Test Results

Test Procedure

Objectives

  • Confirm that the Polycase Cases are waterproof
  • Validate the accuracy of the pressure transducer
  • Evaluate the effects of distance and weather on XBee communication
  • Confirm cellular connection to Google Sheets at test site

Test Variables

Polycase Cases: This test will confirm if water enters the cases under wet conditions.

Pressure Transducer: This test will determine if the output voltage of the pressure transducer correctly corresponds to several water depths.

XBee Communicators: This test will determine if the XBees maintain their connection with one another at possible use distances and weather.

Cellular Module: This test will confirm if the cellular module can relay data from the location.

Polycase

Materials:

Polycase Case model # WH-02-03, Polycase Case model # WQ-50-03

Procedure:

Dunk cases in a pool of water so that they are completely submerged. To simulate a worst case scenario, run each of the cases under a stream of water and rotate the case to ensure that all portions of the case are covered with water. After removing the cases from the water, dry off the case as to prevent any water from entering the case while opening the case. Observe if any water droplets are present within the case.

Transducer

Materials:

Satellite Box [Polycase Case model # WH-02-03, XBee Mk 3, 5V Lithium Ion Battery, Dwyer Instrument Pressure Transducer model # 626-06-GH-P1-E3-S1], Digital Multimeter, Tape Measure, Container for Water

Procedure:

Plug the bottom of the PVC pipe and keep it vertical. Measure 4’ of transducer and cable from the end of the transducer and place into the pipe, securing the cable at the entrance of the pipe.

Connect the positive wire of the transducer to the positive terminal of the power supply. Connect the communication wire of the transducer to the negative terminal of the power supply. Connect the negative terminal of the multimeter to the negative wire of the transducer. Connect the positive terminal of the multimeter to the positive wire of the transducer. Supply power at 5V. Record the voltage on the multimeter.

Fill the pipe up to the base of the transducer. Fill the PVC pipe in 1” increments, recording the voltage each time, to a total water level of 2’. Since the radius is 1”, to increase water level by 1” add π cubic inches of water, approximately 16.4mL.

The pressure transducer measures values from 0 to 5psi. At 5V, each volt read corresponds to one psi. The transducer has an error rating of 0.25%, which corresponds to 0.346”.

XBee Communication

Materials:

Satellite Box, Coordinator Box [Polycase Case model # WQ-50-03, XBee Mk 3, Lithium Ion Battery, Raspberry Pi Zero W, Arduino GSM MKR 1400], Tape Measure, Laptop Computer

Procedure:

This test can take place concurrently with the previous test without the use of a multimeter. Place the pressure transducer of the Satellite Box in a container of water. Place the Coordinator Box at a distance of 100 ft from the Satellite Box (this is greater than the distance that any one Satellite Box would be from the Coordinator at our test site). Using weather data, record the local humidity. Observe and record whether XBees maintain connection by looking at the LEDs that confirm connection. Repeat the test for high and low humidity conditions if possible. To test the accuracy of the data sent, the Coordinator Xbee’s connection from the battery may be replaced to a laptop, and the incoming data may be observed and recorded.


Raspberry Pi Zero and Arduino MKR 1400 GS

Materials:

Satellite Box, Coordinator Box, Laptop Computer

Procedure:

GSM receives measurements from the Raspberry Pi: This will be tested and confirmed by sending and saving the data to Google Sheets. At this point, the data will not need to be formatted or organized; it just needs to be verified that the GSM can receive data from the Raspberry Pi and that a Google Sheet document containing that data can be generated. The measurements generated in the Google Sheet should correlate to the values saved locally on the Raspberry Pi.

Send data to Google Sheets via WiFi: For this aspect of the testing procedure, it just needs to be verified that a Google Sheet document is generated using WiFi. The document at this point does not need to be formatted correctly.

Send data to Google Sheets using Cellular Data: For this aspect of the testing procedure, it just needs to be verified that a Google Sheet document is generated using cellular data. The document at this point does not need to be formatted correctly.

Javascript: To verify that this aspect of the device is working, the data will be organized in a readable format in the Google Sheet.



Polycase Testing

Coordinator Box

Satellite Box

GSM 1400 Coding

Preliminary Box Assembly