Team Members: Arsid Ferizi; Cameron Foss; Noah Pell; Michael Rizzo;

Advisor: Prof. Jackson

Preliminary Design Review

Team Remote Environmental Sensing Tram (REST)

October 16th, 2013

What is the Problem?Forest Health Monitoring

• Lack of a “just right” method of data collection

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/goldilocks-and-the-three-bears-christian-jackson.jpg

Too Hot (Expensive), Too Cold (Inefficient), Just Right (REST Solution)

How significant is the problem?

http://sierra-alpinist.typepad.com/sierra_alpinist/2009/04/wildfires-both-cause-and-effect-of-global-warming-.html

• The world depends on forests for food, water, recycling of carbon dioxide, and vital medicines [1]

• Human activities such as oil extraction, logging, mining, fires, commercial agriculture, cattle ranching, hydroelectric projects, pollution, hunting , and road construction retards forest functionality

• Developing efficient monitoring methods is therefore paramount to forest survival

[1] Nogueron, R. (2013, March 18). 5 Lessons for Sustaining Global Forests. Retrieved October 14, 2013, from World Resource Institute Insights: http://insights.wri.org/news/2013/03/5-lessons-sustaining-global-forests

Forest Fires in the Sierra Nevada are both a cause and effect of global warmingAbout 500 million people depend directly on forests for their livelihoods

Proposed Solution: Aerial Tram

Tram System Collecting Data in Harvard Forest Photo Courtesy of Professor Siqueira

• Subtle, reliable, moderately inexpensive and continuous on site data acquisition

Proposed Solution: High Level Overview Tram

• Autonomously collects data from sensors• Transmits collected data to base station

Tower (Base Station)• Communicates with tram, to give commands and receive environmental data• Bridge between tram and the user• Has its own set of sensors to collect a range of environmental data

User Interface• Website for accessing recorded and real time data• Application provides control of tram

Requirements Analysis: SpecificationsTram

• Autonomous • Accurately collect and transmit data to the base station wirelessly • Process commands sent from base station

Tower (Base Station)• Communicate with tram• Process data from own sensors• Send and receive data and commands to the UI over internet

User Interface• Receive data from base station• Tabulate data• Process user commands and transmit them to base station

Requirements Analysis: Input and Output Input

• Wireless control signals via internet connection• Vibrational data from the accelerometer • Environmental data (temperature, humidity, radiation…)• Internal clock

Output• Current environmental data• Database of environmental history

Solution: Block Diagram

UI and UI-Base Station Communication

User InterfaceRequirements:• Allow users to change multiple settings on the aerial

tram• Allow users to send controls for aerial tram to execute

in real time• Deliver sensor data to users • Show real time video data from base station and tram

Implementation:• Website

• Supports graphical representation of environmental data

• Scripted input to direct operation of tram• Real time video

http://mdw.srbc.net/remotewaterquality/data_viewer.aspxThis website is used by a company to display their data collected from remote sensors

TX/RX for UI-Base Station CommunicationRequirements:• Send and receive data over the internet to the aerial tram

Implementation:• Landline to base station

Category 5 Cable

Tram System – The “Base Station” is the shack located behind the blue structure

Photo Courtesy of Professor Siqueira

http://picclick.com/NEW-1-FOOT-PINK-CAT-5E-350MHZ-UTP-ETHERNET-NETWORK-281140500650.html

Communication (Base Station-TRAM)

Tx/Rx for Base Station-Tram Communication

Requirements:• Wireless• Range of at least 50m• Adequate data rate• Reasonable power consumption

Implementation:• ZigBee RF Module Development Kit

• Outdoor/RF LOS Range = 120 m• Data Rate = 1 Mbps• Power = 1.25 mW, with sleep mode capability• Kit comes with USB development boards

Xbee ZB 2.4 GHz Development Kithttp://www.digiwireless-solutions.com/Bizit/store/product.php?id_product=187

Control System (Base Station)

Control System (Base Station)Requirements:• Non-technical • Perform data processing and storage at the base station• Process commands sent by the base station or web application• Manage autonomous tram operation

Implementation:• Easily programmable connection to the network

• Labview or supported programming language

• Matlab• Autonomous data analysis

LGX AU140 Extended Temperature Intel Atom Computer Platform

http://www.logicsupply.com/media/manuals/LGX_AU140_Fanless_Computer_SpecSheet.pdf

Control System (Base Station)Requirements:• Organize sensor data and commands into packets for

communication between base station and tram

Implementation:• CR1000 Data Logger

• 4MB of memory• Analogue inputs: 16 single-ended• Control/digital ports: 8

CR1000 Data Logger

http://www.campbellsci.com/cr1000

Control System (Base Station)

http://s.campbellsci.com/documents/us/manuals/cr1000.pdf

Data Logger Features:• Analog inputs• Digital pulse inputs• Digital serial inputs• Data storage• Communication hardware• Control ports

Sensors (Base Station)

Sensors (Base Station)Requirements:• Capable of sensing wind speed and direction, temperature and humidity• Capable of observing surroundings• Reasonable power consumption and weight

Implementation:• Weather Meter

• Rain gauge – 0.2794 mm of rain = 1 count

• Anemometer – 1.5 MPH wind speed = 1 switch close/sec

• Wind vane – 16 different positions

SEN-08942- Weather Meterhttps://www.sparkfun.com/products/8942

Sensors (Base Station)Implementation:• Temperature and Humidity Probe

• Temperature• Measurement Range: -80°C to +60°C• +/- 0.15°C accuracy (Temperature dependent)

• Humidity • Measurement Range: 0.8 to 100% RH• +/- 1.3% RH accuracy (Relative Humidity dependent)

• IP Camera• 640 X 480 resolution• Microphone• 26.2 ft. Night vision and Infrared• Wireless connection along with 10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN port

HMP35C- Temperature and Humidity Probe

Foscam FI8910W Wireless IP Camerahttp://www.campbellsci.com/hmp155ahttp://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=841297&is=REG&Q=&A=details

Motor Controls (Base Station)

Motor Controls (Base Station)Requirements:• Move the TRAM at a consistent speed to indicated destination

Implementation:• Stepper Motor and Driver

• Low vibration• 3 Nm torque up to 150 rpm

AR66AKD-T10-3, AlphaStep Closed Loop Stepper Motor and Drive with Built-in Controller

http://www.orientalmotor.com/products/stepper-motors/AR-series-stored-data-controller-dc.html

Sensors (TRAM)

Sensors (TRAM)Requirements:• Capable of sensing radiation, motion or vibration and altitude• Capable of visually observing surroundings • Lightweight, reliable, reasonable power consumption

Implementation:• Four Channel Net Radiometer

• Pyranometer – SW 285-3,000 nm• Pyrgeometer – LW 4,500-40,000 nm

• Spectral Reflectance Sensor • Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

• 531±3 and 570±3 nm wavelengths • Photochemical Reflectance Index (PRI)

• 630±5 and 800±5 nm wavelengths

Four Channel Net Radiometer

Spectral Reflectance Sensorhttp://www.hukseflux.com/product/nr01-net-radiometer?referrer=/product_group/pyranometerhttp://www.hoskin.ca/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2611

A Closer Look at Net Radiation

http://www.1cro.com/mcb/bv.fcgi@call=bv.view..showsection&rid=mcb.figgrp.d1e74629.htm

Absorption of light by Chlorophyll and β-Carotene As PRI increases radiation-use efficiency increases

Sharp dip at 531 nm indicates the activity of Xanthophyll pigments

• Depending on the type, density and health of the vegetation the amount of absorbed and reflected light will change

http://hyspiri.jpl.nasa.gov/downloads/2010_Symposium/09-Gamon-PRI.pdf

Sensors (TRAM)Implementation:• Accelerometers

• Sensitivity – 300 mV/g (typical)• Shock survival - 10,000 g (maximum)• Power consumption - 350 μA (typical)

• Ultrasonic sensor• Distance 6-20 feet• Within +/-0.1% accuracy over the entire distance range• Power consumption – 25 mW

Cricket A-Ultrasonic sensor

ADXL335 - triple-axis accelerometer

http://www.adafruit.com/products/163?gclid=CJ2B0t-mmroCFZKk4Aod9wkAZQhttp://pdf.directindustry.com/pdf/senscomp/cricket-ultrasonic-sensors/33754-419985.html

Sensors (TRAM)Implementation: • Webcam

• HD video – 1280 x 720 pixels• Photos – Up to 3.0 megapixels• Built – in microphone

Logitech HD Webcam C270

http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/hd-webcam-c270

Control System (TRAM)

Control System (TRAM)Requirements:• Organize sensor data and commands into packets for

communication between base station and tram.

Implementation:• CR1000 Data Logger

• 4MB of memory• Analogue inputs: 16 single-ended• Control/digital ports: 8

CR1000 Data Logger

http://www.campbellsci.com/cr1000

Broader Impacts Special Populations:• Less data impedes trend recognition and early intervention

• Politicians can not make laws to help better the environment if they do not have data showing the environment is in danger.

http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/royalty-free/42-19758334/people-hiking-in-the-woods

Moral Obligation:Problem:

• Base Station, Tram and Human presence in the forest may disturb the ecosystem

Solution:• Coordination with trained forest conservatives to mitigate the

Tram’s impact on wildlife

The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act sets aside more than 2 million acres that protects land from California’s Sierra Nevada mountains to the Jefferson National Forest http://www.sustainabilityninja.com/government-industry-sustainability/obama-signs-bill-to-protect-wilderness-28285/

Hikers enjoying the beauty of nature

Design AlternativesManual Data Collection • Travel to site and manually collect data.• Have to return home to analyze data.• Cheaper than aerial tram solution.• Easier to move and analyze more than one area.• Slower, physically demanding and not as precise as aerial tram.

Hyper Spectroscopic Imaging• Hyper spectral cubes are generated from airborne sensors• Image spectral bands over a continuous spectral range,

and produce the spectra of all pixels in the scene.• Used to monitor the development and health of plants.• More expensive than aerial tram

NASA's Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer

Manual Data Collection

http://aviris.jpl.nasa.gov/

http://perceval.bio.nau.edu/MPCER_OLD/images/Fish%20Sampling%20FC-NAU.jpg

Two-dimensional projection of a hyper-spectral cube

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperspectral_imaging

Proposed MDR Deliverables• Demonstration of data collection from environmental sensors

• Demonstration of tram and base station communication

• Demonstration of website and tram basic interaction• Tram is able to send and receive test data• Website displays test data, and is able to send text data to tram

Task Task Leader Week of October 7th

Week of October 14th

Week of October 21th

Week of October 28th

Week of November 4th

Week of November 11th

Week of November 18th

Week of November 25th

Week of December 2nd

Week of December 9th

Phase 1: Preparation and Design

Sensor and communication system (TRAM)

Mike x

User interface Arsid x Sensor and Control System I (Base Station)

Cameron x

Control System II and Data Logger

Noah x

Preliminary Design Review Mike x

Phase 2: Development and Test Develop Subsystems Arsid x x x Integrate the Subsystems Mike x x x

Test the Prototype Noah x x Correct Errors Cameron x x Phase 3: Finalize Mid-Year ProductMid-Term Design Review Arsid x

Phase 4: Report Findings

Mid-Term Draft Report Cameron x x x Mid-Term Final Report Noah x x x

Team REST’s Schedule

Questions….

Power (Base Station)Array Sizing (48 VDC)

Power Consumption [Wh/day] 2,515.20DC System Voltage [V] 48Critical Design Month Insolation [PSH/day] 2.8Battery Charging Efficiency 0.85Required Array Maximum Power Current [A] 22.02

Soiling Factor 0.95Rated Array Maximum Power Current 23.18

Temperature Coefficient for Voltage 0.0045Maximum Expected Module Temperatrue [C] 50Rating Reference Temperature [C] 25Rated Array Maximum Power Voltage [VDC] 64.08

Module Rated Maximum Power Current [A] 7.9Module Rated Maximum Power Voltage [VDC] 29.8Module Rated Maximum Power [W] 235

Number of Modules in Series 3Number of Module Strings in Parallel 2Total Number of Modules 6

Actual Array Rated Capacity [W] 1,410

DC Loads

Load Description Quantity Power Rating (W)

Operating Time (hr/day)

Power Consumption (Wh/day)

Computer 1 120 13 1560Tower Data Logger 1 0.46 12.94 5.98Tram Data Logger 1 0.46 8.25 3.81Ethernet Switch 1 5 24 120Fan 1 18 6 108Net Radiometer Heater 1 1.6 8 12.8Hyperspectral Imager 1 7.5 24 180Breezeaccess Radio 1 25 13 325Motor 1 91.2 1.33 121.6IP Camer 1 6 13 78Total 10 275.22 123.52 2,515.20

Total AC Power [W] 0Total DC Power [W] 275.22Total AC Power Consumption [Wh/day] 0

Total DC Power Consumption [Wh/day] 2,515.20

Weighted Operating Time [hr/day] 7.08Average Daily DC Power Consumption [Wh/day] 2,515.20