Real-Time Lightning Detection and Cloud Logging System
Jabalpur Engineering College / ISRO
Project Overview
This project details the design, development, and implementation of an indigenous, real time lightning detection and cloud logging system. Driven by the need for a cost effective alternative to expensive, imported commercial systems (such as Boltek sensors), this project utilizes the AS3935 Franklin Lightning Sensor interfaced with an STM32 Nucleo-F302R8 microcontroller. The embedded system performs continuous atmospheric monitoring, categorizes events, calculates relative strike energy, and assigns strength levels. Data is transmitted via UART to a host machine, where a custom Python application logs all atmospheric events to a local SQLite database and pushes confirmed lightning strikes to a Google Sheets cloud platform. The resulting prototype serves as a foundational node for a scalable, low cost, India made lightning detection network.
Project Info
Status
CompletedDomains
Institution
Jabalpur Engineering College / ISRO
Technology Stack
Key Highlights
Custom ferrite rod antenna fabricated in house and tuned to precisely 500 kHz for optimal RF signal capture
Passive Twin-T RC notch filter designed to suppress localized RF interference and reduce false positives
Polling based firmware architecture engineered to overcome non functional IRQ pin hardware defect
Dual tier data logging: local SQLite database and real time Google Sheets cloud push
Total build cost a fraction of imported commercial alternatives, proving indigenous viability
Detected and logged significant intracloud (IC) and Cloud to Ground lightning activity during testing
Future Scope
Transition Python logging application to Raspberry Pi 3 A+ for a fully standalone edge node
NavIC integration for precise GPS coordinates and time synchronization
Deploy multiple sensor nodes to create a decentralized Time of Arrival (TOA) based national lightning location network