Monitoramento de hidrômetro utilizando tecnologia LoRa para comunicação

Abstract

In recent years, all types of devices have been connected to some kind of data network, seeking to integrate and interact with broader and more complex systems, seeking to offer gains in intelligence and productivity. There are, however, device sthat are still unable to be integrated due to their constructive characteristics. One of these devices is the hydrometer, object of the present work. Dueto its fully mechanical characteristics, the water meter's reading is still obtained manually.Sanitation companies across the country consume millions of reais each month in collecting consumption and feeding their billing systems. The use of a mechanism for automating this process means a great advance in the sector, as it combines economy and preservation of water resources through the early diagnosis of variations in consumption. This work was dedicated to presenting a prototype for automating this process, using a microcontroller and a camera to obtain periodic images of the water meter. The prototype, through the application of computer techniques of image treatment, had the ability to determine and send thewater meter consumption to a distant data collection point, representing a data collection system of a sanitation company, through a long-range, low-power wireless communication network with LoRa (Long Range) technology. Although it was possible to read and send data from the hydrometer, it was concluded that, due to the existence of different models of hydrometers and the fact that the counters are of therotational type, which generates images of transition between one number and another, it will be necessary to include more robust computational mechanisms to ensure amore assertive reading, but it is safe to say that the product achieved in this work canserve as a basis for future developments.