E[co]ast: Make an Accessible, Low-Cost Coastal-Driven Power Storage System for Environmental Monitoring
You will design and build a low-cost, accessible coastal-powered energy generator and storage system tailored for coastal environmental monitoring applications. This will explore using tide, wind, solar, and other earth energy sources. The system will harness tidal forces to generate electricity, store it, and provide a reliable power source for sensors and monitoring equipment in remote or off-grid marine environments. Students will develop both hardware and software components for energy capture, storage, and management, ensuring the system is efficient, durable, and adaptable for various coastal conditions.
Objectives
The primary objective is to explore various approaches to harness tide, wind, solar, and other earth energy sources, focusing on generating approximately 400Wh per day. Low-Cost is the second most important factor, attempting to keep cost under $500. Third most important is DIY-friendly; these designs must be accessible enough for someone with only a little electronics experience to hook up themselves. Students will prototype and test different energy capture methods, such as mechanical, hydraulic, or piezoelectric systems, and experiment with energy storage solutions like batteries or supercapacitors. Deliverables include functional prototypes, a validated energy generation and storage system, performance analysis, and documentation. By the end of the project, students will present a working tidal power system that demonstrates feasibility and scalability for real-world environmental monitoring.
Motivations
As environmental monitoring becomes increasingly crucial in the face of climate change, access to sustainable, off-grid energy solutions is essential for powering long-term sensor deployments. Many coastal and marine environments lack easy access to traditional power sources, making tide, wind, solar, and other earth energy a promising alternative. This project addresses the need for renewable energy in these challenging environments, enabling the continuous collection of critical environmental data while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and high-maintenance power systems.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
Analog circuits, digital systems, power and energy systems, power conversion, transducers/transformers, relevant mechanical experience for getting energy-generating parts to move.
Preferred Qualifications:First-hand Experience building and designing renewable power systems
Details
Project Partner:
Chet Udell
NDA/IPA:No Agreement Required
Number Groups:1
Project Status:Accepting Applicants
Website:open-sensing.org
Keywords:
Arduinoopen-sourceenvironmental
