Autonomous Boat IOT Part

This autonomous Boat utilizes an automatic lake monitoring system that consists of an integrated circuit of sensors that gathers data and send them to a gateway where they can be stored and monitored by the user.

In this guide, we are focusing on the sensors part and posting data to the internet of the solar boat.

GitHub main page

Brief Introduction

Sensors used:

- Arduino Mega 2560

- Arduino UNO (for testing)

- Arduino WiFi Shield

- 3 Ultrasonic sensor HC-SR04

- Dissolved Oxygen Probe (KIT-103D)

- Temperature Sensor LM35

- Turbidity Sensor SEN0189

- Compass GY-271

- GPS VK2828u7g5lf (Not Used at current state)

Check this for detailed -> Sensors used and sensor connection

Step 1: Setup the Software

Instead of Arduino IDE, I am using Atom Text Editor with platform.io, which allows me to code my software in C++, .cpp format with .h header instead of Arduino .ino format.

The iOT part that I used is ThingSpeak which allows me to send data using their API for my project. The drawback of free services is that I can only sent data once in 15 seconds. In this project, I am using only write method.

ThingSpeak Arduino Library: ThingSpeak Arduino

Step 2: If You Are New to ThingSpeak

Go to ThingSpeak.com, sign up an account.

After log in, Click on New Channel

ThingSpeak allows up to 8 fields for free account.

For this project, we used all 8 fields. (follow the pictures)

Save the channel

Step 3: Setup ThingSpeak and WiFi Shield at Arduino

In ThingSpeak Copy CHANNEL ID and Write API Key (in API Keys) and paste it in mega/src/parts/thingspeakAPI/internet.cpp

add SSID, password for WPA/WPA2 type WiFi in the code.

Step 4: Ultrasonic Sensor

Check SENSOR.md for detailed sensors connection

Name: HC-SR04
Pin Used: 3 sensors is used

Sonar echoPin trigPin

Sonar1 (Right) 2 3

Sonar2 (Left) 6 7

Sonar3 (Front) 8 9

Step 5: Temperature Sensor

Name: LM35 Temperature Sensor

Pin Used: Analog A1

Step 6: Dissolved Oxygen

Name: Part # KIT-103D

Pin Used: RX(Green): 14

TX(Yellow): 15

The code only works on Arduino Mega

Step 7: Turbidity Sensor

Name: Turbidity Sensor SEN0189

Mode: Analog (important)

Pin Used: Analog A0

Step 8: Compass

Name: Compass GY-271

Pin Used:

GY-273 Compass Module -> Arduino

VCC -> VCC

GND -> GND

SCL -> A5/SCL, (Use Pin 21 on the Arduino Mega)

SDA -> A4/SDA, (Use Pin 20 on the Arduino Mega)

DRDY -> Not Connected

Step 9: What to Do Next?

- GPS sensor have not setup

- Ultrasonic Sensor Avoidance System

- Using GPS and Compass, write algorithm to actuate the path after ultrasonic avoidance system.