/
spotlight
Earlier sensor revisions, using laser TOF
Auxiliary sensor unit pictured in second
Aquametric ↗
Low cost and distributed stream and river monitoring.
- Won a Hackaday Bootstrap Award and was one of 34 finalists for the 2020 Hackaday Prize.
- Designed hardware and embedded software
- Sensor reports stream stage, temperature and conductivity data on an hourly basis through a cellular data connection
- Optimized device cost to sub-$100
- Collected data in the field for >6 months, validating sensor design
- Worked with school’s environmental science department to ensure its viability for research purposes
Embedded
- Analyzed and optimized power usage to extend battery life to approximately 18 months in the field
- Designed and assembled a custom PCB for the final sensor version to improve stability in the field.
- Initially experimented with LoRa and SMS for communication, before settling on cellular data
- Developed modular auxiliary sensor port for additional sensors like temperature and conductivity
- Experimented with laser ToF and capacitive water level sensing before settling on ultrasonic time of flight
- Early revisions used a solar-power based trickle charge system to extend battery life
Software
- Developed early prototypes of the backend and produced the final user interface
- Developed asynchronous communication method allowing for in-field configuration of device parameters and OTA updates
(microcontroller, bluetooth module, 3 DoF compass and 1 of 3 laser ToF sensors pictured)
Foresight ↗
A wearable device to aid in navigation and obstacle avoidance for the blind.
- Won the Regeneron Health Award at the Greater Capital Region Science and Engineering Fair in 2018
- Designed wearable device and embedded software
- Ankle mounted array of sensors and haptic motors communicates via Bluetooth to an Android device
- Haptic vibrations on the ankle indicate the direction the user should turn to continue on their route, generated by Google Maps
- Laser ToF sensors measure distance to nearby obstacles. The user is alerted to these by a series of haptic vibrations, corresponding to the distance of the approaching object
- Designed electronics to reduce device bulk, enabling it to fit comfortably under a pant leg
- Sequentially powered I2C devices allows simultaneous measurement from ToF sensors
- Multiplexed microcontroller outputs control the 8 haptic vibration motors
Skeleton and completed device
Spiffy ↗
A robotic system to automate the patient room cleaning process in hospitals.
- Designed robotic platform and embedded software
- Developed skills in power electronics controlling the on-board drive motors with ESCs
- Designed relay control circuits for switching the pump and UV flood lamp
- Created a serial protocol for communication between the on-board Raspberry Pi and Arduino with error correction
- Implemented basic PID control loops for controlling wheel speeds smoothly