Raspberry Pi Image Processing

Most modern farmers use small, Kerosene-fueled airplanes to spray pesticides onto their fields. Our goal is to instead, use a small computing system atop a drone to detect weeds and trigger a spraying mechanism in order to save farmers time and money. If successful, modern farmers won’t need to use small airplanes that are dangerous, use fossil fuels, take up space, and pollute the atmosphere. Our weed spraying drone will be easier to store, cost-effective, more accurate, and require brief human interaction. This could improve the quantity as well as quality of foods. Our object detection will allow us to target exact locations that need spraying, so it will reduce the amount of toxic chemicals going into the soil. Our project will be using a raspberry pi to explore the benefits of using smaller computers to do computationally heavy tasks with computer weight limits.

Design Task
TBA

Our major project goals are:

 * Efficient power usage
 * Fast benchmarks

Detailed Specifications
TBA

Background Research
Geothermal heat pumps are great alternatives for heating systems in many cases. Although they have high initial costs, they are able to operate with efficiencies in excess of one hundred percent. This generally allows for a 5-10 year payback period. Heat pumps can also work in reverse, which means that during the summer months, they can be used for cooling. They work by taking advantage of the grounds' relatively constant temperature, which is the winter, is warmer than the outside air, and in the summer is colder than the outside air. This is a fairly sustainable resource, and requires only a fraction of the energy costs of traditional systems.

Interview with Sue Tacke

 * Price range:
 * Less than a million. There will be nonmonetary benefits. Environmental preferable.
 * Heating costs:
 * $75000/year
 * Current system: Radiator’s preferred over air-blown heaters.
 * Client expectations:
 * Develop options for an infrastructure for the radiator’s.
 * First estimate was 1.2 million dollars
 * Preferable that the current distribution system is the same
 * What are the alternatives to coal including electricity, geothermal, etc.?
 * Solar would be an option for running the geothermal system.
 * Initial information
 * Square footage of the main building: 55000 sq ft for annex and main building
 * Boiler: 75-80% efficiency
 * Typically use one boiler at a time unless it is really cold. Currently satisfactory.
 * In 2011, a ME and HVAC vendor looked at the building and seeing if geothermal was an option. The system specs came in at $700,000.
 * Steam radiators are only in the chapel.


 * Encrypted Data Storage:
 * Current Android implementation: All or nothing view towards encryption
 * Includes application, data, downloads, etc.
 * Integrated Cloud Storage:
 * Implemented in such a way as to require minimum user setup and interaction
 * Perhaps only require that a cloud account be verified
 * With this built in to the OS the user will gain additional privacy and security at a minimal cost
 * Encryption:
 * Will require a kernel level function to encrypt/decrypt on the fly
 * Redirects sensitive data through system call
 * Eventually allow for storing locally or to the cloud
 * Remote Service Log Retrieval:
 * Uses a Linux style daemon
 * Port knocking procedure used to access a device
 * Generates a key after each successful login so the device remains secure
 * Mandatory Access Controls (MAC):
 * AOSP contains the core SELinux MAC
 * Optional Middleware MAC functionality will be included
 * All requests are denied unless explicitly allowed
 * There are currently five types of MMAC to be included:
 * Install MMAC: Determines if an app may be installed or updated
 * Intent MMAC: Checks an app’s intents as they are delivered
 * Content Provider: Controls access to structured sets of data
 * Permission Revocation: Checks app permissions during runtime
 * Enterprise Operations (EOps): Checks app permissions during runtime
 * About App Ops:
 * App that allows policy permission management
 * Hidden release for Android 4.3 and 4.4
 * Less verbose with the access controls it employs

Solar Power
The Barn’s roof area was calculated to be around 180 square meters, which is enough space to hold up to 100 solar panels and produce approximately 50 kWh per day. According to solar-estimate.org, the size of the solar system required to produce 50 kWh per day in Cascade, Idaho ranges between 10.58 kW and 15.88 kW and takes up around 130 square meters of roof space. When built, the roof was designed for future mounting of solar panels. As a result, the roof has been oriented towards the South and is built to hold the weight of solar panels. It is oriented at a 35 degree angle which is the optimal angle for optimized year round power production at the geographic location.

Hydro Power
The spillway, located on the southeast edge of Horsethief Reservoir, was measured for both flow and head during a visit to the reservoir. We found that the spillway has 30 feet of head and has a flow of ~1100 gallons-per-minute.

Wind Power
Based on models collected from various wind power companies, it is believed that wind may be lacking in the area. However, a wind turbine would serve as an excellent educational tool for camp participants. By using a small wind turbine for demonstration, the option of teaching how wind energy is harnessed and even why it might not be a viable option at the camp would be largely beneficial.

Opportunities for teaching camp participants about wind energy include but are not limited to the following:
 * Demonstration of conversions between potential, kinetic, and electrical energy
 * Real time data display of power generation
 * How wind turbines function
 * Discuss why the area is not a viable option for wind generation (economically)

Geothermal
As a result of the hot water spot found when drilling in 2006, a geothermal well near The Barn (if required) can serve as a local resource to aid in producing hot water during peak hours when the kitchen and showers are in use.

Biomass
Biomass is one of the abundant resources available to the YMCA camp. The 400-acre camp is constantly maintaining its forests and collecting a large amount of tree trimmings. These trimmings can be used as a source of fuel with a biomass gasifier.

While using biomass to generate electricity is a very viable option, using it to heat water instead will address some major problems relevant to the building’s load profile and lower the camp’s demand charges. These heaters are tank-less and consume large amount of electricity during shower-hours at specific day times. This is a prominent cause of the high demand charges of the building.

Terrain Model
Due to insufficient funding, the ideas presented were not able to be installed this year. However, in order to demonstrate the validity of this system, a micro-scale model was designed. This design is an educational tool that can be used to reach out to children participating in the YMCA camp. It provides both visual and hand’s on components that exhibit functionality for hydro, solar, and wind generation. To begin, a rough, approximate terrain was constructed out of fiber glass. The terrain was modeled based off of a topographical map and was then made to look like the environment surrounding the YMCA camp. This provides an “overhead” view of the region

The tools installed on the terrain model are used to provide insight on several of the power generation ideas presented. A solar panel was mounted onto the terrain model in order to demonstrate the idea of harnessing the sun’s natural energy. Even though wind power was not dependable for generation, a small turbine was installed onto the terrain model for demonstration. A water tower was also installed to demonstrate how power is generated through hydro. The geothermal and biofuels were not installed on the model as it would be difficult to safely operate such components and the “hands on” experience would be dissolved. These three components are then integrated together to an Arduino micro-controller providing digital display of power data from both solar and wind generation. The system also used a hydro sensor to display changes in water levels which is then interpreted to increasing or decreasing power generation. All data is easily displayed in Microsoft Excel. Another visual tool that was added consists of several LED displays. Based on certain amounts of power generation, the LEDs light up accordingly. The goal of this is to use the power generated by these renewable sources and show students some of the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies.

This section will document any work which contributes to the final design. This will include prioritizing design functionalities using a design matrix, preliminary testing of concepts, design/testing of prototypes. The below is only an example, the order/completeness may of course be modified as needed.

Consider including an initial system diagram (could be a sketch) which shows initial organization/understanding of subsystems.

Final Design
Name of Concept/Design



The three piece design has one main piece and two side pieces. The main piece is larger and holds the robot as well as the electronic equipment below the robot platform. The two side pieces hang on opposite sides of the central piece. The sides are attached as shown with the bolt holding it.As with other designs the doors are wire mesh with polycarbonate sides for viewing.The design is simple and uses fewer parts. Fewer parts make disassembling and regular maintenance easy.

Quadcopter Design

 * Frame - Turnigy Talon V2
 * Motors - NX-4008 620kv
 * ESCs - Turnigy Plush 40amp
 * Servo Wire - Flat 26AWG
 * Flight Controller - DJI Naza
 * Battery - Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 30C
 * Battery Charger - Duratrax Onyx 245
 * Propellors - APC 10x4.7 SF
 * CR Propellors - APC 10x4.7 SFP Pusher
 * Low Voltage Alarm - On Board Lipoly
 * Battery Connectors - Traxxas Style Male & Female
 * Battery Wire Shrink Wrap
 * Servo Wire Shrink Wrap
 * Bullet Connectors

Arm Design

 * Lattice Work Structure - Plastic C-Tubing
 * Lattice Work Connectors - Nuts, bolts, washers
 * Extender Motor - Linear Stepper Motor
 * Cuttng Motor - Linear Stepper Motor
 * Shears - Cut and Hold Garden Shears

Software Design

 * Camera - 2 Wireless Cameras, attached to copter and arm
 * Screen - Windows 7 Laptop with USB Ports

Joe Osborn
Mechanical Engineering Student

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA

Hobbies/Interests: My professional interests have always been geared towards helping people and making a difference, and thus I have been interested in the bio-med and bioengineering fields. In my free time I enjoy several board sports, including snowboarding, wake surfing and longboarding. Along with this I am an avid rock climber.

Plan for Future: I don’t have a set plan for what I will do after college, but at this point am determined to pass the PE exam as soon as possible.

Email: osbo8726@vandals.uidaho.edu

Jon Gift
Computer Science Student

Hometown: Bend, OR

Something goes here!

Email: gift7380@vandals.uidaho.edu

Brenden Staab
Biological Systems Engineering Student

Hometown: Worland, Wyoming

I enjoy skiing, reading, playing video games, and writing.

My future goals are to go into Biomedical Engineering.

Email: staa1939@vandals.uidaho.edu

Kadrie Swanson
Biological Systems Engineering Student

Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota

Hobbies/Interests: My professional interests center around the application of ergonomics in engineering, I apply this at my current internship working on the Advanced Accessible Pedestrian System. At the University of Idaho, I am a member of the Concrete Canoe Club in addition to being the president of the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Club and the secretary/fundraising chair to the Civil Engineering Club. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, and playing tennis.

Plan for the future: Eventually, I would love to have an engineering career focusing on how medical devices can be more functional for the user.

Email: swan5849@vandals.uidaho.edu

Glossary of terms
Rows -  Pixels that run from one side of the street to another perpendicular to the flow of traffic.

Columns -  Pixels that run up and down the street parallel to the flow of traffic.

Background -  A frame recording the unmoving parts of the scene.

Current Frame -  The frame being used to extract foreground objects.

Pixel Fill -  The portion of a pixels shade that can be attributed to a foreground object.

Delta Cap -  The maximum amount of change than can be applied to the background due to a new frame.

Delta Breach -  When a current frame pixel is more than one Delta Cap away from the corresponding background pixel.

Foreground Threshold -  The minimum difference between background and current frame pixels to register a foreground pixel.

Tripwire -  A row of pixels that is being monitored for foreground pixels.

Design Documents

 * Project Schedule
 * Meeting Minutes
 * Design Review Presentation
 * Design Matrix
 * Liner Donning Force Test Results

Resources

 * Denso VSG Series Robot datasheet
 * RC7 Controller Specifications
 * WINCAPS III Guide
 * Programmer's Manual I
 * Controller Manual
 * Setting-up Manual
 * Safety Precautions
 * Beginner's Guide