Culturally Situated Sensors on Progress & Development on Culturally Situated Sensors and Sensor-Caching -Chris Shing
Table of Contents Culturally Situated Sensors Sensor-caching Questions 2
What is CSS? Build, Sense, Share, Act Build a participatory environmental sensing community based on open source technology to share environmental data and facilitate environmental empowerment 3
Who we are NSF Triple Helix Program www.3helix.rpi.edu 3 Professors Prof. Eglash (STS), Prof. Krishnamoorthy (CS), Prof. Sawyer (ECSE) 3 graduate students (STS, CS, ECSE) David Banks (STS), Louis Gutierrez (CS), Chris Shing (ECSE) Former: Kirk Jalbert (STS) Several undergraduates (currently 1) Current: Adrienne Wilson (Website Designer) Former: Mitch Sikapizye (MANE) Various partner sites 4
What is the RPI-ES01? A fusion of proprietary and open source technologies based on an Arduino architecture 5
What is the RPI-ES01? 6
What is http://www.communitysensors.rpi.edu/? Login Button GO TO HOME PAGE Data Visualization 7
What are some resources created? 8
What are some resources created? At Diné College: 9
What are some resources created? At NAU: Grades 6-12 Focus on Climate Change Understanding what is climate change and how scientists predict it Continued construction and interpretation of environmental sensors Continued understanding of mapping as a tool for interpreting data Empowerment of community members via data Kirk (shown above) is currently conducting the workshop this week. This is a photo on location with him using the RPI-ES01 sensor. 10
What are our future challenges? Hardware: Bluetooth Smaller, cheaper sensors devices that can connect to a cell phone. Modularity Simplified hardware & firmware structures that allows for plug & play type components Improved Power Management A research area that needs to be explored to increase the longevity of this device 11
What are our future challenges? Software: More Data Visualization Options Increase the number of ways to view data (e.g. plot data in bar form or pie form, view 2-D data gradient flows vs. location) Improved User Interface Allow for greater user input and control over data uploaded Allow for 3 rd Party Upload Allow for uploading and parsing of data not produced by the RPI Environmental Sensor Validate User Data Algorithmically & Access Feasilbilty Improve the accuracy of the data uploaded to the website 12
Possible Solutions? 13
What is Sensor-Caching? Geocaching with sensors! Find, connect, and upload sensor data Build and contribute to a larger environmental sensing community Discuss environmental awareness, engineering practices, and basic programming Have fun with science with people of all ages! Natural evolution of previous project 14
What is Geocaching? Invented in 2000 by engineer David Ulmer [1] High-tech treasure hunting game Search for objects in numerous locations using a handheld GPS unit Log into a log-book Over 1,000,000 caches worldwide Share comments online with a large community Incorporated into numerous GK-12 activities in teaching areas of history, mathematics (e.g. geometry), and technology (e.g. GPS) 15
Goals of Sensor-Caching: 16
Our development goals: Enabling Technology: Bluetooth/Android compatible sensing platform based off of an Arduino microcontroller Android app to find, connect, and upload sensing data Website to keep track of data and user profile 17
Hardware: 18
Hardware: Arduino Uno microcontroller Data Logger shield, Bluetooth, Analog sensor (5V max power supply) No power module implemented yet Bluetooth SD Logger/ Microcontroller To Sensors 19
Android App: 20
Android App: Reduces hardware costs Moves processing power to phone instead of sensor Runs on Android 2.2.2 OS Still under development 21
Timeline: Year 0: Universal Environmental Sensors Year 1: Sensor-caching Development Year 2: Sensor-caching Development Multiple sensors Data only on SD (manually remove) Short battery life Large dimensions Expensive Reduce costs Add Bluetooth Simplify code Finish design Submit design Improve battery Implement Create app to locate sensors Implement early database to store locations Refine app to locate sensors Field test design Add more sensors over time Field test sensors Correct for failures Develop app function to read sensor data via Bluetooth Develop app to upload data to website Refine app Develop website Develop method to receive sensor data Add profiles to website Refine socialization functions Develop method to display data from graphs Develop method to display data in a GIS format Develop activities to initiate dialogue regarding environmental awareness Develop activities to initiate dialogue regarding environmental awareness using the sensor-caching idea
Questions? Website: http://www.communitysensors.rpi.edu NSF GK-12 Program: www.3helix.rpi.edu List of RPI contacts: Christopher Shing: shingc@rpi.edu Louis Gutierrez: gutiela@cs.rpi.edu David Banks: banksd2@rpi.edu Ron Eglash: eglash@rpi.edu 23
Culturally Situated Sensors: On Sensor-Caching What is Sensor-caching? Sensor-caching is environmental sensing using a combination of open-source technologies with a fun, GPS enabled treasure hunting game. Its main purpose is to promote the mission goal of the Culturally Situated Sensors (CSS) Project while providing an outlet for engineering creativity and physical activity. What is CSS? CSS, or Culturally Situated Sensors, is a group formed by graduate students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute looking for a way to combine their interdisciplinary talents to aid environmental education within the classroom and community. Our mission statement is: To build a participatory environmental sensing community based on open source technology to share environmental data and facilitate environmental empowerment. In this way, the idea of sensor-caching lends itself well towards the goals of CSS while at the same time providing a fun activity kids can enjoy. Hardware: Hardware for sensor-caching is designed to be simple and affordable that anyone can build it. The core hardware of sensor-caching are Bluetooth and the Arduino microcontroller. As we continue to improve our hardware design information will be released on our website. Mobile App: To reduce hardware costs much of the onsite processing is handled by the mobile app. Information gathered by the sensor will be uploaded to the web via this app. The current mobile app design uses an Android 2.2.2 OS, keeping within out mission statement to use opensource technology. As we improve the Android app will be released. Website: Through our website users can find everything they need to know about CSS and sensorcaching. Each user will be given a profile page which he or she can use to track, comment, or review information gathered at various cache sites. Users can also find information about the hardware design or the mobile app builds, as well as activities that can be used in conjunction with the sensor caching technology. For More Information: http://www.communitysensors.rpi.edu Christopher Shing: shingc@rpi.edu Louis Gutierrez: gutiela@cs.rpi.edu Ron Eglash: eglash@rpi.edu