Lisgar Weather Station

● Welcome● Background● Description● Student Work● Summary

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

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

Background

● Derrick OswaldDerrickOswald@rogers.com

● Engineer 25 years● Develop software for

Autodesk www.autodesk.com

● Daughters in Grade 11 at Lisgar and Grade 6 at Knoxdale PS

● Active on School Council for 8 years

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 < $1000

Power

● Retail solar panel● Short winter days are a

challenge (1 Watt req.)● Surplus lead-acid

batteries● Canadian Tire

www.canadiantire.ca

5 Watts @ 12 Volts#11-1881-0 $69.99

Microcontroller

● BasicX-24 www.basicx.com ● 16 digital 8 analog I/O● Serial communication● 32K EEPROM● RobotShop

www.robotshop.ca

development systemRB-Net-04 $143.99

Telemetry

● Low power FM modules

● Concrete floors & metal roofs are a challenge

● Abacomwww.abacom-tech.com

RTF3 & RRF1 $54.50

Instruments

● Anemometer● Barometer● Thermometer● Precipitation Gauge● Hygrometer● Photometer

Design

● 4 or 5 groups● 3 or 4 instruments ea.

= 2 groups/instrument● Generate valid

alternative designs● Goal – understanding

scientific principals● Design competition?

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

Construct

● Order parts● Construct components● Assemble instrument● Test● Iterate design● Integrate with

microcontroller

Calibrate

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

Install

● Mechanical fitting● Electrical fitting● Integration with other

components● Mount on roof● Acceptance test

Monitor

● Data collection● Analysis● Comparison with

published meteorological data

● Web interface?● Electronic bulletin

board interface?

Summary

● Lisgar Weather Station project http://lisgar.net/weatherstation

● 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