Tuesday, April 27, 2010

SnoMote Testing

As the field test of the SnoMote approaches, it is important to first verify all of the hardware and software components are operational in a lab setting. As you can see from the picture, I am in the process of assembling a SnoMote for testing. The circuit board in the back is a Gumstix processor, a low-power computer running a custom version of the Linux operating system. This computer is responsible for controlling the drive motor and steering servo, communicating with the GPS, and logging the science sensor data.

To check out the driving functions of the rover, I setup a joystick on my computer and transmit the joystick positions to the rover as steering commands. This can be seen in the few seconds of video below.


Finally, the science data communication system has been tested. During the driving functions test, logging was enabled. The SnoMote system periodically checks for network connectivity via a cellular modem. When available, all new log files are transmitted to the web server for use with the "Data Explorer" page. If you check now, there should be a log file available from today, meaning the test was successful. However, as it is currently raining in Georgia, I am forced to do my testing in our lab basement. The GPS signal does not work well down here, so it thinks I am somewhere in Sweden. Oh well.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Site Update

This is just a quick post. I gave the site a face lift. Some cross-platform compatibility issues were fixed, navigation links at the top make sense, and the SnoMote Data Explorer has been better integrated with the site. Overall it just looks better...at least to me.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

SnoMote Data Explorer

If a mobile weather station were to be deployed in the arctic, one of the issues that will be faced is limited communication. In today's world of e-mail, cell phones, and 3G internet access, it is easy to forget that connectivity can be a major obstacle. In Greenland and Antarctica, communication is accomplished largely by satellite. Depending on the orbit and time of year, opportunities to talk to those satellites could occur as little as once a day. To cope with the limited communication, the SnoMote rovers must store all of the sensor reading locally, then transmit the data packet when possible. Part of the upcoming field tests in Alaska is to test this communication system. While on the glacier, the rover will be given several chances to upload data logs to a remote server here in Atlanta. When that happens, these data files will be immediately viewable. To aid in their viewing, the "SnoMote Data Explorer" site (link on the right) has been created. Simply select one of the available data log files, and a sensor graph will be generated, as well as a small map indicating the location of the rover. A few sample data files from the 2009 field trials have been uploaded to the site already. Feel free to explore.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Background Information

I justed added navigation to some static pages on the right. Currently, there is a link to a fairly detailed description of the SnoMote rover, complete with some pictures and diagrams. Also, during the course of the project, the SnoMotes have received quite a bit of media attention. A page called "In The Press" has links to some of those articles. These include a radio interview at a Juneau, Alaska NPR station and a several minute long spot on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet. I am currently putting together some maps and a timeline of the SnoMote filed tests. That will be posted soon.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

This is a SnoMote...

For anyone interested, this is a SnoMote. It is based a 1/8 scale snowmobile chassis, and has been modified to include an embedded computer, GPS unit, camera, accelerometer, and a small suite of weather sensors. Additional modifications include the complete redesign of the rear section to use two tracks, a new motor/drive system, and upgraded front suspension.

Some pictures from the first field test in Alaska have been uploaded, and should be visible at the bottom.

SnoMote Blog Kickoff

So, this is the kickoff post for the new SnoMote Blog. The SnoMotes are a prototype mobile sensor web designed for collecting weather data in Greenland and Antarctica. This project is being developed by the HumAns Lab group at Georgia Tech. A single SnoMote is being prepared for a field test on Byron Glacier, near Anchorage, Alaska. This blog is intended to chronicle this effort, from some general background on the SnoMote project, to the testing conducted here in Georgia, and finally to the actual field trials on the glacier (hopefully in real-time). So stay tuned...