RF Load Cell Transmitter & Receiver Design - 03/09/2025 16:03 EDT

Job ID: 39759062

Budget: $3,000 – $5,000 AUD

Summary
Project Title:Design of Industrial RF Load Cell Transmitter & Receiver System (Zigbee/2.4 GHz)

Project Overview:
We are developing a wireless load measurement system that connects multiple load cells to a single receiver. The goal of this project is to design both the RF transmitter (with strain signal input) and receiver (with display & calibration capabilities), including the software, firmware, and programming procedures. The mechanical casing for the devices will be designed separately by us, but you may optionally provide casing suggestions if cost-effective.

Project Goals

Design an RF transmitter that connects to a strain gauge / load cell and transmits signals reliably over long-range (up to 800m line-of-sight) using the 2.4 GHz Zigbee protocol.

Design a receiver capable of:

Receiving data from multiple transmitters simultaneously.

Displaying real-time weight/load values on a screen.

Calibrating each connected load cell individually.

Power-saving modes (sleep, auto-off, low battery indicators).

Provide complete firmware/software including programming procedure, libraries, and setup instructions.

Use industrial-grade microcontrollers (such as STM32, the industrial version, or similar) for enhanced robustness.

Technical Requirements
Transmitter

Accept strain gauge/load cell input (full-bridge/half-bridge configuration).

Support high-precision ADC for accurate measurement.

2.4 GHz RF module (Zigbee preferred) with long-range communication.

Battery-operated (Li-ion or AA/AAA), with low-power sleep modes.

Optional: small status LEDs or pairing button.

Receiver

Support multiple transmitters simultaneously (at least 16 initially, scalable).

Display real-time load readings on a screen (LCD, OLED, or TFT).

Calibration interface: allow user to calibrate each transmitter/load cell individually.

Include power management (battery or mains supply) with sleep/low-power mode.

Optional: logging capabilities (memory/SD card interface).

Software / Firmware

Source code for both transmitter and receiver.

Programming guide for IC/microcontroller setup.

Instructions for modifying firmware if additional load cells or devices are added.

Modular design for easy expansion and debugging.

Deliverables

Schematic diagrams of transmitter and receiver circuits.

PCB layout files (Gerber files ready for manufacturing).

Bill of Materials (BOM) with recommended industrial-grade components.

Firmware/software source code (fully commented).

Programming instructions (how to load firmware, configure devices).

Functional prototype demonstration (optional but highly desirable).

Optional: simple mechanical concept for casing if feasible.

Skills Required

Industrial microcontroller programming (STM32, or equivalent).

RF / wireless communications (Zigbee or 2.4 GHz protocols).

Electronics design for load cell / strain gauge interfacing.

PCB design and prototyping.

Experience with battery-powered, low-power embedded devices.

Timeline

Initial concept / block diagram: 2 weeks.

Circuit design & firmware draft: 6 weeks.

Prototype & testing: 4 weeks.

Final deliverables: 12 weeks.

Budget

AUD 2,000–5,000 depending on experience and milestones.

Payment can be structured in milestones: concept approval → PCB + firmware → final prototype & documentation.

How to Apply

Please provide:

Portfolio of RF embedded device projects, preferably industrial or load-monitoring related.

Examples of Zigbee/2.4 GHz wireless projects.

Estimated timeline and cost for this project.

Confirmation that you can provide source code, PCB files, and programming instructions.

Notes for Freelancer

Focus on robust, industrial-grade solutions, not hobby electronics.

Accuracy, reliability, and multi-device scalability are more important than cost minimisation.