Hidrosonico

Market Suggested Retail Price

$300.09

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Each component can be obtained via different providers (Seeed or Adafruit). The installation has to be done by the user.  

Manufacturing/Building Method

The product's software is distributed in github. The different hardware components are distributed by different companies: Seeed and Adafruit.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

Users can use the Hidrosonico open source software and order components from the following providers: - Seeeduino Stalker v3.: Seeed - Adafruit FONA 800: Adafruit - Antenna: Adafruit - MB7369 HRXL - MaxSonar - WRM: Adafruit - Solar panel: Adafruit - A lithium-ion battery: Adafruit

Distributions to Date Status

The most updated code website has 75,000 subscribers.^{Interview with manufacturer}

Design Specifications

The code provided sends data to data.sparkfun.com as the cloud service but it could be easily adapted to any other provider. There are also lines in the code that are marked for user-specific input. The system takes the mode of a series of seven readings to determine the stream height. If that height exceeds an alert level (yellow and red alert levels designated for each location) then it enters a validation routine where it takes five clusters of seven readings over the course of 25 seconds to make sure they agree that an alert level has been reached. If any of the modal readings dissents, then the alert is not triggered. The idea is to filter out things like passing birds or plastic bags caught by the wind.^{Interview with manufacturer} This is a beta unit. Technical specifications: About the sensor MB7369 HRXL-MaxSonar-WRM:

• Weather resistant (IP67)
• Matches standard electrical 3/4-inch PVC pipe fitting for easy mounting
• Detects the largest signal return in the field of view
• Uses the complete dynamic range of the sensor, if no large targets are present the sensor will select the net smallest target in the view.
• Maximum range of 765 cm
• Long range, narrow detection zone

• Length: 71.09 mm
• Width: 43.84
• Weight: 49.66 g

• Operates from 3.0-5.5 V
• Operational temperature: -40ºC to +70ºC (-40ºF to +160ºF)

Technical Support

The manufacturer is open to provide technical support for any interested parties, whether commercial or non-commercial.^{Interview with manufacturer}

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

For the whole system there is not a defined lifecycle, but there are systems that have been installed for three years with continued operation.^{Interview with manufacturer on 07/01/2019} MB7369 HRXL - MaxSonar - WRM:  200.000+ hours mean time between failure  

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Enable underserved communities to have an early flood warning system.

Vetted Performance Status

Conclusion of Master's thesis at Johns Hopkins University: The system is materially comparable to USGS installation, but more expensive.^{Interview with manufacturer}

Safety

On existing cases the devices have been mounted on the side of a bridge, so they are not too difficult to get for the technicians and are therefore not a high safety concern.^{Interview with manufacturer}

Complementary Technical Systems

MB7369 HRXL-MaxSonar-WRM

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Unknown

Other Information

The manufacturer has recently discovered that the code has to be adapted to ignore big animals (like elephants) that may pass by the sensor.