Fabrication of Cloud Based Thermometer using Arduino and DynamoDB

Audrey McNicholas, Matthew Tice, Katy Pieri, Evan Krentzel

Department of Bioengineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13210

Laboratories consist of multiple machines and incubators

where temperature control is imperative. Unnoticed system

failure can cause system temperatures to go out of range

resulting in loss of samples and costly expenses.

Design, build, and evaluate a thermometer that has the

capacity to record and store data in a cloud based server

that can be accessed by computers and smart devices.

Background Circuitry DesignDynamoDB

Functional

Requirements/Constraints

Budget

Product Cost

NTC Thermistor DIA 23mils ADJ LEAD

W/STUBEND GLASS COAT

$60.75

NTC Thermistor DIA 11mils ADJ LEAD

W/STUBEND GLASS COAT

$19.77

10K Precision Epoxy Thermistor 3950 NTC $4.00

micro OLED breakout LCD 13003 $14.95

Arduino Yún $66.64

Arduino Uno FREE ($25)

Adafruit HUZZAH CC3000 WiFi Shield with Onboard Antenna

FREE ($40)

Adafruit HUZZAH CC3000 WiFi Breakout with Onboard Antenna - v1.1

$34.95

PTFE - EXTRUDED NATURAL VIRGIN SHEETPTFE, Polytetrafluoroethylene

$40.24

Circuitry components, 3D printing FREE

Total (to this date) $241.30

Amount remaining $258.70

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Syracuse University College of Engineering

and Computer Science for the resources and facilities

throughout this project. Additionally thanks to Dr. Zachman,

as well as our client from Welch Allyn, Henry Joe Smith III.

Temperature readings: Consistent and accurate temperature

readings, must be able to differentiate the difference

between programmed drop in temperature and a

temperature error.

Battery: Rechargeable power source for the thermometer

and circuitry, Capable of monitoring a system for an

extended period on a single charge.

Probe: Flexible sensor will allow for better temperature

measurements in hard to reach places.

Alerts: Sent to computer or smart device when temperature

has gone out of the user set range.

Size: Small enough to fit in an application (incubator/HPLC)

without taking up valuable space.

Durability: Drop resistant, shatterproof, waterproof, heat

and cold resistant device. Capable of withstanding extreme

temperatures (-80 °C to 200 °C); handle liquid and

corrosive environments.

FDA approved: If used in hospitals or other biological

settings, then it must be bioinert.

Testing Protocols

Calibrating the Thermistor

Three temperatures: ‘ice cold,’ ‘lukewarm,’ and ‘hot’

After calibration, coefficients to Steinhart-Hart equation obtained

A: -0.002169122934 B: 0.000757873106 C: -0.000001888936

Coefficients obtained for 10K Precision Epoxy Thermistor 3950 NTC

Handshake: Between the server and smart device

IAM: Gives WiTS root access, specific access to read-only users

Temperature Table: Records wireless readings that will be

displayed

Communication: Integrates Amazon resource name into

master Arduino code

Access-key: Customized per user

Alarms: A text message or e-mail can be sent to specific users if

the server records temperature outside of a pre-set range

Laboratory Use: Ideal for lab settings giving those in charge

more control, and choice in who is alerted with alarms

Coding: Arduino Programming language is a C derivative in combination with

Python

Troubleshooting

Hardware: Reevaluation of the circuitry components (rewiring of the digital

input/output pins, additional pins and different pins used when converting from

Yún to Uno and when rewiring from Breakout and Shield, soldering of wires to

reduce overall circuit size and improve wire connections and durability).

Software: Inserted “Serial.PrintIn()” statements into our Arduino Sketch’s

library to debug the point at which call functions stopped receiving input and then

fixed the specific call function’s arguments, minor script changes in sketch, master

code derived from Adafruit tutorial “Cloud Thermometer” from Tony DiCola,

consulted Arduino open source community for additional changes/suggestions,

slight code conversions from C++ (utilized by Yun library) to C (utilized by Uno

library).

CAD Design

1

𝑇= 𝐴 + 𝐵𝑙𝑛 𝑅 + 𝐶(ln 𝑅 ))3

Future Work/Areas for Improvement

Integration of Sensitive Thermistor: Calibrate NTC Thermistor DIA 23mils ADJ

LEAD W/STUBEND GLASS COAT

Integration of OLED: Live temperature display

Manufacturing: outsource production-move away from Arduino

Marketing: Contact lab heads

Arduino Code: Streamline code for specific uses

DynamoDB: Expand read/write capacity, look into own server