WIRELESS SOIL SENSOR PODS FOR LONG-TERM DATA COLLECTION

Abstract

This paper discusses the applications of a wireless telemetry module used to collect remote sensor data used in a teleoperated electric vehicle that competed in the 2018 Mars University Rover Challenge (URC). Remote wireless soil sensor pods, 100 cc in volume, equipped with a 32-bit microcontroller and embedded IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi were distributed at key locations to relay soil moisture and temperature values over a local repeater to a remote base station. Combined with a low power deep sleep mode (1.84 mW), two 2500 mAh lithium-ion polymer batteries, and voltage regulation electronics, such a device could periodically relay telemetry data for many years without recharge. The small size presents the opportunity for large scale production and distribution across exoplanetary surfaces for monitoring soil characteristics over time.