Download Senior Project 2006 Department of Electrical and

Senior Project 2006
Union College
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
The main purpose of this project is to design and implement a
system for the remote water sensing of a body of water. The
system will measure temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity, redox,
dissolved oxygen and depth. The system will need to collect the
data from a sensor unit that measures the previously mentioned
parameters. The data will then be collected and stored using the
8051 microcontroller and finally transmitted to a Linux PC via fiber
optic cable so it can be downloaded to a computer and analyzed for
research purposes. The system also incorporates motor control to
allow the sensor package to go up through the water column and be
retrieved when data collection is complete. The system essentially
allows for the study of the water column as each parameter is a
function of depth.
In recent years, these systems have become more prevalent in the field
of environmental monitoring. The data collection system can provide data
that can serve as a basis for research into preserving and protecting the
environment. Initially, the system will be used by the Union College
Geology Department for research purposes of Ballston Lake. Ballston
Lake is an important recreational spot in the area. It is also an interesting
lake due to not only it’s depth of approximately 130 feet in parts but also
because the lake is meromicitic, meaning it is permanently stratified and
lacking oxygen in it’s lower regions. The Geology Department currently
has no practical way of tracking the data over a long period of time. The
current method of taking data requires a person to be on-site taking
readings from the sensors through a data-logging unit. This system will
be designed will be used for long-term monitoring of the lake and its
water properties.
Sensor Package
Sensor Cable
Maxim 232 Level Converter
8051 Microcontroller
DC Motor
Fiber Modems & Fiber Cable
Linux PC
Sensor Package: Measures temperature, pH, conductivity, salinity,
redox, dissolved oxygen (O2), and depth.
Sensor Cable: Sends data from sensor package using RS-232
standards and also used to supply 12 V DC to sensor package.
Maxim 232 Level Converter: Used to convert from RS-232(+/- 10 V)
levels of sensor package to TTL (0-5 V) used on 8051
Microcontroller and back again to RS-232 levels.
8051 Microcontroller: Used to program logic for forward, reverse and
stop functions used by DC motor. Also used to collect data from
sensors using UART1 and then transmit the same data on UART0
to Linux PC
DC Motor(12 V): Used to release the sensor cable that is stored on
windings, thus allowing the sensor to float up through the water
column
•The algorithm to implement motor control releases a foot of cable when
prompted and stops to take data and repeats this process until the last
sample is taken and then rewinds all of the cable.
•Data can be read from the sensor unit by the 8051 Microcontroller on
UART1 and then sent out on UART0 to the Linux PC via the fiber cable.
•Final Implementation of the system will require a waterproof base for the
electronics and a motor that provides more torque to control the windings
for the cable.
Fiber Modems & Fiber Cable: The modems convert RS-232 levels
to optics to be transmitted along the fiber cable. The fiber cable
runs between the 8051 Microcontroller and the Linux PC to transmit
the data stored on the Microcontroller
Linux PC: Runs a protocol to establish connection with 8051 Board
and then for the transmission of the sensor data to be stored and
thus become accessible to the researcher.
-Prof. James Hedrick
-Jim & Roland (Machine Shop)
-Prof. George Shaw
-Gautam Penumetcha (Silicon Industries)