Goals:

• Test the LoRa transmitter and receiver down by the river to see if it successfully transmits.(Austin/Matthew) – tested succesfully
• Get data out of the data logger into the PIC.(Matthew)
• Fix the issue with the extraneous characters when using RTCC alarm and sending from PIC to the LoRa transmitter.(Austin) – tested succesfully
• Solder up a board with the PIC and LoRa transmitter and anything else.(Austin/Matthew)

Worked on:

• Tested that the transmitter and receiver can transmit data from the data site to the public safety building. (Matt/Austin)
• Fixed the issue with UART from PIC to the radio module and eliminated the extra characters. (Austin)
• Figured out a way to read data from the receiver and get it put onto a folder onto the network. (Austin)
  • Accessed the information from another computer on the network (Matt)
• Got both UART channels working alongside each other. (Matt/Austin)

Challenges:

• We have an issue with communicating with the data logger to get data out of it. We have seen the datalogger respond to a “ring” but we cannot establish a baud rate or get the data logger to send something to us.
  • The logger sets an output pin high to respond to us setting the ring pin high, which we verififed
  • Next step is to send carriage returns in UART spaced at least 50ms apart from each other at baud rate of 9600
  • Logger should respond by sending a *, but its TXD line is constantly low
  • We researched logic high in 5V UART and most systems count 2.6-2.7+ to be logic high. However could still be possible we need 5V logic to communicate

Goals:

• Get PIC to utilize Adafruit Radio Module to send data
• Set up PIC for sleep/idle mode with real time clock alarms for power conservation
• Look more into ways to get data out of datalogger

Worked on:

• PIC can utilize RTCC alarms to interrupt at a certain time rate (in our case it will be every hour.)(Austin)
• PIC can use RTCC alarm to wake out of sleep mode.(Austin)
• LoRa transmitter and receiver can successfully transmit and receive between each other.(Austin)
  • Range has been tested from the AEC 400 to the other end of acopian
• PIC can send data through the LoRa transmitter. (There was an issue with this, more on it below.) (Austin)
• Got the data logger into the lab to start working on getting the data out and tested signal response from the datalogger (Matthew)
• Figured how to power the LoRa transmitter and PIC off of the data logger. (Matthew)
  • used 5V to 3.3V voltage regulator
  • If the logger is solar powered, than so will the PIC and the radios

Challenges:

• There is an odd issue when using the RTCC alarm in the PIC when transmitting via UART to the Feather. The message contains the correct message and then a bunch of odd characters after. However, when not using the RTCC alarm interrupt the PIC will send the message just fine without any miscellaneous characters.
• We’ve figured out the protocol for getting data out of the data logger, we just need to test and try to implement it.
  • We’ve gotten feedback from the datalogger when giving 5V to the “ring” pin

Next Week:

• Test the LoRa transmitter and receiver down by the river to see if it successfully transmits.(Austin/Matthew)
• Get data out of the data logger into the PIC.(Matthew)
• Fix the issue with the extraneous characters when using RTCC alarm and sending from PIC to the LoRa transmitter.(Austin)
• Solder up a board with the PIC and LoRa transmitter and anything else.(Austin/Matthew)

Goals:

• Receive sample data from 9-pin output
• Get parts in for system (radio transmitter, 5V to 3.3V converter)
• Figure out how PIC can utilize RS232 to get data out of a 9 pin serial and eventually the datalogger

Worked on:

• Set up radio module to begin interfacing with PIC
  • Adafruit LoRa radio transmitter programmed
• Got parts in for system
• Researched LoRa radio receiver techniques
• Planning additional LoRa radio at receiving end to get data

Challenges:

• Finding a way to get the various data out of the datalogger is tricky because the datalogger has a different pin setup and usually a program is used to access the data.
  • Also, it is unknown whether if we were to connect to the 9 pin setup what kind of data would exactly come out or if there needs to be some specific signal to get the datalogger data
  • 9-pin connector has ring buffer pin which seems to be used to interface with the data and begin transmission
  • Possible UART connection?
• LoRa radio receiver with RTL-SDR requires several different packages to be downloaded and organized for an SDR

Next Week:

• Get PIC to utilize Adafruit Radio Module to send data
  • Most likely SPI connection
• Set up PIC for sleep/idle mode with real time clock alarms for power conservation
• Look more into ways to get data out of datalogger
• Determine which antennas to use for LoRa transmitter and receiver

Goals:

• Research Potential Solutions
• Get more information about the project from Professor Brandes
• Plan high-level hardware and software design

Worked on:

• Both – Talked to Professor Brandes to get more details. Visited the data logging site at the creek and took note of the current design.
• Researched and found hardware components to purchase for our solution
• Made a work schedule for each week of the project

Datalogger setup at the creek

Challenges:

• Deciding on how to power up the micro controller when it is not connected to a computer
• Planning software design for embedded system
•  Narrowing down what items to purchase

Next Week:

• Extensive research about utilizing our hardware equipment before they arrive
  • Radio transmitter from micro controller
  • Interfacing with datalogger
• Receive sample data from 9-pin output
• Put in parts order