Lisgar Weather Station

1
Lisgar Weather Station

• Welcome
• Background
• Description
• Student Work
• Summary

2
Engineering

• Application of scientific and mathematical
  principles
• Identify an engineer
• B.A.Sc.e.g. www.eng.uwaterloo.ca
• Registered www.peo.ca
• Iron Ring www.ironring.ca

3
Engineer In Residence

• PEO outreach program
• Match engineers with schools www.eir.ca
• Bridge the gap that can exist between the real
  world and classroom theory
• Teacher EIR are volunteers

4
Background

• Derrick OswaldDerrickOswald_at_rogers.com
• Engineer 25 years
• Develop software forAutodesk www.autodesk.com
• Daughters in Grade 11 at Lisgar and Grade 6 at
  Knoxdale PS
• Active on School Council for 8 years

5
The Weather Station Project

• Solar powered sensor unit with radio link to a
  laptop based data collecting station in the
  classroom
• Summative project for Weather strand of Grade 10
  science
• Budget

6
Power

• Retail solar panel
• Short winter days are a challenge (1 Watt req.)
• Surplus lead-acid batteries
• Canadian Tire www.canadiantire.ca5 Watts _at_ 12
  Volts11-1881-0 69.99

7
Microcontroller

• BasicX-24 www.basicx.com
• 16 digital 8 analog I/O
• Serial communication
• 32K EEPROM
• RobotShop www.robotshop.cadevelopment
  systemRB-Net-04 143.99

8
Telemetry

• Low power FM modules
• Concrete floors metal roofs are a challenge
• Abacomwww.abacom-tech.comRTF3 RRF1 54.50

9
Instruments

• Anemometer
• Barometer
• Thermometer
• Precipitation Gauge
• Hygrometer
• Photometer

10
Design

• 4 or 5 groups
• 3 or 4 instruments ea. 2 groups/instrument
• Generate valid alternative designs
• Goal understanding scientific principals
• Design competition?

11
Evaluate

• Compare designs pair wise against a set of
  criteria
• Quantify quality
• Choose best design for each instrument
• Examine hybrid designs (best of both)
• Robustness is the key

12
Construct

• Order parts
• Construct components
• Assemble instrument
• Test
• Iterate design
• Integrate with microcontroller

13
Calibrate

• Experimental design
• Setup
• Measurement
• Error analysis
• Iterate design
• Report
• Aging (burn in)

14
Install

• Mechanical fitting
• Electrical fitting
• Integration with other components
• Mount on roof
• Acceptance test

15
Monitor

• Data collection
• Analysis
• Comparison with published meteorological data
• Web interface?
• Electronic bulletin board interface?

16
Summary

• Lisgar Weather Station project http//lisgar.net/w
  eatherstation
• Sponsored by PEO Engineer in Residence
• Comprising six student built instruments
• Grade 10 science summative
• One to two year lifespan
• 1000
• Asking for permission and matching funds