A wireless pressure sensor?

[79wjd]

Could I buy (or make, and if so how) a pressure sensor that would send a signal over a wireless network and turn something on? 

[TheKDub]

What type of pressure sensor are we talking about?

[79wjd]

What type of pressure sensor are we talking about?

Something that could (ideally) sense weight on a pillow, or if not, then just a simple plate sensor would do. 

 

I'm guessing the cheapest way would be to buy some pressure sensor (do they make pressure strips?) and hook it up to a Rasberry Pi and then network it? 

[Prastupok]

Something that could (ideally) sense weight on a pillow, or if not, then just a simple plate sensor would do. 

 

You'd be better off with a trip sensor in that case. Pressure sensors work better on hard surfaces (usually)

[79wjd]

You'd be better off with a trip sensor in that case. Pressure sensors work better on hard surfaces (usually)

How would a trip sensor work, aren't they usually based off of lasers? 

 

Would something like this work? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9674

[Prastupok]

How would a trip sensor work, aren't they usually based off of lasers? 

 

No. There are different types. I've done one as a motion sensor by soldering a spring onto a base with a certain distance off the other terminal. It moves, it hits the other terminal, closes the circuit, bam, you have a trip switch.

[TheKDub]

How would a trip sensor work, aren't they usually based off of lasers? 

 

Would something like this work? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9674

 

Best way to find out is to try it!

[bob345]

pressure as in air pressure or a load sensor? If you need a load sensor, these should work. http://www.amazon.com/Silver-YZC-161B-Aluminium-Weighing-Sensor/dp/B00IHUJQUK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1424234157&sr=8-10&keywords=load+cell

 

Get those and an arduino with a wi-fi shield and you should be set.

 

Edit: now that i read your more recent post's, maybe a capacitive sensor would suit your needs better? What exactly are you trying to do if you dont mind me asking?

[Flight1sim]

Lol I don't know anything about sensors, but i wonder what you're planning to do with it?

Like turn off the lights when you land on the pillow or something? 

[79wjd]

pressure as in air pressure or a load sensor? If you need a load sensor, these should work. http://www.amazon.com/Silver-YZC-161B-Aluminium-Weighing-Sensor/dp/B00IHUJQUK/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1424234157&sr=8-10&keywords=load+cell

 

Get those and an arduino with a wi-fi shield and you should be set.

Would that be better than this: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8606? 

 

And this is what you're talking about? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11287Would there be something cheaper? 

[Prastupok]

Would that be better than this: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8606? 

 

And this is what you're talking about? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11287Would there be something cheaper?

Use case would be handy to give you what you need.

[79wjd]

Use case would be handy to give you what you need.

Someway to sense weight on a pillow and then send a signal over the network and turn on a light.

[bob345]

Would that be better than this: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8606? 

 

And this is what you're talking about? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11287Would there be something cheaper? 

now that i have read your more recent posts, i am thinking maybe a capacitive system might work better. Do you need a accurate weight or force reading or do you just need a detection system? as for the wifi, there are much cheaper options available. It just depends on the kind of range you want. http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Breakout-Onboard-Ceramic-Antenna/dp/B00H232MUE/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235031&sr=1-7&keywords=arduino+wifi

[bob345]

Someway to sense weight on a pillow and then send a signal over the network and turn on a light.

this http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

and some conductive thread may do what you want.

[79wjd]

now that i have read your more recent posts, i am thinking maybe a capacitive system might work better. Do you need a accurate weight or force reading or do you just need a detection system? as for the wifi, there are much cheaper options available. It just depends on the kind of range you want. http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Breakout-Onboard-Ceramic-Antenna/dp/B00H232MUE/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235031&sr=1-7&keywords=arduino+wifi

No, I don't need an accurate reading -- just enough to determine if someone's head is on the pillow vs. not. 

 

For range, I'm assuming you mean signal strength? It just needs to be able to connect to a wifi router that could be at most a couple rooms away (i.e. somewhere in a 600sqft apartment). 

 

But would a capacitive sensor work through a pillow? I was actually thinking about capacitive/temp sensors, but I didn't think either would work/well.

[Prastupok]

this http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

and some conductive thread may do what you want.

Knowing your use, then yeah... This.

[bob345]

No, I don't need an accurate reading -- just enough to determine if someone's head is on the pillow vs. not. 

 

For range, I'm assuming you mean signal strength? It just needs to be able to connect to a wifi router that could be at most a couple rooms away (i.e. somewhere in a 600sqft apartment). 

 

But would a capacitive sensor work through a pillow? I was actually thinking about capacitive/temp sensors, but I didn't think either would work/well.

in that case, a capacitive sensor system like the one i linked would probably be the best bet when it comes to being un-intrusive. All you would need is to get some kind of conductive material like conductive thread on the pillow and you would just have one wirer going down to an arduino or raspberry pi. 

[79wjd]

in that case, a capacitive sensor system like the one i linked would probably be the best bet when it comes to being un-intrusive. All you would need is to get some kind of conductive material like conductive thread on the pillow and you would just have one wirer going down to an arduino or raspberry pi. 

So, then, is this all I would need:

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Breakout-Onboard-Ceramic-Antenna/dp/B00H232MUE/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235031&sr=1-7&keywords=arduino+wifi

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867

 

How much thread would be needed? (would it be annoying/obviously visible?)

 

And lastly, how would I go about setting everything up? (setting up the Arduino part -- not the capacitive sensor part). 

[bob345]

actually, now that i think of it, a raspberry pi may be better for your use than a arduino and i think you can do it cheaper too. http://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-Computer/dp/B00LPESRUK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236306&sr=1-1&keywords=raspberry+pi

 

Get the raspberry pi plus a wifi dongle like this along with the capacitive components and you should be all set.

http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Mini-Wi-Fi-Adapter-PCUSBW1150/dp/B007JRC95Q/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236091&sr=1-22&keywords=raspberry+pi

[bob345]

So, then, is this all I would need:

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-Breakout-Onboard-Ceramic-Antenna/dp/B00H232MUE/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235031&sr=1-7&keywords=arduino+wifi

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867

 

How much thread would be needed? (would it be annoying/obviously visible?)

 

And lastly, how would I go about setting everything up? (setting up the Arduino part -- not the capacitive sensor part). 

This should be usefully to get the capacitive sensor working if you decide to go with the rasbbery pi over the arduino https://learn.adafruit.com/capacitive-touch-sensors-on-the-raspberry-pi/overview

[79wjd]

This should be usefully to get the capacitive sensor working if you decide to go with the rasbbery pi over the arduino https://learn.adafruit.com/capacitive-touch-sensors-on-the-raspberry-pi/overview

So I'd just need:

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867

http://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-Computer/dp/B00LPESRUK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236306&sr=1-1&keywords=raspberry+pi

http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Mini-Wi-Fi-Adapter-PCUSBW1150/dp/B007JRC95Q/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236091&sr=1-22&keywords=raspberry+pi

 

Would I need to know anything other than whats in that link you just linked? 

How much thread would be needed? (I don't want it to look stupid/uncomfortable with a metal band of wires running through the pillow). 

Also, how could I go about hooking up a light to a second Rasberry Pi (over the internet) -- i.e. when the capacitive sensor is triggered a signal gets sent over the internet to a second rasberry pi and turns on the light? 

[bob345]

So I'd just need:

http://www.amazon.com/Adafruit-8-Key-Capacitive-Touch-Sensor/dp/B00K9M6RF6/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424235139&sr=1-4&keywords=capacitive+sensor

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867

http://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-Computer/dp/B00LPESRUK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236306&sr=1-1&keywords=raspberry+pi

http://www.amazon.com/Patriot-Mini-Wi-Fi-Adapter-PCUSBW1150/dp/B007JRC95Q/ref=sr_1_22?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1424236091&sr=1-22&keywords=raspberry+pi

 

Would I need to know anything other than whats in that link you just linked? 

How much thread would be needed? (I don't want it to look stupid/uncomfortable with a metal band of wires running through the pillow). 

Also, how could I go about hooking up a light to a second Rasberry Pi (over the internet) -- i.e. when the capacitive sensor is triggered a signal gets sent over the internet to a second rasberry pi and turns on the light? 

that should be it for the wifi sensor side. For the thread, i would start with one strand across the pillow and if that is not sensitive enough run one or two more strands in parallel with the first. As for the light, i believe that can be done without another raspberry pi with one of these. If it is for a room that is. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-WeMo-Light-Switch-Enabled/dp/B00DGEGJ02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424237665&sr=8-1&keywords=Belkin+WeMo+Light+Switch  There are also wifi controlled outlets too.

[79wjd]

that should be it for the wifi sensor side. For the thread, i would start with one strand across the pillow and if that is not sensitive enough run one or two more strands in parallel with the first. As for the light, i believe that can be done without another raspberry pi with one of these. If it is for a room that is. http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-WeMo-Light-Switch-Enabled/dp/B00DGEGJ02/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424237665&sr=8-1&keywords=Belkin+WeMo+Light+Switch  There are also wifi controlled outlets too.

The capacitive sensor will trigger a light on a different network, so... 

[AMD Lover]

Something that could (ideally) sense weight on a pillow, or if not, then just a simple plate sensor would do. 

 

I'm guessing the cheapest way would be to buy some pressure sensor (do they make pressure strips?) and hook it up to a Rasberry Pi and then network it? 

"sense weight on a pillow" MURDEROUS , lol 

[bob345]

The capacitive sensor will trigger a light on a different network, so... 

are you wanting to run the sensor and light system on a independent network?