Footprint Reduction of Sensor Control Modules for Remote Portable Laboratories.

Journal: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
Published Date:

Abstract

Following the automation of monitoring systems for pollution levels in cities or protected nature reserves, there comes a need to increase the autonomy of robotic vectors deployed in the field. Thus, it is important to consider the weight that these robots must hold in order to be able to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the environment. A balance must be struck in the size, weight, and complexity of the mobile laboratories used for measurement and the autonomy of robots, especially given that current technology does not allow, in most cases, a completely autonomous battery charging cycle. Thus, in this paper, we consider a microcontroller-based architecture for a mobile laboratory control system that will be used for installation on both an aerial and an aquatic mobile vector. We found that such a system can be repurposed for several sensor types and configurations, thus being able to massively reduce the space allocated when compared to embedded widespread products.

Authors

  • Sebastian-Alexandru Arghirescu
    Campus Centre, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, 061102 Bucharest, Romania.
  • Maria Drăgan
    Campus Centre, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, 061102 Bucharest, Romania.
  • Octavian Fratu
    Telecommunications Department, Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, 061071 Bucharest, Romania.