Autonomous Surface Monitoring

Many tests and various sensors are required to check the quality of slow moving or still water. These tests can be inconvenient or error-prone because they often require hand-held devices and humans to record the findings. Robots can help make an environmentalists' job easier. The solution proposed is an autonomous robotic boat, a robot that does not require any human interaction, designed to measure depth, temperature, salinity, and pH levels while being able to move around a body of water on its own. The system will take multiple readings along various locations to obtain a wide range of data. A microcontroller (mini-computer) will oversee all of the systems operations, such as sensor readings, navigation, and propulsion. Our boat will autonomously move along a path entered by the user, prior to entering the water, and collect multiple water samples. These values will then be communicated, using XBees (radio transmitters), to a stationary base placed at shore, where an individual can assess the values. The boat will continuously monitor its position while using proximity sensors to avoid obstacles and adjust its position accordingly. The system will use a GPS, IMU (accelerometer and gyroscope), and motor control to navigate in the water.