This is my official post for RiderCool - my latest completed project built over the summer. It's a project inspired by the many projects that Adafruit Industries sells, and my burning desire to build and create things to make everyday life a little better. I've split my time 50/50 between RiderCool and RiderScan, my RFID barn management project. I was able to make faster progress with RiderCool and had hoped to have it ready in time for to use this summer, but at least I'll get to try it out and make a good video to show on Labor Day weekend! (no LEDs are getting wet yet).
RiderCool has many purposes:
1. Provide a technology platform for managing the pool with native XBee Network Protocol (XNP) support for sending data back for logging and to receive commands from a control router.
2. To measure how full our pool is, and report that data back to my computer using my XBee Network Protocol (XNP) for logging and tracking (http://sojournstudio.org/xnp/)
3. To activate a solenoid/valve that is connected to a garden hose, which will fill the pool with water.
4. To monitor, track and report-back the flow-rate of water going into the pool using an Adafruit flow-meter sensor (https://www.adafruit.com/products/828).
5. To monitor the temperature of the pool water, the ambient air, as well as ther CPU temp (https://www.adafruit.com/products/339), (https://www.adafruit.com/products/372)
6. To monitor a backup water-level sensor to ensure that the pool never over-flows.
7. To drive/control 4 RGB LED Strip controllers by Jeremy Saglimbeni; I have 40 meters of LED RGB Strip ringing-the pool. (http://thecustomgeek.com/2012/03/23/rgb ... r-ver-2-2/)
8. To displays the output of these sensors, LED status, etc on an Adafruit 1.8' TFT display for swimmers in the pool to see. (https://www.adafruit.com/products/358)
9. To provide button control resetting the system and controlling the RGB LED Strips using LED water-proof lights by Adafruit. (https://www.adafruit.com/products/482)
10. To teach me 3D printing - as this is my first 3D printing project with my MakerBot Replicator! (http://store.makerbot.com/replicator.html).
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RiderCool was only possible because of the excellent products, tutorials and service that +Limor Fried and her company Adafruit Industries provides to its customers, and I have become a dedicated fan over the 1.5 years I've been making. With this project I got to learn 3D printing and got some real use out of my years in Blender training. I also got to combine different products in a completely water-proof system. Now that it's done, of course, the summer is over and its nearly time to close the pool down. But building this helped me through alot of dark days this summer.
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There are 4 modules (Otter Boxes) in the RiderCool system, each of which is documented below. I can only add 3 images to a post, so I'll reply to the post and add more content/images so I can show the creation pics as well as the final product when shown in action (Coming Soon!). Two of the key shots that show the system are below, first a pic of the RiderCool Base with the solenoid/valve and Adafruit flow sensor installed (which will fill the pool with water):
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And here a shot of the RiderCool system from in front, as it will look from the pool:
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(continued...)

