PCBs undergoing testing

 

 

It’s all hands on deck getting things ready to head up to Scotland to deploy.  Here are the main PCBs that will be used to form the network in the lined up ready for further testing.The main PCBs during testing

3D printed parts

For this project we are creating custom 3D printed parts for the sensors.  The two parts we are creating are housings for pressure sensors.  One is to be submerged in a river, the other is to measure atmospheric pressure.

 

This is how the parts appear when first removed from the printer.  There support material to make sure the parts don't fall over or droop during printing

This is how the parts appear when first removed from the printer. There support material to make sure the parts don’t fall over or droop during printing

 

The products with the support material removed.

The products with the support material removed.

Main node PCB ready for testing

The first of the main PCBs has now been soldered up and is ready for testing.  This is happening a lot later than we’d have liked due to supply chain issues.  However, the initial testing of the power supplies seems to be positive.

The first generation of mountain sensing PCB

The first generation of mountain sensing PCB

First custom designed sensor

A custom designed temperature sensor

A custom designed temperature sensor

This project has required the design and development of several custom sensors.  This is the first one to have been built.  It uses 5 one-wire temperature sensors attached to an AVR.  The AVR then runs code to interface with the sensors.  In order to connect to the main sensor node the AVR uses RS-485.  This means that it can be away from the main node, and because of the multi-drop nature of RS-485 multiple such devices could be attached.  The other sensor nodes also interface using RS-485 so each node could have different types of remote sensor attached.

Testing the radio links in the Cairngorms

the antennas were tested in glen feshie - between th eestate buildings and the ridge 3.8km away and performed as well as we expected with the TI CC1120 transceivers. We now have a way to link the mountain's sensors to the web!

The antennas were tested in Glen Feshie – between thevestate buildings and the ridge 3.8km away and performed as well as we expected with the TI CC1120 transceivers. We now have a way to link the mountain’s sensors to the web!

this shows the distance covered by our first radio "hop" up to the mountains

This shows the distance covered by our first radio “hop” up to the mountains

CC1120 Contiki port

We are currently working on creating a Contiki driver for the CC1120.  The CC1120 is a high sensitivity low power radio which should enable us to get the connectivity between nodes that we need.  Whilst writing this post the first packets have been heard to be transmitted.

First PCBs

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The first batch of PCBs to be used in the project have been created.  These boards will take a 12V input and give a 5V 2A output.  These will be useful for powering devices in the first tests that are carried out.  There are a few more boards on the way including 5V 250mA boards, which will also be used for testing and powering external peripherals.