Our school has a 12 foot wave flume (about 6 inches wide) but the sensors are getting kind of old and I'm wondering if adafruit has anything that could be substituted. Bascially there is a "beach" with polymer beads that simulate sand on the bottom of one end and the whole thing is filled with water. There is a paddle connected to a motor that provides wave motion.
The tank is used to study wave motion so distance between the sensor and the top surface of the water - maybe something like an ultrasonic sensor that can be used to measure distance vs. time?
Also there is an impeller that measured wave speed that is basically just a propeller that is situated so its underwater and the speed vs. time can be measured.
I'm thinking of using a bluefruit feather with a battery (waterproof box for safety with seal around the cables) and small waterproof enclosure enclosure for each distance sensor. Everything will be well above the water level except the impeller but its all near water so just to be safe its all sealed.
Hardware suggestion for project
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- Franklin97355
- Posts: 23911
- Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:33 pm
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
What type of sensors are being used now? And what are they communicating to? What is the distance the water moves vertically? I'm interested in a picture of the flume.
- Hapka
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:52 pm
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
At the moment the sensors are connecting to a lab quest interface, but the students need to enter calibration data each time they enter it and the sensors are finicky so I want to replace them.
Here is a link to the University of Delaware research group page that contains the specs for the sensors if you click the link to the wave flume specs.
https://sites.udel.edu/jpuleo/wave-flume-specs/
Here is a link to the University of Delaware research group page that contains the specs for the sensors if you click the link to the wave flume specs.
https://sites.udel.edu/jpuleo/wave-flume-specs/
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
Looks like the existing 'acoustic' sensors operate similarly to the ultrasonic sensors, but with an analog voltage output. Ultrasonics generally work well for detecting liquid levels.
We carry a good selection of ultrasonic rangefinders. From the low-cost HC-SR04 types to the higher end Maxbotix sensors. The Maxbotix range includes high-resolution (1mm) models as well as some waterproof versions.
https://www.adafruit.com/category/686
We carry a good selection of ultrasonic rangefinders. From the low-cost HC-SR04 types to the higher end Maxbotix sensors. The Maxbotix range includes high-resolution (1mm) models as well as some waterproof versions.
https://www.adafruit.com/category/686
- Hapka
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:52 pm
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
What is the board in the image for product 4664, thinking that would be great for a quick display on the wave flume - we will collect data as a function of time but for troubleshooting it looks like a good solution.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
That is a Feather Wing OLED, plugged into one of our Feather processors. We can't see which processor it is. But the OLED wing will work with any of them.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2900
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather/overview
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2900
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-feather/overview
- Hapka
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:52 pm
Re: Hardware suggestion for project
Thanks! I have a feather collection so that will be perfect!
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.