From January 2017, I began work as an undergraduate research assistant where my task was to design a wireless sensor system to monitor bridges.
Full project documentation is available at http://remotesensing.ece.iastate.edu
The idea was to create a mesh network of nodes equipped with accelerometers that would be battery powered, able to run for long periods of time without maintenance, and wireless transmit data to a network hub. The network hub would then send data to a cloud server using the 4G cellular network.
This system would allow users to remotely monitor the structural integrity of bridges.
High Level Requirements:
The new system must include the following:
- Ability to reliably read sensor data
- Ability to transmit sensor data to a server
- Devices must be wireless
- Devices must operate for long periods of time
- System must handle multiple sensors, multiple axis of measurement
The priority requirement is to demonstrate that such a system is possible and capable.
Hardware Used:
ESP8266
AVNET Cellular Shield
Intel Edison
Accelerometers, 18650 Li-Ion Batteries, Solar Panel
The sensor node schematic. The Voltage regulator shown was deemed to be unnecessary on account of the on-board regulator.
to be continued…