Week 18

Final project, which covers different knowledge and skills I learned in fablab.

WHAT WILL IT DO ?

My final project is a poisonous gas detection module which will detect different poisonous gases and produce an alert message for the user. The main application of this sensor is to detect poisonous gases in unused wells and sewage systems. For this purpose the device has two units, Unit which detects the poisonous gases. Different gas sensors are used to sense gases. This unit is dropped to the well. This unit is connected to the main unit through serial connector. The main unit receive the message from the sensor unit and then displays appropriate messages on the LCD screen. It also produce warning lights and sounds.

WHO'S DONE WHAT BEFOREHAND ?

In India there is lot of poor people working in well cleaning and sewage cleaning. These poor people does not have any protection from poisonous gases and lot of people die every year in India. Based on my knowledge there is no such device available for the poor cleaning workers. I got this idea after reading and article about such a death in my country India.

WHAT WILL YOU DESIGN ?

As part of this project I am designing Two 3D printed boxes. The Display, Sensor, Microcontroller boards etc will be put inside these boxes. PCB for sensor module and display module. PCB inside the sensor module connects all sensors to the Microcontroller. PCB inside the display module connects the micro controller to display, buzzer and LED.Design code to run with the Arduino inside the sensor module and display module.

WHAT MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS WILL BE USED?

Arduino Uno board Battery 16x2 LCD display LEDs Wires Swicthes Buzzer PCB MQ135,MQ 5,MQ7 are sensors used

WHAT PARTS AND SYSTEMS WILL BE MADE ?

I am using Arduino UNO as my microcontroller board and ready available sensors. Other than these two components I am designing and making all other hard ware by myself. I am trying to make my own microcontroller board to reduce cost.

WHAT PROCESSES WILL BE USED ?

3D printintig for the two boxes. PCB designed for making gas detecting module PCB milled for gas detectig module.

WHAT QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED ?

What types of gases need to be detected ? Based on my study Carbon Monoxide, hydrogen Sulphide, Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide etc need to be detected. How a sensor can be inserted into the well ? I made it as two units and one unit will be inserted to the well. The other unit is held by the user outside the well. These units are connected through a serial wire. How it will be communicated to the poor people. Now the display only works in English. Poor people cannot read English and I have provided warning lights and sound to make the workers understand the danger. How it can be accessed by many workers ? I am thinking of making all design other than sensor as open design. This way students or schools can download my project and give to the cleaning workers.

HOW WILL IT BE EVALUATED ?

The unit will be tested with various poisonous gases. Different concentration of gases is applied and make sure that devices detect poisonous gases.
Future changes planned The same concept with some modification can be used in other applications also. I got an idea from Google India CEO, when he was talking about pollution in the Indian cities.