EECE 380 Design Studio III

Memorandum #8

March 18, 2014

To: Dr. David Michelson

From: Doug Mosher, team leader

This memorandum serves as an update for progress of the EECE 380 Design Studio III team, L2C4, during the week of March 10 – 17, 2014.

For software, we modified DemoAppsGSM file in order to send a message via satellite to our shared email account. We ended up getting emails but we still need to change the time interval between emails as we were not getting them constantly. Additionally, we we able to print voltage values read from the ADC on the Q4000.

We also discussed some preliminary ideas for the satellite-based oceanography SCADA system. Among our ideas include the following:

Idea #1: Oceanography monitoring system to determine effect of global warming

Argo is a system designed to observe temperature, salinity and currents in the Earth’s oceans. One idea that we discussed was to design somewhat of an extension to the Argo system; that is, a satellite-based oceanographic system that can determine the long-term effects of global warming on oceans by acquiring data on ocean surface temperature, acidity and surface wave velocities. The system will be attached to an ocean buoy. In addition, the system will be sustainable – it will rely on tidal power as a source of energy. Alternatively, we also discussed the possibility of using rechargeable batteries to power the system.

Idea #2: Prohibited motor detection

This system is designed to detect the usage of a motor in areas where motor usage is restricted or prohibited. Using a microphone or a hydrophone, if the sensor is placed in the water, we will be able to detect the presence of a motor. This system would be placed at common entry points and would send a signal whenever a motor is present. This system would be powered by wind power or possibly solar depending on its location.

Idea #3: Off-shore surf forecasting system

Optimal surfing conditions are determined by a number of factors, namely wave speed, ocean swells and water temperature. This ocean buoy system would determine off-shore surfing conditions by measuring temperature, wind speed and wave height. The wind speed at the surface of the ocean mainly determines the wave speed, whereas the wave height is a good indicator of the size of the ocean swell. This system would be powered by batteries that can be charged with wind power.