Objectives

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Milestone 1 – Low-Power Microcontroller Prototype

Objectives:

• Research available low-power microcontrollers and evaluation boards.
• Down-select options and acquire one or more evaluation boards.
• Develop a prototype software application for the evaluation board demonstrating powersaving operating modes.
• Characterize the power required by the microcontroller during both sleep and operating states.

Deliverables:

• Comparison of potential microcontrollers including consideration of advantages and disadvantages of different types
• Prototype software application source code
• Power measurements of the microcontroller when executing code at various power states

Milestone 2 – Energy Harvesting Method and Transducer

Objectives:

• Research commercially available energy harvesting techniques and transducers which may be used for this project.
• Down-select options and acquire one or more energy harvesting transducers.
• Develop a demonstration system which provides energy to the transducer in a daytime classroom environment.
• Characterize the power produced by the transducer in the prototype.

Deliverables:

• Comparison of various energy harvesting techniques including consideration of advantages and disadvantages of different types
• Energy harvesting transducer prototype suitable for use in subsequent milestones

Milestone 3 – Power Manager Prototype

Objectives:

• Research available energy harvesting power manager integrated circuits and evaluation boards.
• Down-select options and acquire one or more components which may be used to construct a prototype system.
• Connect the prototype power manager components with the Milestone 2 transducer prototype and characterize the power that can be produced by the system.
• Operate the Milestone 1 prototype from the power produced by Milestone 2 and 3 prototypes.

Deliverables:

• Comparison of various energy harvesting power manager integrated circuits including advantages and disadvantages of each type
• Completed prototype platform suitable for software development, integration, and testing in subsequent milestones

Milestone 4 – Temperature Sensor, Logging, and Data Transfer

Objectives:

• Select a temperature sensing method and procure sensor hardware.
• Design and demonstrate a method for storing temperature data on the logging device.
• Implement data transfer from the low-power microcontroller to a PC.
• Software integration of all components.

Deliverables:

• Integrated microcontroller application software
• Implemented prototype PC data transfer software application, as applicable
• Characterization of temperature sensor accuracy
• Updated power measurements for entire prototype system

Milestone 5 – Project Integration

Objectives:

• Develop a printed circuit board (PCB) containing all of the logging device subsystems.
• Assemble the various components onto the PCB and test the resulting system.
• Develop an enclosure to house the PCB.
• Adapt the prototype software applications to run on the PCB.
• Characterize the performance of the completed system.

Deliverables:

• PCB design files
• Working prototype installed in enclosure
• Characterization of power supply, system update rate, and accuracy

A subset of these milestones can be selected and worked by each Design Project Team as a means to make progress on the overall project, as determined by the team and approved by course instructors.

Motivations

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Energy harvesting is a relatively new term for describing the powering of low power electronic sensor systems so that they can be used truly wirelessly, without the need for batteries that will eventually need recharging.  Energy harvesting sensors are not only a low-cost alternative to batteries and wires, they are much more sustainable.

Qualifications

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Minimum Qualifications:
None Listed

Preferred Qualifications:
None Listed

Details

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Project Partner:

Daniel Heinlein

NDA/IPA:

No Agreement Required

Number Groups:

1

Project Status:

Accepting Applicants