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Design Proposal: Creating an Portable Emergency Radio for Outdoorsmen

Submitted To

Dr. Bill Fagelson Mr. Evan Ross

Prepared By Raymund Lee Brandon Crosbie Terrance DeSilva Phillip Foster

EE333T Engineering Communication Electrical and Computer Engineering Department University of Texas at Austin Spring 2012

CONTENTS TABLES. iii INTRODUCTION..... 1 OVERVIEW OF DESIGN PROBLEM.. 1 RESEARCH REVIEW.... 3 3.1 Existing Emergency Contact Devices.. 3 3.1.1 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.2 Personal Locator Beacons. 3 Very High Frequency Radios 4 Satellite Phones... 4

1.0 2.0 3.0

Batteries.. 5 3.2.1 3.2.2 3.2.3 Lithium-Ion Battery 5 Nickel-Cadmium Battery 5 Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery. 5

3.3

Portable Power Generation... 6 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 Solar Generation. 6 Power Scavenging... 7 Hand Crank Generator... 7

3.4

Antennas. 8 3.4.1 3.4.2 3.4.3 Effects of Elevation. 8 Effects of Soil Conditions... 8 Effects of the Human Body 9

3.5 4.0

Research Conclusion 9 Energy Storage 10 Power Generation 10 Antenna Type...... 10 Antenna to Radio Connection 11 Division of Labor. 11 ii

DESIGN CONCEPT... 9 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4

5.0

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 11 5.1

5.1.1 5.1.2 5.1.3 5.1.4 5.2 5.3 5.4

Raymund Lee.... 12 Phillip Foster 12 Brandon Crosbie... 13 Terrance DeSilva...... 13

Proposed Project Activities. 13 Outside Consultations. 13 Necessary Parts and Equipment 14 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.4.4 Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery.......14 Solar Panel14 Antenna. 14 Testing Equipment and Facilities 15

6.0

CONCLUSION.... 16

REFERENCES........ 17 APPENDIX A FLOW CHART A-1 APPENDIX B - GANTT CHART......B-1

ii

TABLES 1 2 3 Areas of Responsibility For Each Team Member12 Cost of Test Equipment and Parts15 Availability of Equipment15

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1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of the proposal is to discuss and present our research and how we intend to complete an emergency radio project in senior design. Our product will provide a means of communication for hikers in emergency situations. Our main focus is to improve problems of current radios. The inconvenience of the problems with current radios cause the average hiker to neglect these safety devices from their list of items included on their expeditions. Our product will encourage safety through its convenience, and potentially save lives. The scope of the report is to appropriately define the problem in order to find a solution. Taking into account all of the research, we will decide on the most efficient and feasible design concept. Once we have developed our design concept, we will schedule our actions of implementation in order to complete our project in a timely manner.

2.0 OVERVIEW OF DESIGN PROBLEM The goal of this project is to create an extremely portable radio that allows hikers to effectively communicate with other radio receivers during an emergency situation. Many unexpected things can happen while hiking. Getting lost, attaining an injury, and getting a sickness are serious risks to hikers. It is important for a hiker to have an open line of communication between himself and emergency services. An instance where an emergency radio could have been a great help is the famous story of what happened to Aron Ralston. In April 2003, Aron was hiking in Utah when a boulder fell and pinned his arm for over 5 days. With no means of communication, he cut off his pinned arm to escape. If Aron had brought an emergency radio, he could have used it to communicate with search and rescue crews, aircraft, or other hikers who are in the area instead of cutting off his arm [1].

Current emergency radios have problems that creates inconvenience for hikers. Existing solutions are either too bulky, have a small broadcasting range, or require too much power. We are going to address all of these problems by creating a radio that is portable, powerful, and has the ability to generate and store its own energy. We will meet these requirements by researching multiple techniques and technologies that can be applied to our radio.

Customer Needs/Specifications In order to create the ideal emergency radio for hikers, it is important to understand the physical nature and isolated environment of hiking. With this understanding, we can place requirements and constraints on our radio.

Hikers must carry all of their supplies on their person. A heavy or an awkwardly shaped item will deter a hiker using the product. Therefore, the final design needs to be lightweight and compact. Our products convenient design will encourage hikers to be safe on their adventures.

Hikers need an emergency radio because they are a long distance away from help. Nearby forest ranger stations, hikers, and airplanes flying by are all potential contacts in an emergency situation. In order to reach these sources of help, our emergency radio must broadcast a signal within a large radius. We require our emergency radio transmitter to match or exceed todays portable emergency radio broadcasting range of 3 miles [2][3].

Deliverables Our final project will be a prototype of the radio, and our project will have fully functional electrical components assembled in a compact manner. We do not plan to create a finished product that is ready to go to market. The prototype will come with a list of specifications which includes consumption, broadcasting range, dimensions, and total cost of components. We will disregard the theoretical values of the characteristics given to us by the components manufacturer and measure or test each of these characteristics ourselves to create a datasheet that is specific to our radio. Using the values obtained from these tests, we can conclude whether or not our radio has met the specifications and requirements we imposed on it in the beginning of the project. Lastly, we plan to create a user manual for our radio. This radio will include a description of the radios user interface and its specifications. We will also include information concerning the proper orientation and layout of antennas according to different environmental conditions.

3.0 RESEARCH REVIEW Our research focused on adding and improving components on existing emergency communication devices. The research compares existing contact devices, batteries, mobile power generation, and antenna theory. Each of these topics were explored to create a knowledge base that would qualify our team to design the ultimate emergency contact device.

3.1 Existing Emergency Contact Devices Before planning the new design concept, we collected information concerning the existing wilderness survival contact devices. Three types of contact devices are commonly used by outdoor enthusiasts while in emergency situations: personal locator beacons, Very High Frequency (VHF) radios, and satellite phones. We will investigate communication effectiveness, portability, and economic feasibility of these devices.

3.1.1 Personal Locator Beacons The most frequently used emergency contact device is the personal locator beacon [4]. These pocket sized devices emit a distress signal to COSPAS-SARSAT satellites [5]. The satellites will then relay the beacons location to search and rescue authorities. The signal is unique to each beacon and provides authorities with the beacon owners personal data sheet which may include medical information [5]. Authorities receive this information before the rescue teams departure. This information allows the emergency teams to work quickly on the injured without having to ask pretreatment medical questions. The user interface of the personal locator beacon is a simple triggering mechanism, making the beacon practical for any adventurer. These beacons come with a battery that holds a charge of up to two years before the beacon is activated. This means the beacon rarely needs to be replaced or serviced. The major drawback of personal locator beacons is the inability to communicate verbally with emergency services. This means that no immediate medical advice can be given to the injured, nor can the emergency responders completely understand what problems have been experienced. Therefore, personal locator beacons are not a standalone solution for outdoor adventurists; however, the simple design, low weight, and high durability of 3

the beacon are important features to include in the design of the ultimate emergency contact solution.

3.1.2 Very High Frequency Radios The Very High Frequency spectrum is the median for all aircraft and a large majority of seagoing craft which includes the US Coast Guard. The VHF radio achieves communication with these pilots and seamen. The VHF radio emits a strong signal for up to 50 miles, and the high frequency signal can travel through the atmosphere without any reflection [6].

Because of the inverse relationship between wavelength and frequency, one advantage of the VHF radio is its short antenna.Though the antenna length is short, the radio provides long range broadcasting power. Backpacking versions of the VHF radio are conveniently small, light, and reasonably priced; however, this radio has many disadvantages. The most prolific problem with VHF is that the radio operator must be in a line of sight with any receiver due to its high frequency signal. Therefore, a hiker cannot contact authorities until an aircraft passes near the VHF transmitter. This deficiency must be overcome so that the high signal strength and direct verbal communication of the VHF radio can be employed in our superior radio solution.

3.1.3 Satellite Phones A less frequently used, but more sophisticated method of communication is the satellite phone. The satellite phone provides high density coverage from its antenna communicating with a satellite beam [7]. The beam for a specific satellite is only available to a satellite phone while the satellite is passing over the satellite phones sector of Earth. However, the number of satellites provided for satellite phone service is great enough to provide continual phone coverage.

The satellite phone has a much greater range than the VHF radio. The phone functions without a direct line of sight allowing it to communicate virtually at all times in many locations. These advantages would appear to qualify the satellite phone as the best option; however, there are several problems with this device. The first problem is that satellite phones cannot communicate with any radio devices. Not all emergency rescue teams have access to satellite phones which means that they cannot communicate with the satellite phone user. The second deficiency is that 4

the short battery life limits the user to a small window of time to contact emergency services. A third concern is that satellite phones are significantly more expensive than the alternatives discussed earlier. The cost and battery life of the satellite phone must be improved; however, the superior communication capabilities of the phone are essential in creating the best wilderness communication device.

3.2 Batteries Batteries are made using different types of materials, and each battery has its own special characteristics. The three basic types of batteries that are used in small portable devices are lithium ion, nickel cadmium, and nickel-metal hydride.

3.2.1 Lithium-Ion Battery Lithium-ion batteries are important for consideration as they are very commonly used in portable devices such as laptops and cellphones. These batteries contain an embedded system that prevents damage to the battery from charging or discharging [8]. MIT Researchers have developed a new advanced Lithium Ion battery that will allow mobile phone laptop computers to be fully charged in seconds, making this method quite attractive. Lithium-ion batteries are low cost and high efficiency batteries for small and large scale operations [9].

3.2.2 NickelCadmium Battery Nickelcadmium battery (NiCd battery) batteries have two major advantages. Ni-Cd batteries are more difficult to damage than other batteries, tolerating deep discharge for long periods. In fact, NiCd batteries, in long-term storage, are typically stored fully discharged. In contrast, lithium ion batteries, are less stable and will be permanently damaged if discharged below a minimum voltage [10]. NiCd batteries typically last longer in terms of number of charge/discharge cycles compared to other rechargeable batteries, such as lead/acid batteries [11].

3.2.3 Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Nickel-Metal Hydride is less commonly used type of portable device battery. It is very durable unlike the unstable lithium-ion battery. The Ni-MH battery also outperforms its close relative, 5

the Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cad) in this specific application of the emergency radio. Ni-Cad batteries work better in environments with high power generation. Ni-Cad batteries can store a charge and also recharge much faster than the Ni-MH batteries; however, Ni-Cad are much bulkier and need more amperage to recharge. The Ni-MH battery requires much less power to recharge, but is much more susceptible to damage if charged too quickly. For our application with a human powered hand crank, the rate of charging will be much lower than most models used to charge Ni-Cad batteries. The Ni-MH battery also can store a charge for up to a week if not in use, which makes it ideal for situations with long-term, low power use [12].

3.3 Portable Power Generation In conjunction with the research on batteries for the new communication device, different methods of portable power generation were examined. The purpose of the research was to investigate methods to generate enough power to provide a decent broadcasting range. The range must be large enough to effectively function during an emergency. The power of the broadcasting range is calculated using the one watt per mile rule. With this formula, we can ensure that the radio is properly supplied by its batteries. The power generation module of the device must also ensure that the user can seamlessly integrate the contact device into their activities. The explored technologies include solar power generation, power scavenging, and hand crank generation. These methods were evaluated in order to choose which would best recharge the batteries in a portable emergency contact device.

3.3.1 Solar Generation Solar power generation is an ideal candidate for an emergency device due to the abundance of solar energy outside. Konarka, a solar cell manufacturer, produces a highly portable solar cell called Power Plastic[13]. Power Plastic solar cell material is durable, lightweight, and flexible. The portability of Power Plastic makes it an attractive material to generate power for the new device.

Power Plastic technology falters in the area of power generation rate. These solar cells are rated at 8.4% efficiency which is about half of the efficiency of standard grade A solar cells which are rated at 16% [14] [15]. The primary drawback of solar power generation technology is that it 6

is highly dependent on sunlight. At night, solar cells are incapable of producing any energy. Solar cells will also produce power at a lower rate when they are exposed to dim lighting on cloudy days. However, by creating a module to store the energy captured during the daylight, hikers would be able to recharge at any time.

3.3.2 Power Scavenging Power scavenging is a technology which utilizes the excess vibrations and movements of a system and converts it into electrical energy. Power scavenging is an important method of power generation to consider because the act of hiking produces vibrations on anything the hiker is carrying.

Graduate students from the University of Pittsburgh managed to generate 7 watts of power from the bouncing motion of a hikers backpack[16]. However, this required a bulky and heavy generator to be attached to the backpack, compromising portability. Another experiment embedded the power scavenging equipment into the insoles of a pair of shoes [16]. During these tests, the shoes generated 10 to 15 times less power than the backpack showing that as the technology has reached a portable form, its rate of power generation is sacrificed.

3.3.3 Hand Crank Generator The hand crank generator is a device that produces electric power by sliding a magnet through a coil of wire [17]. The user moves the magnet by turning a small crank using their hands. There is a trade off between a dynamos rate of power generation and the size of the components. In order to increase the output voltage, the number of coils of wire must increase [18 ]. In order to increase the output current, the size of the wire must increase. Both of these actions require an increase in the amount of copper used and therefore, increases the size and weight of the dynamo.

One of the most popular commercially available hand crank generators is the K-Tor Pocket Socket. This generator is rated to produce up to 10 watts of power [ 19]. The K-Tor Pocket Socket lacks portability weighing in at 14oz and having dimensions: 2.5in x2.5in x6.875in. 7

There exists more portable solutions such as the SOS Charger which weighs 3.2 oz and has dimensions: 3.2in x 1.5in x 1.9 in. [20]. Although this hand crank generator meets our requirements of portability, it generates power at a rate of only 1 watt which is too slow for our radio.

The primary drawback to using any of these hand crank generators is that the user must tend to the radio as it is charging. This is a problem because a large portion of the users attention is diverted to turning a crank rather than an emergency situation.

3.4 Antennas The most central part of the project research consisted of radio antennas and how they are affected by environmental conditions and the human body. Knowing which antennas perform best in specific environmental conditions, soil types, and elevations is very important for a outdoor enthusiast who need an emergency communication device in varied environments.

3.4.1 Effects of Elevation A study performed early in 20th century considered the effects of different elevations on antennas. This experiment used a small vertical antenna that was moved up and down 100 meters on a hill as signal strength data was collected. There was a significant difference of 6-8 dB measured in the reception from a vertical antenna 100 meters up the hill compared to the lower elevation [21]. This experiment proved to be consistent when performed in both England and Brazil. However the data found using a horizontal antenna, suggested that signals transmitted from England have a much greater Azimuthal angle whereas signals transmitted from Brazil travel in a much more horizontal path. A greater Azimuthal angle means that the signal projects more vertically towards the ionosphere creating complications in horizontal communication.

3.4.2 Effects of Soil Conditions Although it is easy to conclude that using a horizontal antenna in Brazil would be most efficient; however, the data gave insight to the effect of not only the elevation, but to the soil type . The actual chemical composition of the soil also impacts its ability to propagate a signal. However, the vertical antenna results showed no significant change for marshy terrain near salt water [21]. 8

3.4.3 Effects of the Human Body In addition to the environmental aspect, the human body interacts with the antenna. The effect of the human body is a necessary study since the final product will be in close proximity to the user. Experiments using more than one monopole antenna placed at different locations on the body found that the body creates a 1 to 2 dB loss due to interference. Since the body will interfere with this monopole pattern, making sure the majority of the antenna field patterns are orthogonal to the human body will increase the effectiveness of the antennas and reduce any link-loss in reception [22].

Another study specified that the shoulder was the best area for radio placement on the body [23]. In this study, measurements were taken to determine the effectiveness of police radios placed on the officers shoulders. Rescue team members may be able to use this type of radio more effectively, and hikers could also use this information to note that antenna height and elevation are important considerations.

Another interesting article on personal radios operating on Very High and Ultra High Frequencies (VHF and UHF) found that the human body fat and muscle tissue conductivity can actually improve the functionality of the antenna. With a conductivity of 0.5 in muscle and 0.05 in fat, the human body adds resistance to the antenna in order to match the impedance with fewer components in the radio [24]. An outdoors enthusiast would be able to hold an antenna for better reception in situations where the soil or the environment negatively affects the antenna.

3.5 Research Conclusion Exploring the problems with current solutions and technologies helped define our problem. Our research gave us a better understanding of our problem which helped us make decisions toward our final design. As we move into the design concept, we will discuss the reasons for including our methods of choice.

4.0 DESIGN CONCEPT Taking into account the issues that cause problems for current radio users, our design concept 9

covers four main areas. The first requires finding the most efficient way to store energy. The second proposes implementing power generation technology so that the radio can recharge when out of power. The next area discusses antenna designs and orientations that will best suit any environment. The final area involves implementing an interface between the radio and the antenna. In this section, we will break down each separate module of our concept and provide the best option for our product.

4.1 Energy Storage Due to the unstable nature of the Lithium Ion battery and the power required to recharge the Nickel-Cadmium battery, the Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery would provide the best service. Its durable, stable nature would withstand the elements. Ni-MH batteries are also ideal for situations in which a device consumes a small amount of power over a long period of time. Additionally, Ni-MH are much lighter weight and more compact than Ni-Cad batteries. Ni-MH batteries also recharge best with a low power source, which complements the method of power generation chosen.

4.2 Power Generation Having a source of power provided by a solar cell would provide a means to create energy in the event of running out of power in the wilderness. The solar cell method would provide the low recharge rate that would best suit the specifications of the Ni-MH battery. To increase the convenience of the system, the solar panel will be detachable from the body of the radio. Because the Ni-MH battery does not have a charging memory, we would not want the solar panels to be permanently attached. This would restart the charge at zero percent every time it attempted to recharge the battery. Instead, we would create a separate panel that could be placed on the hikers backpack to collect and store energy while not in use. This panel would then plug into the dc input as an outside source to recharge the battery. With this extra input, the user would be able to charge the radio from an outlet at home before going on their expedition.

4.3 Antenna Type Having an attachment to an antenna completely separate from the radio will solve problems with human body interaction with the radiation field patterns. Since the operator is often close to the 10

radio, antennas that are inside the radio often have the problem of the human body acting as a large dielectric material, making it more difficult for radiation fields to propagate. However, research has shown that the human body can be used as extra resistance to match the impedance of a system with fewer components. Separating the antenna will also create a better connection to ground than if the antenna were still embedded in the radio. A stronger connection to ground is also essential when working with antennas.

4.4 Antenna to Radio Connection Now our other area of focus is the concept of creating an audio input and output terminal on the radio that would provide for an easier interface to link the antenna and radio together without requiring extensive knowledge of impedance matching and radiation fields. This middle-man terminal will filter the signal according to the band and frequency of propagation in order to make sure there is no extra noise from multiple harmonics of other frequencies. Improving the interface will allow those that are in emergency situations to more easily connect their antenna so that they can receive and transmit a signal. This will be the main focus of the project since most of these other components are not original ideas. This component has not been implemented before and will require the most research and testing. Refer to the block diagram in Appendix A1 for more clarity.

5.0 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN In this section, we will map out the teams plan of action. We will list the next steps of each milestone and assignment required in order to finish the project on time. See Appendix A-2 for a Gantt chart which includes the items that need to be completed and the amount of time we plan to spend on each item. We will also discuss each members role in the project, and how their expertise will benefit the project.

5.1 Division of Labor We will split up the work based on our individual interests and qualifications. The following table matches each team members with their responsibilities regarding this project.

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Areas of Responsibility For Each Team Member


Person name Brandon Crosbie Areas of responsibility Antenna Assembly Figure out specific location to attach to the radio Interconnection to the radio Figure out the size of the portable device and new casing Test the performance of the antenna and trouble shoot the implementation Reasoning for the particular task Brandon is majoring in Communications, Signal Processing, Networks and Systems. Has a future internship at First RF Corporation

Phillip Foster

Radio implementation Figure out the radio specification Figure out the size of the portable device Power amplification Complete system test

Philip is majoring in Electronics and Communications and Networking

Raymund Lee

Power generator implementation Modify the size of the hand generator Complete wiring system to the portable device and to the charger Mechanical upgrade for the generation Testing the generator and complete power operation power system harmonics and power quality tests Battery and power controller implementation Design a new battery module Design or modify the battery charging device Program the charging device for power saver operation Write test programs for complete device check Trouble shoot the complete device

Raymund is majoring in Power Systems and Energy Conversion. Also has a future internship at a power generation plant at PPG industries. Terrance is majoring in electronics and embedded systems Work experience : -Develop firmware and communication software for real time controllers. -Design and testing of control boards using digital and analog circuits

Terrance De Silva

5.1.1 Raymund Lee Raymunds technical area is power, also, he has an internship at a power generation plant over the summer of 2012. Because of this, he is in charge of the development of the radios power generation systems.

5.1.2 Phillip Foster Phillips technical areas include electronics and VLSI which will provide our team with 12

knowledge of how to implement our antenna to radio interface. For this reason, he will be managing the module pertaining to the linking of the radio circuit and antenna components.

5.1.3 Brandon Crosbie Brandons technical area is antennas and wireless propagation. He has an internship at company that researches antenna applications for military and radar use for the summer of 2012 For this reason, he will be managing the antenna module of the design.

5.1.4 Terrance DeSilva Terrance's technical area is electronics and embedded systems. He is currently working at Tekmos Semiconductors as an embedded systems engineer. Because of this, he is in charge of the design a new battery module, design or modify the battery charging device, program the charging device for power saver operation, write test programs for complete device test.

5.2 Proposed Project Activities Once the proposal report is complete, the next step will be to begin researching some of the existing patents for the intellectual property research. We will need a more elaborate requirement and specification report that will contribute to the first oral design review. The final task before the end of the fall semester will be to design a first draft of the system. Once we resume classes in the spring, we will be discussing our design and implementation plan with our faculty mentors. This will be followed by many weeks of testing, technical performance reviews, and other assessments. A final project demo will be conducted with our mentor before the final oral and written reports are due. We will then prepare for the presentation during the open house.

5.3 Outside Consultations For this project, we will be meeting with a few of our faculty mentors that have specialized knowledge in the different aspects of our project. The first consultant, Dr. Aziz, is a professor and researcher in the areas of electronic components. Meeting with him should give our team a good insight into the design and implementation of the circuit components required to interface the radio with the solar cell charging components. The second consultant, Dr. Vishwanath, is a technical expert in the fields of signal processing. His insight will help our team design the 13

terminal which will link the radio to the antenna. Our other consultant is Dr. Ling. He is a professor with expertise in the areas of antennas and wireless propagation. With his knowledge, we will better be able to implement our antenna link to our radio, and how to match the impedance with any possible variation of environment and orientation. These consultations will be a very necessary and priceless resource in order for our product to perform at its best.

5.4 Necessary Parts and Equipment The following is a description of the specifications of the parts we are using to construct out radio and the costs associated with buying these parts. The following tables

5.4.1 Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery. Our radio will require the use of 4 nickel-metal hydride batteries. The cost for a 24 pack of Ultra High Power batteries made by Synergy Digical batteries is $24.95. These batteries will have to be replaced after being charged about 500 times. Another important specification of these batteries is their storage capacity of 2.8 watt hours each. This means that their combined storage capacity is 11.2 watt hours. Fully charged, our batteries will theoretically have the ability to provide power to our radio for as long as 3 hours.

5.4.2 Solar panel The solar cells we will use will be Power Plastic 20 Series which is made by Konarka. The panel has dimensions .2m x .3m and is very thin. It has the capability to produce 1.2 watts of power which can fully charge our nickel metal hydride batteries in approximately 10 hours of exposure to sunlight [25]. The cost of this solar panel is $109.

5.4.3 Antenna. The type of antenna we are going to use in our implementation is TACSAT UC-3004-481 it is a lightweight, tactical, low observable, compact VHF antenna system. The polarization of this antenna is Circular (CP), intended communicate at any weather conditions or terrain. Its radiating elements are flexible and are difficult to see at a distance. The small Tacsat Antenna can be stowed in a very small pouch, or webbed into a backpack. The UC-3004-481 Tacsat Antenna performs well in Urban Operations, as well as in LOS Tactical Group Communications 14

(Inter/Intra Team Communications), using low power radios (up to 25 Watts). It may be used as a Low Visibility Concealable Antenna (LVCA) within the upper VHF and UHF spectra [26].

5.4.4 Testing equipment and facilities For the majority of the testing equipment and facilities, the labs and electronic equipment are open for students at the University of Texas at Austin to use. Oscilloscopes and decibel monitors can be used from the laboratories at the Pickle Research Center.on campus and at the J.J. Pickle Research facility. In addition to these resources, the Electrical and Computer Engineering department provides students with a machine shop and allow students check out basic electrical components and tools.

The following tables summarize the expected cost and availability of the equipment and parts we need for this project.

Cost of Test Equipment and Parts Category Estimated cost in 2012 Nickel-Metal Hydride 24 pack $24.95 Nickel Cadmium $28 Lithium Ion $23 Solar power panel $109 Power scavenging shoes Not in mass production Hand crank generator $50 Antenna (TACSAT UC-3004-481) $378 Shipping (for all items) $35 Low resistance wires $40 Screw drivers and drill kit $65 PCB board (Specifically design for the project) $65

Oscilloscope Multimeter soldering iron Wires

Availability of Equipment Laboratory 2nd Floor room 214,215,219 Laboratory 2nd Floor ( need to checkout from room 213 Student ID required) Laboratory 2nd Floor ( need to checkout from room 213 Student ID required) Laboratory 2nd Floor ( need to checkout from 15

Power source Screw drivers and drill kit PCB board (Specifically design for the project) Nickel-Metal Hydride Nickel Cadmium Lithium Ion Solar power panel Hand crank generator Antenna Low resistance wires

room 213 Student ID required) Laboratory 2nd Floor room 214,215,219 Home depot ( Need to purchase) PCBExpress.com Energizer.com Energizer.com Philips.com Helivolt.com Electricgenaratorsdirect.com Stelladoradus.com Diyaudio.com

6.0 CONCLUSION Current radios are often too large to be operable as a portable device. Our solution will minimize power consumption and will optimize the antenna usage. The combination of our power generation and energy storage methods will greatly improve the effectiveness of many mobile devices. The implementation of our radio link terminal embedded within the circuit will also alter the way many mobile radios use antennas. Successful completion of this project will give current radio manufacturers insight on how to improve on their own designs. In order to realize this groundbreaking design, our team will need financial support for supplies, further research, and development. With these funds, next semester we will be able to realize this logical design.

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19

APPENDIX A FLOW CHART

A-1

APPENDIX A FLOW CHART

A-2

A-3

APPENDIX B GANTT CHART

B-1

APPENDIX B GANTT CHART

B-2

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