Week 01 - Sketch a final project
For my final project the idea is to develop a new, rugged and affordable, low-power type of anemometer.
An anemometer is a device used for measuring wind speed (and direction).
Typically working principles of anemometers are:
- ultrasonic
- acoustic resonance
- propeller/vane
- hot wire
- dynamic/static pressure
- cup/vane
Why develop a new anemometer and for whom?
Many anemometer types are not suitable for remote, off-grid location in alpine, arctic or sub-arctic climate conditions. Typically, propeller type anemometers are used, but they require regular maintenance (bearing change) and are prone to wear and tear (potentiometer for wind direction failing, propeller breaking).
In the matrix below I tried to visualize some properties of different anemometer types.
The target application is mainly remote, off-grid weather stations especially for avalanche risk monitoring in mountainous areas, but also for simple home weather stations. The target application is not standard meteorological stations in the lowland that require high accuracy and reliable calibration.
Defining requirements
I defined the following preliminary requirements for the project:
- simple construction using rapid prototyping methods and material cost < US$100/unit
- field life expectation > 5 years without maintenance
- field calibaration/verification option
- power consumption < 10mA
- reliable measurement of wind speeds 0-75m/s with accuracy > 0,5m/s
- reliable measurement of wind direction with deviation < 10°
- no rotating parts
Ideas of realization
Below I show a page of my sketch book for the final project, with two approaches I identified.
Possible project plan
When checking out different project management programs I decided to try ProjectLibre, the predecessor of OpenProj.
So I installed it and started setting up the different steps that came into my mind. I didn't find it very obvious how the tasks are connected to resources and I haven't yet figured out how I can define a time frame for a task, that requires not the full resources all the time.
Anyway, the below gantt chart draft shows a possible project plan, utilizing the weekly assignments as much as possible to gain experience and develop/test certain features of the final project.
