Topic- soil moisture temperature Detection
PROJECT REPORT INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
Ref: Kirkup (1994). Experimental Methods: An Introduction to the Analysis and Presentation of Data. Brisbane: John Wiley & Sons.
A project report is required to be submitted by each student as one of the assessment items for this unit. The report will be assessed and marked out of 15%.
Group work is permitted with one project topic per group of four students maximum.
The format of the report is that of an engineering/scientific report. All aspects of your report must be your group's own original work. You must acknowledge any assistance that you received, and must provide appropriate referencing for any copyright information that you include in your report.
One of the primary goals of the project is to get you to perform "inquiry or problem- based learning" through this project. You investigate the problem, and when you reach the limit of your knowledge, you will need to backtrack and re-examine the problem. You should determine explicitly what you need to know at each stage, and then search for information from the sources at your disposal - the lecture notes, textbook, other references, the library, the internet, etc. We understand that you may not know everything you need to know at this stage, but your learning should accelerate as you progress through the project.
Note that during the three lab sessions you perform a number of experiments that are directly related to this project, and if relevant, you can use the information and your analyses from these experiments as part of your project. For example, if you want to measure a load between 0 and 10kg, then obviously you will incorporate your load cell results into your project - you don't have to repeat the load cell characterization. There are also many other sensors available that you can chose from and use in your project (see last page).
What Your Report Should Contain
You are required to include the following information, and structure your report as described:
Assignment Cover Sheet - download from the Unit page on Blackboard.
I&M Project Report Template - download from the Unit page on Blackboard then:
- Edit the Word file and adjust it to your project realisation.
- Keep the number of words within the limits indicated next to each paragraph title.
- Follow the guidelines below and keep the report as professional as possible.
- Achieve as much as you can of the measurement system.
Introduction
- Short summary of the purpose or function of your proposed system - what goals are you trying to achieve. Not "to measure temperature", but to "monitor and control engine temperature in a motor vehicle".
- Include background information on previous work, including references.
Project Description
- Brief description of the procedures and apparatus to be used. Include a diagram of your proposed measurement system.
- Input Measurand(s): Based on the project goals, define what you intend to measure (e.g. the water temperature in a motor vehicle). Include a description of the operating range (and any other properties) of your defined measurement (e.g. the temperature range of interest - 0oC to 100oC - why this range? - justify your reasons for choosing these).
- Input Sensor(s): How do you intend to measure the chosen measurand - state the sensor type (e.g. a thermistor). If you know the make and model of the sensor, include this. Give a brief explanation of how this sensor works, and any limitations, advantages and disadvantages, etc and how these may affect your measurement system performance. What will the form of the input signal be (e.g. digital or analogue)?
- DAQ Card Properties: You will need to feed the energy signal from the sensor into your data acquisition (DAQ) card. What are the relevant specifications of the DAQ card (e.g. input voltage range, resolution, etc) and how do they affect your measurement system design.
- Software: If you use a DAQ Card, then describe the control software and what you need to include in the software to achieve your stated goals. You should map out a plan of the functions you want the software to perform. This can be a flow diagram.
- Control/Actuator Element: What is your proposed output response or control element - that is, what actuators do you intend to use and what do you intend to control. This must relate to the input measurand. How will this be achieved? What will the form of the DAQ output be (digital, analogue, etc). How does the actuator work, etc?
Sensor/Actuator Circuits
You must try to match your measurement circuit output to the input range of the DAQ card. As such, do you need to process the signal (e.g. amplify it or filter it, etc). Describe what is required, and how you intend to do this.
References
Reference all material that you use from other sources. Use the correct referencing method defined by the University (or Kirkup)*.
Overall Organization and Presentation
- Use a word processor - this makes editing and rewriting easy and efficient - it also allows you to submit the report electronically. This also allows you to pass copies of the report between group members so that everyone can contribute to the editing. Your report must be submitted individually as a Microsoft Word formatted file or a PDF file (preferred).
- Length: The length of your report should have a maximum of twenty A4 pages, single spaced, including figures (diagrams and graphs). Do not make it too long - use appendices if needed.
- Page Size and Margins: Page size should be A4, with margins of 1 inch (2.5 cm) all round.
- Font: Font size should be 12 font either Times Roman, Arial, Courier or similar - that is, readable.
- Page Numbers: Already at the bottom of the page of the template file.
- Section Headings: Be consistent in the labelling of sections, whether you use section numbers and a heading or just a section heading.
- Where appropriate, use footnoting within the text.
- Spell correctly, and use correct grammatical structure.
- Neutral (third) or second person ("we") - neutral is preferred.
- Do not use dot points - write proper sentences (dot points are OK in laboratory notebook, but not in reports).
- Paragraphs: There are two conventions for defining a paragraph: (1) Begin paragraphs on the left margin and have a blank line between paragraphs, or (2) indent the first line of a paragraph (0.25 to 0.5 cm) with no blank lines between paragraphs (or a half line between paragraphs). Be consistent in the method you choose.
Equations
- Create equations using an equation editor.
- Equations should be on a new line, numbered sequentially on right, with the line right justified. The number should be in brackets, e.g. (1).
- Identify symbols when they first appear.
- Express numbers clearly - e.g. 6 1023, not 6e23 or 6*10^23.
- Use appropriate units on all numerical values.
- Express numerical values to the appropriate number of significant figures.
- Equations form part of the text; that is, the presence of an equation should appear as if it is part of a sentence, even though it is on a separate line and is numbered. If the equation is at the end of a sentence, it should be followed by a full stop; if it is in the middle of a sentence, then a comma may be required.
- In the text, refer to the equation by its number. "As discussed earlier, Equation
(1) indicates that ..."
Tables
- Numbered (using roman numerals) in sequence - e.g. "Table II".
- Title at top of table - to right of or under table number. Again, the title is actually a caption that describes what the table is displaying.
- Results presented with errors (uncertainties) and units.
- Literature values (footnoted) may be included for comparison.
- Make sure that all captions stay with the appropriate table on the same page.
- Refer to all tables appropriately with their numbers in the text; i.e. "Table II shows data on ..." not "in the table below".
- Tables are separate from the text.
Project ideas
(Select one from this list below or develop your own instrument idea)
Sensors:
Temperature
Platinum RTD Thermistor Thermocouple IR
Light
Photodiode Phototransistor LDR
Magnetic
Hall Effect Sensor EM induction
Mechanical
Strain Gauge Piezoelectric Sensor Microphone
Other
Conductance Resistance Capacitance
Measurands:
Temperature Light Magnetic flux Strain Pressure Sound
pH Salinity Turbidity Radiation Smoke Water Moisture Humidity Position Rotation
Actuators:
Light (LED) Speaker
Piezoelectric Transducer Fan
Relay
Attachment:- Template.rar