I understand that I may need to use non-Aqara products or a mix of both Aqara and non-Aqara to accomplish this, but all ideas are welcome. If I can accomplish this wish aqara products, that would be great.
I have two ~55g bins for trash and recycling and as a mobility impaired, disabled person, I cannot move these bin across the 30-40 feet (~9-12m) of grass and down the (small) hill Sunday and up BY 8PM (per HOA- I HATE HOA). I don’t mind a NodeMCU relay on the post (I have several NodeMCU and Wemos D1 Mini that I could throw Tasmota on). The project box next to where the bins live 6 days a week can be AAx2, AAx3, AAx4 powered or Li-ion w/solar (‘eternal’ power).
I want Trash & Recycling bins to either report their approximate distance (within 10-15ft [~3-4.5 meters] by measuring radio strength- unless a better method is proposed).
A system where the bin simply stop reporting when put out isn’t acceptable. The bins only need to transmit to the hub (6 days a week, they are within 6-10 ft [generally 1-8ft], on the other side of the 30-40ft).
I thought about a simple tilt sensor, but it seemed inadequate as it would only show tilt, but it would be hard to program location of the bins based on that.
Any sensor/transmitter on the bins should be cheap (what if I have to replace one because they remove the entire bin, not just the contents). I’m thinking AA powered.
I could be overthinking this or going off in the wrong direction.
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@drwhosteve89 Thank you for sharing your creative and thoughtful approach to managing your trash and recycling bins! It’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into finding a practical solution given your specific needs.
While the reference information doesn’t directly address your specific scenario with trash and recycling bins, let’s explore some possibilities with Aqara products and your existing setup:
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Motion Sensors: Aqara’s Motion Sensors, like the Motion Sensor P2, could potentially be repurposed to detect movement or placement changes of your bins. These sensors typically use PIR technology and could be adapted to trigger alerts or actions when the bins are moved.
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Door and Window Sensors: Although traditionally used for detecting the opening and closing of doors and windows, you could explore using the Aqara Door and Window Sensor to detect when a bin is removed from its usual spot.
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Distance Measurement: Your idea of using radio strength for distance measurement is innovative. While Aqara products do not natively support this function, integrating a NodeMCU or Wemos D1 Mini with Tasmota, as you suggested, could offer a potential solution. These devices can be configured for various sensor integrations, potentially helping in measuring proximity through signal strength.
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Battery and Power Options: Most Aqara sensors are battery-powered, which aligns well with your requirement for AA battery compatibility. For more sustainable power, consider using solar-powered solutions with your NodeMCU setup.
It’s great to hear that you’re open to using a mix of solutions. Leveraging your NodeMCU and Wemos D1 Mini devices with custom firmware like Tasmota indeed provides flexibility and could complement Aqara products for a homemade smart solution.
Feel free to share more about your progress or any further thoughts. The community here is always eager to collaborate and support innovative ideas like yours!