Title:

Seagrass Acoustic Detection System

This project aims to improve Dr. Venegas's low-cost acoustic sea-grass detection system by addressing key issues with deployment duration, waterproofing, and synchronization between buoys. Our main accomplishments included implementing a real-time clock (RTC) module to enable precise timing coordination across buoys, adding a third sensor module to improve detection accuracy, and designing a new buoy structure with solar charging capabilities. The updated hardware can run theoretically for 120 days on battery power with solar panel support. We created a Solid Works model of the buoy and performed hydro static calculations to ensure it would remain stable in the water, then worked with a machinist to refine the design for practical manufacturing. We also designed and 3D-printed a new casing for the transducer ring and created an updated wiring diagram. Through this project, we gained hands-on experience with marine design principles including waterproofing and corrosion prevention, as well as electrical engineering and manufacturing constraints. The next steps are to assemble the buoys, conduct field tests to verify system performance, and deploy them for actual sea-grass monitoring. If successful, this improved system could provide researchers with an affordable tool for long-term monitoring of sea-grass habitats in coastal waters

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