Data-Acquiring Mooring Buoys Using Sensor Network with Sleep Mode Power Management System

Abstract

This study presents the use of a wireless data acquisition system and the power management system for the development of mooring buoys. The Data Acquisition System is a system for controlling more than one group of sensors and reporting the findings of each sensor through microcontroller. The Power Management System oversees controlling the electrical system of the buoy. The main task is to ensure the electrical system of the buoy is safe and efficient. The proposed study consists of seven sensors gathering different parameters namely: air temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, rainfall, solar radiation, water temperature, and salinity profile. For more precise data, three (3) moored buoys are stationed one kilometer from the shore and apart each other to collect information from different areas of the deployment area. It gathers climate characteristics of different areas, which records data accurately. The construction of the device consists of a tower, a polystyrene, and a rope. Its tower has beacon light that serves as an indicator and solar panels as the primary energy source of the buoy. The buoy carries approximately 15 to 20 kilograms of load, and it sustain three (3) solar panels and a 12-V battery. This device has a long battery life and uses idle mode between continuous samples to conserve power. Sleep mode is activated if the information gathered following 15 minutes of samples are consistent, and the power starts again after an additional 15 minutes. The buoys for weather monitoring were deployed under the CGSS-CCP of the Philippine Coast Guard. The results are transmitted to the base station and analyzed by the forecasting system.