaps 1 computer linked wirelessly to each device, perhaps then talking to one of those 'weather' stations in the house, they should sell a lot more of them.