Design and Development of a Solar Power Monitoring System

The purpose of this project is to retrofit an existing off grid Solar System Power system with a wireless interface that will track system performance and provide historical performance data to better manage the utilization and future growth of power resources at the Fairfield Osborn. This is a continuing project and requires knowledge of wireless and micro-controllers. Our focus in this phase of the project is to add educational components to the monitoring system.

Here are a few things that we will specifically be focusing on:
- Making the pulling cycle changeable from the program
- Making the report time variable using a switch
- The LabView graphs should show the exact time
- Upload the data/email using modem
- Add the oil sensor
- Add email features
- Check the maintenance mode
- Add UPS
- When the system is in catch-up mode a software light should be blinking
- When the system in maintenance mode, the state must be shown in the archived data
- Create a two way communication between LabView and Zigbee
- Establish a larger wireless network.

 Status: Phase I is completed
Sponsered: Sonoma Preserve

General Purpose Data Logger with GPS

The purpose of this hand-held device is to record GPS position as well as readings from attached sensors. The device can later be connected to a PC and download all information. Google map can be utilized to map display the information.

track moving objects where installing a GPS is not practical. This device will be ideal for applications such as tracking birds, fish, small animals, learn about animals and their habitats, keeping track of moving bicycles, etc. Click on the figure for more information.

RFID-Based Tracking Device

The purpose of this device is track moving objects where installing a GPS is not practical. This device will be ideal for applications such as tracking birds, fish, small animals, learn about animals and their habitats, keeping track of moving bicycles, etc. Click on the figure for more information.

Environmental Sensors

Advances in environmental sensor, communication, and computing technology are transforming our understanding of environmental processes on a global scale. Many wildlife regions, including Fairfield Osborn Preserve ( a 450-acre field station administered by SSU’s Field Stations & Nature Preserves), can significantly benefit from implementing a distributed wireless network to transfer data. In the following projects we intend to combine low-power IP-based data acquisition systems (i.e., environmental sensors), solar technology, and wireless Internet capability to create a state of-the-art intelligent network with advanced features to assist environmental scientist to more effectively utilize cyber-technologies:
1- Utilizing a SMS based messaging platform to transfer data from various environmental sensors;
2- Designing a solar-based wireless network on the preserve;
3- Designing a utility monitoring device to monitor the power consumption on the preserve;
4- Designing an autonomous mobile robot with vision and logging capabilities;
5- Designing PigNet - tracking the pigs on the Preserve (yes, pigs!);
6- What is a smart building? How should it operate - a survey;
7- Using Google Sketch to construct a 3D model of the Preserve.
8- Using RFID technology for tracking and monitoring animals and birds in the Preserve (here are some good resources).
9- Look into Sun SPOT World and see if we can implement a mesh network in the Preserve. There are several interesting tutorials which can be viewed.

Configureable Remote Laboratory

Effectiveness of distance education systems deals with a number of factors which affect their success or failure. These include the influence of distance learning theory upon instructional design and delivery. In our project our goal is to design and implement an open-form platform in which each educator can design specific learning modules and simply add them to the knowledge-based platform. Each topic includes, theory, simulation, practice with the remote instrumentation, practice test, and quiz questions. Our main focus in this project is to utilize LabVIEW platform. A number of examples are already provided by NI site. Our proposed platforms has a series of unique features:

• Providing theory of operation;
• Allowing the user to perform simulation;
• Building the simulated test setup (automatically or manually- upon request)
• Comparing the simulated results and practical results;
• Answering practice test questions;
• Interacting users with an attendee for guidance and answering questions.

Here are a few examples of some preliminary ideas: Developing a Remote Laboratory and Webcam-based Remote Control.
This project requires developing a series of sub-systems (project proposals):
- Develop a configurable test setup using available measurement tools
- Develop a database to keep track of student activities
- Integrating audio, video, and text
- Allow remote users to use the switches and routers in the network laboratory remotely
- Design a simple approach to provide SMS-based distance learning for communities in which many users have access to cell phone.

Energy-Aware Building Model

Energy-Aware Building Model (EABM) is the use of one or more computers to control basic building functions and features automatically and sometimes remotely, via cell phones or computers. The main difference between EABM and a so called Smart Home or Automated Home is its ability to educate building occupants. A number of projects have been suggested reduce energy consumptions inside buildings. Here are some suggestion:

1. A green building model can actually teach people how change their behavior to become more aware about energy consumption. In this intelligent model smart sensors are used to help the user to choose the best energy conserving practice inside the building (see notes).

Simulation Tools

We highly encourage students to examine various existing network-based simulation tools and become proficient in one or more. A number of surveys have been published including the one by Jianli Pan. A good comparative study is provided by V. Soares; refer to their work for more information and references. Also Begg compares a number of simulation tools for next generation networks. Here are some examples of available simulation tools:

OPNET

Network Simulator (NS)

SimReal

Tangram

Network Simulator 2: a Simulation Tool for Linux

ONE (The Opportunistic Network Environment)simulator- simulator specifically designed for evaluating DTN routing and application protocols. It allows users to create scenarios based upon different synthetic movement models and real-world traces and offers a framework for implementing routing and application protocols.

There are also other general network simulators which can help understanding how switches and routers operate. Use GNS3 as the graphical interface for any of these. 

• Dynamips, a Cisco IOS emulator.
• Dynagen, a text-based front end for Dynamips.
• Qemu, a generic and open source machine emulator and virtualizer.
• VirtualBox, a free and powerful virtualization software.

In addition, there are many simulators for wireless network. A number of surveys, including the work by Koksal, compare these simulators.

General Miscellaneous Projects

This page provides a wide variety of projects for undergraduate and graduate students. The main idea of this page is to give some general project ideas:
1- Design bidirectional communication system to transmit voice over fiber using low cost laser.

Healthcare Technology Projects

Healthcare Technologies Laboratory (HTLab) at Sonoma State University is dedicated to providing an invaluable resource in assisting individuals with special needs. The laboratory focuses on developing concepts, products, and services which improve the interaction between technical and social systems aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all people of all age groups.

If you are interested in Sonoma Healthcare Technologies Laboratory Projects offered by the HTLabratory at Sonoma State University please go to HERE.

Workout Training with Android

Develop a general purpose Android application that can be used while working out. The application is interfaced with a simple general purpose sensor via Bluetooth and keeps track of goals and daily activities.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Hack a flying helicopter such that you can track its movements using several IR-sensors. Using software the helicopter should be able to be pointed to particular position and hover around the designated area (potentially taking pictures).

Remote Control Vehicle Using Arduino

Design a wireless Microchip-based vehicle (moving robot) that can be controlled via Arduino using Bluetooth or WiFi. The robot must be equipped with different proximity sensors (and other sensors e.g., gas sensor) and an accelerometer. When the vehicle passes over a bump, the phone must vibrate. By moving the phone in different directions the robot will change direction and speed. As the robot gets close to any object, the position of the object with respect to the vehicle must be shown on the phone display. If the gas sensor senses any gas, for example, the result should be sent to the phone display.

Surveillance Rocket

In this project you will design a flying rocket which carries a small microprocessor, wireless transmitter, camera, and accelerometer to photograph and records the flying pattern of the rocket. LabVIEW is used to capture the real-time data.