A Low-Cost Radar-Based IoT Sensor for Noncontact Measurements of Water Surface Velocity and Depth

Autor: Stephen Catsamas, Baiqian Shi, Miao Wang, Jieren Xiao, Peter Kolotelo, David McCarthy
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Sensors, Vol 23, Iss 14, p 6314 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1424-8220
DOI: 10.3390/s23146314
Popis: We designed an out-of-water radar water velocity and depth sensor, which is unique due to its low cost and low power consumption. The sensor is a first at a cost of less than USD 50, which is well suited to previously cost-prohibited high-resolution monitoring schemes. This use case is further supported by its out-of-water operation, which provides low-effort installations and longer maintenance-free intervals when compared with in-water sensors. The inclusion of both velocity and depth measurement capabilities allows the sensor to also be used as an all-in-one solution for flowrate measurement. We discuss the design of the sensor, which has been made freely available under open-hardware and open-source licenses. The design uses commonly available electronic components, and a 3D-printed casing makes the design easy to replicate and modify. Not before seen on a hydrology sensor, we include a 3D-printed radar lens in the casing, which boosts radar sensitivity by 21 dB. The velocity and depth-sensing performance were characterised in laboratory and in-field tests. The depth is accurate to within ±6% and ±7 mm and the uncertainty in the velocity measurements ranges from less than 30% to 36% in both laboratory and field conditions. Our sensor is demonstrated to be a feasible low-cost design which nears the uncertainty of current, yet more expensive, velocity sensors, especially when field performance is considered.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje