A smart weather station controller by GOcontroll automates rain, wind, and solar monitoring for advanced environmental research.

Modern weather research depends on automation, precision, and connectivity. From measuring rainfall and wind speed to dynamically aligning solar panels for maximum efficiency, intelligent control systems bring weather stations to life. GOcontroll’s modular embedded controllers form the foundation of a smart weather station controller—enabling reliable, field-ready data acquisition and real-time control for research, environmental monitoring, and renewable power management.

Traditional weather stations capture data but lack adaptive intelligence. GOcontroll’s Moduline embedded controllers—the Moduline IV, Mini I, and Display—add modular flexibility and robust processing power to transform simple sensors into an intelligent network of interacting subsystems.

A smart weather station controller can combine:

• Rain gauge with actuator for automatic emptying.

• Anemometer and wind vane for wind speed and direction.

• Light and solar irradiance sensors for solar tracking.

• Temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors for atmospheric data.

Each sensor connects through GOcontroll’s modular input/output architecture, capable of reading analog, digital, or 4–20 mA signals. Embedded processing ensures instant data interpretation even under harsh outdoor conditions.

A highlight of this system is the automated rain reservoir. Rainfall is measured in a collection tank equipped with a level sensor. Once the tank reaches a defined fill level, the Moduline controller activates a solenoid valve or actuator to empty it—completely automatically.

Using MATLAB Simulink, researchers can visually create the logic:

1. Read the rain sensor input.

2. Detect fill level threshold.

3. Trigger valve actuation to empty.

4. Log rainfall rate and total precipitation.

This setup ensures continuous, hands-free data collection—essential for long-term meteorological research or remote installations.

The Moduline controller’s input modules easily connect to anemometers and wind vanes, supporting both frequency and analog output sensors. The system can measure wind gusts, direction shifts, and average speeds at high resolution.

The optional Moduline Display allows real-time visualization of wind data, temperature, or humidity right in the field. Node-RED dashboards can also be used for on-screen data graphs or remote monitoring.

GOcontroll’s high-speed signal processing ensures even rapid wind fluctuations are accurately recorded—providing critical data for climate models, agricultural decision-making, or renewable energy studies.

Energy independence is vital for remote weather stations. GOcontroll controllers can manage a dual-axis solar tracking system, where two light sensors detect the sun’s angle and guide a small motorized mount to follow its movement.

This ensures:

• Maximum solar efficiency throughout the day.

• Stable, autonomous power for all electronics.

• Reduced battery stress and maintenance.

Using GOcontroll’s CAN and Ethernet interfaces, solar tracking integrates seamlessly with energy storage and monitoring systems, turning the weather station into a self-sufficient, renewable-powered research platform.

The GOcontroll Connected platform brings cloud integration to every environmental sensor node. Using Wi-Fi, 4G, or Ethernet, the controller uploads all sensor data—rainfall, wind, solar, and temperature—to secure databases.

With Node-RED, researchers can build real-time dashboards that show:

• Wind patterns and gust alerts.

• Rainfall accumulation and emptying cycles.

• Solar tracking angles and power yield.

This cloud-based access allows remote calibration, predictive maintenance, and firmware updates (FOTA), eliminating the need for physical access to field installations.

The Smart Weather Station Controller by GOcontroll bridges the gap between environmental research and industrial reliability. Its modular hardware, open Linux-based software, and support for visual programming make it ideal for universities, agricultural research, and government meteorology programs.

With built-in connectivity, scalable I/O, and renewable energy integration, it delivers continuous, accurate, and intelligent weather monitoring—built to withstand the toughest outdoor conditions.