Page 13 - Fister jr., Iztok, Andrej Brodnik, Matjaž Krnc and Iztok Fister (eds.). StuCoSReC. Proceedings of the 2019 6th Student Computer Science Research Conference. Koper: University of Primorska Press, 2019
P. 13
sive Floating Probe
Authors: ∗
Vid Keršicˇ Urban Knupleš Michele Perrone
University of Maribor University of Maribor University of Maribor
Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer
Science Science Science
Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor
vid.kersic@ urban.knuples@ michele.perrone@
student.um.si student.um.si student.um.si
Tadej Šinko Mitja Žalik
University of Maribor University of Maribor
Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer
Science Science
Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor
tadej.sinko@ mitja.zalik@
student.um.si student.um.si
ABSTRACT vice or the accuracy of sensor data. To overcome these prob-
lems, we propose a design for a passive floating probe, which
This paper illustrates a student project design of an au- is accessible due to its consumer-available components.
tonomous passive floating probe, which gathers data from
its on-board sensors. The data are subsequently transmit- The proposed design follows a modular architecture, which
ted via the Iridium satellite network to a dedicated server allows faster prototyping and more advanced future itera-
which then displays the information on the web. Once as- tions based on this outline.
sembled, the probe is planned to be deployed into the At-
lantic Ocean. The main features of the probe are a solar The main difference between a passive and an active floating
panel with a rechargeable battery, a GPS module, an Irid- probe is in the way it interacts with its surrounding environ-
ium satellite modem, a vast set of sensors and an ARM- ment. A passive probe only listens and gather information
based microcontroller running a custom firmware based on through its sensors and move along with the ocean currents,
FreeRTOS. while an active probe is equipped with a propulsion system
that would allow it to change its course by itself based on
Keywords sensor data and parameters or remotely by an operator.
Remote sensing, data gathering, real-time systems The goal of this project is the acquisition of real-world mea-
surements for analysis and distribution. A dedicated website
1. INTRODUCTION [1] is planned to show project progress, visualize received
data once deployed and enable distribution of collected data
Remote sensing and data retrieval is a challenging task be- to interested parties.
cause physical access to the equipment is limited or impos-
sible; more so, if executed in a harsh environment such as 2. RELATED WORK
the oceans. Operating in such an enviroment brings ad-
ditional challenges concerning protection from water, salt Before discussing the proposed design, this paper outlines
corrosion, plaque, or waste build-up. Furthermore, unpre- a handful of projects which had been the primary source
dictable weather can affect the energy autonomy of the de- of inspiration for the authors. The main inspiration comes
from the Maker Buoy project [2]. Its features are a modular
∗Listed in alphabetical order building design powered by solar energy, communication via
the Iridium satellite network and the use of a floating exte-
rior design, which is the basis of this paper’s proposed design
(discussed in Sec. 3). A project called OMNI (Ocean Moni-
toring Network Initiative) uses a similar hardware approach
to the Maker Buoy [3].
The ZL1SIX Ocean Floater is a floating buoy powered by
a battery pack which uses an Amateur radio transmitter to
StuCoSReC Proceedings of the 2019 6th Student Computer Science Research Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-82-5.13-17 13
Koper, Slovenia, 10 October
Authors: ∗
Vid Keršicˇ Urban Knupleš Michele Perrone
University of Maribor University of Maribor University of Maribor
Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer
Science Science Science
Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor
vid.kersic@ urban.knuples@ michele.perrone@
student.um.si student.um.si student.um.si
Tadej Šinko Mitja Žalik
University of Maribor University of Maribor
Faculty of Electrical Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computer Engineering and Computer
Science Science
Koroška cesta 46, Maribor Koroška cesta 46, Maribor
tadej.sinko@ mitja.zalik@
student.um.si student.um.si
ABSTRACT vice or the accuracy of sensor data. To overcome these prob-
lems, we propose a design for a passive floating probe, which
This paper illustrates a student project design of an au- is accessible due to its consumer-available components.
tonomous passive floating probe, which gathers data from
its on-board sensors. The data are subsequently transmit- The proposed design follows a modular architecture, which
ted via the Iridium satellite network to a dedicated server allows faster prototyping and more advanced future itera-
which then displays the information on the web. Once as- tions based on this outline.
sembled, the probe is planned to be deployed into the At-
lantic Ocean. The main features of the probe are a solar The main difference between a passive and an active floating
panel with a rechargeable battery, a GPS module, an Irid- probe is in the way it interacts with its surrounding environ-
ium satellite modem, a vast set of sensors and an ARM- ment. A passive probe only listens and gather information
based microcontroller running a custom firmware based on through its sensors and move along with the ocean currents,
FreeRTOS. while an active probe is equipped with a propulsion system
that would allow it to change its course by itself based on
Keywords sensor data and parameters or remotely by an operator.
Remote sensing, data gathering, real-time systems The goal of this project is the acquisition of real-world mea-
surements for analysis and distribution. A dedicated website
1. INTRODUCTION [1] is planned to show project progress, visualize received
data once deployed and enable distribution of collected data
Remote sensing and data retrieval is a challenging task be- to interested parties.
cause physical access to the equipment is limited or impos-
sible; more so, if executed in a harsh environment such as 2. RELATED WORK
the oceans. Operating in such an enviroment brings ad-
ditional challenges concerning protection from water, salt Before discussing the proposed design, this paper outlines
corrosion, plaque, or waste build-up. Furthermore, unpre- a handful of projects which had been the primary source
dictable weather can affect the energy autonomy of the de- of inspiration for the authors. The main inspiration comes
from the Maker Buoy project [2]. Its features are a modular
∗Listed in alphabetical order building design powered by solar energy, communication via
the Iridium satellite network and the use of a floating exte-
rior design, which is the basis of this paper’s proposed design
(discussed in Sec. 3). A project called OMNI (Ocean Moni-
toring Network Initiative) uses a similar hardware approach
to the Maker Buoy [3].
The ZL1SIX Ocean Floater is a floating buoy powered by
a battery pack which uses an Amateur radio transmitter to
StuCoSReC Proceedings of the 2019 6th Student Computer Science Research Conference DOI: https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-7055-82-5.13-17 13
Koper, Slovenia, 10 October
