Microwave Radar Module as PIR replacement.

cimba007

@Yveaux From my oppinion the radar modules are not suited for battery usage. Their drain something like 3-5mA and are not easy to put to sleep. Remember the warm-up period of the BISS. It seems to be like 10-15seconds.

The plots are from another sketch, not the one I posted but using them is pretty straight forward.

In my sketch have a look at these parts:

  Serial << "| mw_min: ";
  int minimum = mw_s.minimum();
  p(F("%4d"),minimum);
  Serial << " ";

To use the arduino plotting all you ahve to do is send a string like this:

0,10,534,123 .. whatever .. beware that no other serial output should happen if you want to use the arduino build-in plotting. Using the streaming library ( http://arduiniana.org/libraries/streaming/ ) it all boils down to a single line:

Serial << mw_s.minimum() << "," << mw_s.maximum() << "," << mw_s.pop_stdev() << endl;

In addition to the power consumption my approach requires sampling the analog input for a whole second .. or the more the better.

This might be improved if you can prevent the FC1816 from retriggering itself. I had some serious problems as during the "inhibitor" period the analogOutput from the 2nd amplification stage was quite high often instantly retrigger the biss-output after the inhibition period ended.

One solution might be this:

Try this if you want to look down this approch:

Power the FC1816 VCC and UDP through an RC-Section (100Ohm Resistor and after that (on the side of the FC1816) an capacitory ~100-220µF)
Replace amplification resistor from 105 to eg. 154 (lowering the amplification)

To find the best value I used an variable resistor parallel to the 105-Ohms SMD-Resistor

But .. don't forget the benefits of *he microwave sensor. You can mount it straight to a door and it would detect persons in front of the door without them noticing. For this reason I try to build an "Alarm-node" that can be hidden inside the house. Later I might improve the FC1816 with some aluminium foil for shielding as suggested earlier.

I would suggest using an PIR if you need a battery powered node. Have a look at ( http://kavacky.lv/bypassing-sen-08630-pir-motion-sensors-voltage-regulator-to-work-with-3-3-v ). Some PIRs have a Regulator which might not be suited if you are running on battery using 3,3Volt.

Yveaux

@cimba007 I know, I also used serial plotting for some projects. Very handy, very unstable (at that time). Probably improved since then, as I haven't used it recently.

cimba007

All things from my previous post regarding the wiring are still needed:

Here is a stripped down example on how to use the FC1816 Microwave Sensor. You need the following library:

https://github.com/RobTillaart/Arduino/tree/master/libraries/Statistic

#include "Statistic.h"

#define MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN A1

void setup()
{
  
  Serial.begin(57600);
  Serial.print("begin");
  
  // Microwave
  pinMode(5,OUTPUT);        // VCC BISS0001
  digitalWrite(5,HIGH);
  
  pinMode(6,OUTPUT);        // Enabled
  digitalWrite(6,LOW);      // DISABLE PLEASE!
  
  pinMode(7,OUTPUT);        // GND
  digitalWrite(7,LOW);

  pinMode(A1,INPUT);        // PIR 2nd amplification stage

  pinMode(A0,OUTPUT);       // UPD microwave generator
  digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);

}

void loop()      
{     
  // Report Microwave
  static Statistic mw_s;
  static uint16_t stdev_sum = 0;
  //mw_s.clear();

  //digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
  //delay(100);
  analogRead(MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN);
  uint16_t reading;
  for(int i = 0; i < 200; i++)
  {
    reading = analogRead(MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN);
    mw_s.add(reading);
    //Serial.println(reading);
    //Serial.flush();
    //delay(50);
    //LowPower.powerDown(SLEEP_60MS, ADC_ON, BOD_OFF);  
    //delay(1);
  }
  Serial.print(mw_s.minimum());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.average());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.maximum());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.pop_stdev()); Serial.print(",");
  stdev_sum += mw_s.pop_stdev();
  Serial.print(stdev_sum); //Serial.print(",");
  Serial.println();
  stdev_sum *= 0.9;
  mw_s.clear();
}

I just had the idea to sum up the std-dev and decrease it by 10% every round. Thus the code is less prone to peaks.

0_1471429474464_upload-9c26c9f3-6ccd-4aaf-9bcc-797ad4c03be4

stdev_sum is the lower dark blue line which can now be much easier compared to a threshold.

Some measurement with my µCurrent-Gold:

Unmodified code as above, power LED removed from ProMini @ 8Mhz internal osci with LDO desoldered
4,8mA

I tried to put the FC1816 into sleep by disable the power to the Microwave generator but this doesn't work.
I modified the fuses for 8Mhz with 0ms wakeup delay for stabelizing the oscillator. No risk no phun ;-)

The most practical solution I got to replace a PIR (still nothing as close as a PIR ;-ö)

1530µA

with this code:

Note that the radar generator just can't be disable as it needs 10-15seconds to stabelize after power up

#include <LowPower.h>

#include "Statistic.h"

#define MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN A1

void setup()
{
  
  Serial.begin(57600);
  Serial.print("begin");
  
  // Microwave
  pinMode(5,OUTPUT);        // VCC BISS0001
  digitalWrite(5,HIGH);
  
  pinMode(6,OUTPUT);        // Enabled
  digitalWrite(6,LOW);      // DISABLE PLEASE!
  
  pinMode(7,OUTPUT);        // GND
  digitalWrite(7,LOW);

  pinMode(A1,INPUT);        // PIR 2nd amplification stage

  pinMode(A0,OUTPUT);       // UPD microwave generator
  digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);

}

void loop()      
{     
  // Report Microwave
  static Statistic mw_s;
  static uint16_t stdev_sum = 0;
  //mw_s.clear();

  
  //delay(100);
  analogRead(MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN);
  uint16_t reading;
  for(int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
  {
    LowPower.powerDown(SLEEP_15Ms, ADC_ON, BOD_OFF);  
    reading = analogRead(MICRO_SENSOR_ANALOG_PIN);
    mw_s.add(reading);
    //Serial.println(reading);
    //Serial.flush();
    //delay(50);
    LowPower.powerDown(SLEEP_15Ms, ADC_ON, BOD_OFF);  
    //delay(1);
  }
  Serial.print(mw_s.minimum());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.average());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.maximum());   Serial.print(",");
  Serial.print(mw_s.pop_stdev()); Serial.print(",");
  stdev_sum += mw_s.pop_stdev();
  Serial.print(stdev_sum); //Serial.print(",");
  Serial.println();
  Serial.flush();
  stdev_sum *= 0.9;
  mw_s.clear();
  
}

Yveaux

@cimba007 Thanks for the update :+1: Very interesting numbers!
The 'sleep' current of 1.5mA rules out the microwave module as battery powered PIR replacement for me...
As a mains powered sensor they're still very interesting, though!

cimba007

After a few more days of testing I noticed these ugly "PEAKS" from my FC1816 readings. I added lots of capacitors and RC and LC sections but still .. nasty little peaks (left side in the beginning)

0_1471879150498_upload-a9d03c1d-941a-4179-9306-7fb6eb708a7b

In my previous post replace this line:

stdev_sum += mw_s.pop_stdev();

with this:

  // Ignore the first 3 peaks within short succession
  // Real movement should mean there are more peaks/activity over a long time
  static uint8_t peakcount = 0;
  if(mw_s.pop_stdev() > 30 && peakcount < 3)
  {
    peakcount++;
  }
  else
  {
    stdev_sum += mw_s.pop_stdev();
    stdev_sum *= 0.92; //
    if (stdev_sum >= 7)
      stdev_sum -= 7; // Default background noise
    if (stdev_sum > 512)
      stdev_sum = 512;    

    if(peakcount > 0)
      peakcount--;
  }

With this code the first 3 peaks are essentially removed .. if there is really some movement it should last for a few seconds and would still be detected.

I have invested like 10-20hours into testing and debugging the FC1816 and I can say .. this thing is .. peculiar ..

I hate it cause of the spikes, the amplification which has to be manually altered with a pot .. but at the same time I love it ..

I can detect my foot beckoning 2-3meters apart in my bed :D

An example of the code snipped in action:

0_1471879619120_upload-a3996be3-43b2-417d-ab69-e2545d288fd3

Here you can see the big spikes in the beginning completely ignored (1)

0_1471879713596_upload-3031e15c-37cb-4799-8b4a-ea6c3193f6bf

Yveaux

@cimba007 awesome to read about all the research and debugging you did on this topic!
Did you consider pouring the code into a library, so it can be reused and updated easily?

cimba007

Currently I don't plan to make a library .. a library implies that the sensor is very easy to use .. plug in + import library.

The FC1816 is not such a sensor.

Needs Voltage-Supply filter (RC Section)
Need separate cable to grab the signal at the 2nd amplification stage
Need potentiometer to lower the amplification
Is very prone to random noise (in fact even entering RF24 or ATMEGA328 low power mode might increase noise floor a lot)

Using a "simple to use" library and not getting the expected result of an "easy"-sensor would be very disappointing. For now I would say this is an advanced sensor with some pitfalls.

I update this thread with my findings to hopefully make everybodys life a bit easyer if you want to tinker with the FC1816 although you now know it is a little beast ;-)

If you need any help just ask here and I will support you the best I can.

gohan

Are there any new updates on these sensors? I noticed there are some "new" one that have 2 potentiometers like the standard PIR sensors.

gohan

It's a review of some radar sensors if anyone is interested.

https://youtu.be/9WiJJgIi3W0

pandeyg

@gohan Can you help how to bypass this sensor without changing of sensor ....

gohan

I did not get what you meant

alowhum

Does anyone have a complete MySensors sketch for these that they would be willing to share?

I tried to create a wildlife sensor with it a while ago.. but the signal seemed to always be high.

gohan

It depends a lot on the sensor type so minor changes need to be made on sketch to make it handle the inverse logic.

berkseo

@alowhum

I when the tested here is such:

https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/5-8GHZ-Microwave-Radar-Sensor-Module-Smart-Sensoring-Switch-6-9M-Home-Control-New-Electric-Unit/32752738026.html?spm=a2g0v.search0204.3.182.51813dffPLeG2R&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_5013111_10151_10065_10344_10068_10342_10343_316_10340_10341_10696_10084_10083_10618_10307_5723511_10301_10059_5013411_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620_5013311_5013211,searchweb201603_2,ppcSwitch_3_ppcChannel&algo_expid=6975e011-d892-4cfb-9b54-88979e999308-25&algo_pvid=6975e011-d892-4cfb-9b54-88979e999308&transAbTest=ae803_2&priceBeautifyAB=0

They work great on an almost standard PIR MOTION sketch

..By the way why no one makes these motion sensors MW for MySensors on openhardware, it seems there is nothing complicated?

berkseo

@alowhum
Now I remembered that I once shot a video about this sensor. In the description below the video there are links to sketches that work with such sensors. But for this video I did not do subtitles in English, in sketches comments also seem to be in Russian. But I think it won't be a problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0sxeT0VsVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdrU0byfbvI

Microwave Radar Module as PIR replacement.

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