Week 17 assignment: applications and implications
Summary
Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering a set of questions for it.
Process
What will it do?
Have you ever thought about whether your house or apartment has a water leak? How would you know? Your toilet may begin to leak water and you may not realize it, your building's cistern may begin to leak water and you may not realize it, a pipe may be cracked inside your property and you may not realize it, and What's worse, that water leak may already become a normal part of your water bill.
My final project is to design and make a low-cost water leak detector to avoid these invisible water expenses. It will be programmed so that when it detects a water leak through the main supply pipe, it sends an alert to your cell phone and email, informing you of the problem in time.
My water leak detector will be aligned with several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. Specifically, it relates to the following goals:
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This goal aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Implementing water leak detectors contributes to water conservation by preventing unnecessary losses and ensuring more efficient use of this vital resource.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Promote resilient infrastructure, inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Leak detectors represent a technological innovation that can be integrated into water infrastructures to improve their efficiency and sustainability.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. A water leak detection system can help cities better manage their water resources, reduce waste, and improve urban infrastructure.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Leak detection technology supports the efficient use of natural resources, promoting responsible consumption and production practices.
Together, these goals highlight the importance of managing water resources sustainably and efficiently. By preventing waste and optimizing water use, leak detection technology plays a crucial role in achieving these goals.
Who's done what beforehand?
-Commercial Products
Flo by Moen
Price: Approximately $499
Features: Monitors water usage, detects leaks, automatic shutoff, smartphone integration.
LeakSmart
Price: Starter kits range from $499 to $799 depending on the number of sensors and additional features.
Features: Wireless sensors, automatic shutoff valve, integration with smart home systems, smartphone alerts.
Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak and Freeze Detector
Price: Around $80 per sensor, without the controller.
Features: Leak and temperature drop detection, Wi-Fi connectivity, smartphone alerts.
Phyn Plus
Price: Approximately $699
Features: Monitors water usage patterns, detects leaks, automatic shutoff, real-time alerts, smartphone integration.
-Academic Research
While academic research itself doesn’t typically have a direct price, here are some costs associated with the components used in research projects:
Sensor Technology
Capacitive Moisture Sensors: $10-$20 each
Resistive Moisture Sensors: $5-$15 each
Acoustic Sensors: $50-$200 each
Fiber-Optic Sensors: $100-$500 each
Wireless Sensor Networks
Node Modules (e.g., XBee): $20-$50 per module
Gateways: $200-$300 each
Machine Learning and AI
Computing Hardware: $500-$2000 (for dedicated servers or high-performance computing devices)
Software Licenses: Often open-source, but commercial licenses can range from $200 to several thousand dollars depending on the platform.
What will you design?
My design includes a water tank made of acrylic that would continuously recirculated the water thanks to a small submersible electric pump. There will be a water pipe that simulates the main network from which a facility is supplied (like a house or a building) and another small parallel network that will work only in the early morning hours.
In addition, it is contemplated to use 2 solenoid valves that will allow the gates to be closed or opened in the time range of 3 to 3:15 am. During this period of time, the first valve will close and the second will open so that the liquid enters through the parallel network and passes through a highly precise hall-type flow sensor. After this hour, the valves are reversed, opening the first and closing the second, so that the water flows in its normal network.
The idea of operating the flow sensor only 15 minutes is because during that time there is no regular water consumption, and what the sensor senses will correspond to a liquid leak. In addition, operating the sensor for 15 minutes prolongs its useful life. All the project will be in a base of 15mm wood painted in a white waterproof acrylic paint.
What materials and components will be used?
The list of materials are the following:
- 1 electropump.
- 2 solenoid valves.
- 3 MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor) min 1.5A. I will also need tin filament for soldering, resistors, LED diode, header pins, cables.
- 1 hall type flow sensor.
- 1 LED screen to show the flow variable.
- 5 linear meters of 1/2" transparent hoses.
- 6 1/2" hose to device adapters.
- 1 Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 IoT mini development board.
- 0.25 square meters of acrylic to make the tank.
-Copper clad laminates for the manufacture of electronic boards.
-15mm MDF wood and waterproof paint.
-1" OLED screen.
Where will come from?
All electronic manufacturing components will be provided by the FabLab. The others such as the electric pump, flow sensor, solenoid valves, hoses and connectors will be purchased separately from from specialized suppliers in electronics, robotics, and industrial supplies.
How much will they cost?
The list of materials costs are the following:
- 1 electropump = 5$.
- 2 solenoid valves = $10.
- 3 MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor) min 1.5A. I will also need tin filament for soldering, resistors, LED diode, header pins, cables = $5.
- 1 hall type flow sensor = $5.
- 1 LED screen to show the flow variable = 5$.
- 5 linear meters of 1/2" transparent hoses = $3.
- 6 1/2" hose to device adapters = $3.
- 1 Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C3 IoT mini development board = $10.
- 0.25 square meters of acrylic to make the tank = 5$.
-Copper clad laminates for the manufacture of electronic boards = $2.
-15mm MDF wood and waterproof paint = 5$.
-1" OLED screen = 5$.
Total cost = $63.
What parts and systems will be made?
For the project, I will be designing and manufacturing the entire electronic board. Additionally, I will design the water tank and I will also design the wooden base structure to support all the elements. Finally, all components such as solenoid valves, electronic board, OLED screen and flow sensor will be attached with a custom 3D printing structure.
What processes will be used?
1. Computer-Controlled Cutting
Process: CNC cutting of 15mm MDF to create the base of the structure.
Materials: 15mm MDF sheets.
Tools: CNC machine.
Steps:
Design the base structure using Fusion 360 software.
Export design files to the CNC machine using Enrout CAM software.
Cut MDF sheets according to design specifications.
2. Electronic Production
Process: Design and manufacture a PCB using an SEEEDUINO ESP32-C3 microcontroller.
Materials: SEEEDUINO ESP32-C3, PCB, capacitors, resistors, connectors, etc.
Tools: PCB design software in Fusion 360, PCB manufacturing services, soldering station.
Steps:
Design the PCB layout using Fusion 360 and Flatcam for G code / electronic production.
Manufacture the PCB using a Roland machine.
Solder the components onto the PCB.
3. 3D Printing
Process: Print components to attach to the base, including cable management parts.
Materials: ABS filament.
Tools: 3D printer (Bambulab Carbon X1), 3D modeling software (Fusion 360).
Steps:
Design the components using 3D modeling software.
Export the design to the 3D printer.
Print the components.
Post-process (assembly).
4. Embedded Programming
Process: Write and upload firmware to the SEEEDUINO ESP32-C3 microcontroller.
Materials: None (software-based).
Tools: Arduino IDE, USB programming cable.
Steps:
Write the firmware code using Arduino IDE.
Compile and upload the code to the microcontroller.
Test and debug the firmware.
5. Networking and Communications
Process: Implement wireless communication between the water leak detector and the mobile device.
Materials: Wi-Fi/Bluetooth capabilities of the SEEEDUINO ESP32-C3.
Tools: Same as electronic production and embedded programming tools.
Steps:
Integrate the communication module into the PCB design, antenna.
Write the code for network communication.
Test the communication functionality.
6. Interface and Application Programming
Process: Develop a mobile or web application to interface with the water leak detector.
Materials: None (software-based).
Tools: Development environment (Blynk App).
Steps:
Design the user interface.
Write the application code.
Test the application on various devices.
Deploy the application.
What questions need to be answered?
How will I optimize the code program in arduino IDE?
How will notifications be sent to the cell phone? What will the programming be and where will it take place?
Should I put some delay for the sensor to start measuring the water flow, immediately after opening the solenoid valve?
Will the sensor's precision be adequate to measure water leaks?
How will it be evaluated?
The most important thing about the project will be to make the sensor work and verify if when it flows through it it measures a minimum flow rate.
Additionally, another crucial thing is that the seeeduino can send the alert to the user and notify them.