Component: BBC Weather Observation (Comms: IoT/Cloud)

Author	MatrixTSL
Version	1.0
Category	Comms: IoT/Cloud

BBC Weather Observation component

Easily allows you to collect observed weather metrics for your area using the BBC Weather data service. Supports temperature and humidty for your selected area. Also available are Wind Direction, Wind Speed and Air Pressure but please note these are not always available depending on your selected area.

Detailed description

No detailed description exists yet for this component

Examples

Here is a basic example to read the observation data and report the information on a graphical display.

BBCWeatherDemo

The location can be set by adjusting the BBC Weather location property, see the component property tooltips for more information on how to do this.

On an embedded device you would need a TCP/IP component to allow the communications to the BBC server. This then links to the Network Comms component.

Downloadable macro reference

	GetWindDirection
Reads the reported wind direction as a string. Please note this data may not be available for your selected location.
- STRING	Return

	RequestData
Requests data about your selected location from the BBC weather service. Returns true if the request was successful. Must be called before trying to call any of the GetXXX macros.
[[File:]] -	Return

	GetHumidity
Reads the reported humidity in Relative Humdity.
- BYTE	Return

	GetTemperature
Reads the reported temperature in the selected scale.
[[File:]] -	Scale
0 = Celcius, 1 = Farenheit
[[File:]] -	Return

	GetWindSpeed
Reads the reported wind speed in MPH. Please note this data may not be available for your selected location.
- BYTE	Return

	SetLocationCode
Allows the location code to be altered from the default location code set in the component properties. After changing the location the RequestData macro must be called to refresh the forecast variables.
- STRING	NewLocation
New location string, see Location property tooltip for more info.
- VOID	Return

	GetPressure
Reads the reported air pressure in milli bar (mb). Please note this data may not be available for your selected location.
- UINT	Return

	GetLocationName
Reads the reported location name as a string.
- STRING	Return

	Initialise
Sets up the component ready to collect weather data.
- VOID	Return

	SetLocationCode
Allows the location code to be altered from the default location code set in the component properties. After changing the location the RequestData macro must be called to refresh the forecast variables.
- STRING	NewLocation
New location string, see Location property tooltip for more info.
- VOID	Return

	GetSunrise
Reads the forecast sunrise time as a string for the selected day.
- STRING	Return

	GetPressure
Reads the forecast air pressure in milli bar (mb) for the selected day.
- UINT	Return

	SetForecastDay
Chooses which day of the three day forecast to look at.
- BYTE	Day
0 = Today, 1 = Tomorrow, 2 = Day After Tomorrow
- VOID	Return

	GetUVRisk
Reads the forecast UV Risk for the selected day.
- BYTE	Return

	GetLocationName
Reads the reported location name as a string.
- STRING	Return

	Initialise
Sets up the component ready to collect weather data.
- VOID	Return

	Initialise
Sets up the GSM module. Returns 0 for OK, 255 for no reply and 254 for command fail.
- BYTE	Return

	Left
Rotates the robot left - waits for the angle to be traversed before returning
- UINT	Angle
Angle to turn in degrees
- VOID	Return

	ReadIR
Reads an IR sensor 0=Left, 1=FrontLeft, 2=Front, 3=FrontRight, 4=Right, 5=RearRight, 6=Rear, 7=RearLeft
- BYTE	index
0=Left, 1=FrontLeft, 2=Front, 3=FrontRight, 4=Right, 5=RearRight, 6=Rear, 7=RearLeft
- UINT	Return

	LCDDrawPixel
Allows a single pixel on the LCD to be set or cleared
- BYTE	X
X Pixel 0-127
- BYTE	Y
Y Pixel 0-31
- BYTE	State
0=White (Off), 1=Black (On)
- VOID	Return

	ServoSetPosition
Allows one of the servo positions to be assigned
- BYTE	Channel
Range 0-3
- BYTE	Position
Range 0-255
- VOID	Return

	CardBitmap
Displays a monochrome bitmap read from the card on the LCD
- BYTE	X
Range 0-127
- BYTE	Y
Range 0-31
- STRING	Filename
- BYTE	Return

	CardRecordMic
Records an audio stream on the card from the microphone
- BYTE	BitDepth
0=8-bit, 1=16-bit
- BYTE	SampleRate
Sample Rate 0=8KHz, 1=16KHz
- UINT	RecordTime
Time to record for in seconds, Range 0-65535
- STRING	Filename
- BYTE	Return

	CardOpen
Attempts to open an existing file on the SD card 255=Error, 1=File not found, 0=Open OK
- STRING	Filename
- BYTE	Return

	Forwards
Drives the robot forwards - waits for the distance to be traversed before returning
- UINT	Distance
Distance in mm
- VOID	Return

	ReadBearing
Reads the compass bearing based on the degrees clockwise from magnetic north.
[[File:]] -	Return

	GetConsoleHandle
Gets the handle to the console allowing data displaying on the panel etc.
[[File:]] -	Return

	LCDDrawLine
Allows a single pixel width line to be drawn on the LCD
- BYTE	X1
X Pixel 0-127
- BYTE	Y1
Y Pixel 0-31
- BYTE	X2
X Pixel 0-127
- BYTE	Y2
Y Pixel 0-31
- VOID	Return

	ServoAutoMoveToPosition
Allows one of the servo positions to move gradually to a new position
- BYTE	Channel
Range 0-3
- BYTE	Position
Range 0-255
- VOID	Return

	ReadAllValue
Reads a single value stored from the read all command Index dictates which sensor value to read
- BYTE	Index
0=SW, 1-8=IR, 9-10=Line, 11=Light, 12=Mic, 13-15=Accel
- UINT	Return

	LCDBacklight
Allows the LCD backlight brighntess to be adjusted
- BYTE	Intensity
Range 0-100, 0=Off, 1=Min Brightness, 100=Max Brightness
- VOID	Return

	LCDDrawRect
Allows a rectangle to be drawn on the LCD
- BYTE	X1
X Pixel 0-127
- BYTE	Y1
Y Pixel 0-31
- BYTE	X2
X Pixel 0-127
- BYTE	Y2
Y Pixel 0-31
- VOID	Return

	ReadLine
Reads one of the IR line sensors 0-1 0=Left, 1=Right
- BYTE	index
0=Left, 1=Right
- UINT	Return

	ServoDisable
Allows one of the servo outputs 0-3 to be disabled
- BYTE	Channel
Range 0-3
- VOID	Return

	ServoEnable
Allows one of the servo outputs 0-3 to be enabled
- BYTE	Channel
Range 0-3
- VOID	Return

	CardReadByte
Reads a byte from the currently open file. Starts at the beginning of the file and auto increments to the end
- BYTE	Return

	CardErase
Attempts to delete an existing file on the SD card 255=Error, 1=File not found, 0=Delete OK
- STRING	Filename
- BYTE	Return

	CardWriteByte
Appends a byte to the end of the currently open file
- BYTE	Data
- VOID	Return

	EncoderRead
Reads one of the motor encoder counters. Approx 0.328296mm of travel per encoder unit.
- BYTE	index
0=Left, 1=Right
- UINT	Return

	SetMotors
Sets the motor speeds without feedback Range -100 to 100
[[File:]] -	Left
Range -100 to 100
[[File:]] -	Right
Range -100 to 100
- VOID	Return

	Backwards
Drives the robot backwards - waits for the distance to be traversed before returning
- UINT	Distance
Distance in mm
- VOID	Return

	EncoderReset
Resets the motor encoder counters
- VOID	Return

	LCDVerbose
Allows the LCD to automatically report the API commands as they get processed. Default - verbose on
- BYTE	State
0=Off 1=On
- VOID	Return

	SetProp
Allows the COM port property to be set from a parent component.
- STRING	PropName
- ULONG	PropVal
- VOID	Return

	CardInit
Attempts to startup the SD card 255=No Card, 254=Init Fail, 0=Init OK
- BYTE	Return

	GetProp
Allows the property filter for the COM port list to be copied to a parent component.
- STRING	PropName
- STRING	Return

	LCDClear
Clears the LCD
- VOID	Return

Property reference

	Properties
	Network Comms Component
Network Communications component to use as the bridge to the TCP/IP network.
	BBC IP Address
IP Address linked to the following URL: weather-broker-cdn.api.bbci.co.uk
	Location Code
BBC code for your area. In a web browser go to www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ Then type in your city in the search bar and your code will be shown at the end of the URL. For example Manchester in the UK = 2643123 In the UK you can also use the first half of your post code, e.g. HX1
	Receive Timeout
Maximum time to wait for valid incoming data.
	Connections
	Simulations