Miniature and Low-cost Wireless Sensor Platform for Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

A sensor platform with DO, pH, and turbidity sensors was developed. It was equipped with pH and oxygen sensitive fluorescent foils. The foils were attached outside of the waterproof case and read through optical window. They had also antibiofouling protection, which allowed them to operate for extended period of time. A microcontroller switched the channels and collected the reading of O2, pH, and turbidity every 15 minutes, than transmitted it through wires interface to a base station. The platform operates from 4 AA size alkaline batteries. The transmitter has a range of approximately 1 kilometer, depending on the terrain, with transmission rate of 10 kbps The sensor platform is miniature in size 3''x3''x3'' sensing head, electronics and battery pack and low-cost ~ $450/unit.