[HEX]POD - Climate Tracker & Digital Nose

Progress:  61,4%      Hardware: v9       Code: v9.7

Change-log:

• replaced MLX90614 BCC with AMG8833 64px Thermal cam
• added Sensirion SCD30 - CO2, Temperature, Humidity Sensor to support fairly inaccurate CCS811 & HDC1080
• added secondary tiny 0.49" OLED screen (displays sensor & error data)
• added additional INA260 Voltage & Current Sensor (15 Amps max)
• added mini GPS Module in plans (not ordered yet, still researching - PA1010D ?)
• added self-error checking/disabling for Sensors & SD reader
• sped up code by a lot! (avg 80 fps)
• made progress with UI/UX menu (new Debug & Info Screens, Charge Indication etc...)
• implemented deep Sleep & low Power Modes

Issues:

• conflicting I2C adresses for RTC, MPU & AMG8833 (go Serial? or one has to go)
• how to manufacture precise aluminium bends (r 1.75cm)
• voltage still unstable bc of  janky breadboard/cables & too many components (occasional i2c errors) guessing  soldered connections and better wires will fix this

Issues with the power Path/Charging:

USB-C input needs 9v from wall charger to work, because i am using non-balanced 2S, 8.4v, 2A charging modules that don't boost the voltage.

i tested multiple 2S charging boards TP5100 in parallel and i think it killed 2 of them. So charging would be limited to 1 charger with 2A max, which would take way too long (over 16h). Maybe going 2S was a bad idea, but it gives me the ability to toggle these (HW-313, 3A) voltage buck converters on and off via their enable pins. And voltage conversion differences between battery voltage and the component voltages are lower. (highest is 12v, lowest 3.3v)

Having a balanced, protected 2S (3 terminal) buck-boost converter/charger supporting 7A with USB-C PD4.0 polling for voltage, input and output switch, would be a dream (MJ1 Batteries support 6.8A charge rate, which would take 6h30).. if my math is correct.

I know designing a custom PCS with charging/power/protection/management features, sensors and as much as fits on it would probably be the best solution, but i don't have the expertise yet. Arduino and Alibaba modules it is for now. 

unless someone wants to help?

New Component / Feature Illustration:

Progress:  42,7%    Hardware: v7       Code: v7.3

Issues:

• Airflow, heat management, heat expansion of materials.
• Getting my prototyping circuit up and running again. switched to a new breadboard and wires and now all the voltages have dropped.

no idea how to tackle the charging path. Schematic &  more Details after the Jump

Parts Status & Info:

Schematic: Sorry for the mess

This was my first version. With a hilariously complicated tray, pushed by a tiny linear Actuator, comes out to show you all its brains. Moved away from that. Also the old version was much bigger and heavier with a double 9x9 18650 Pack.

Going for a 6x6 Hexagonal design now.

Had first successes with the CJMCU-8128 (CO2, tVOC) and MAX30102 (HeartRate), WiFi, Screen:

Also started testing the Current sensor GY-219 and MAX models, but need to work more on that.

This is the first prototype, to give Aluminium bending and tolerances a try. Also ordered 3 different materials for the cover. Denim, and two types of faux Leather.

 

fully finished prototype coming soon (functions: Lamp, PowerBank/Charger )

i had the Idea after i returned from India where i had been traveling on Foot, Train and Motorbike from North to South and back.

Around March 2020 I was spending my time with new friends in Rishikesh, one of whom slowly got really sick, right when COVID really started in India. We questioned bringing her to the Hospital but couldnt really tell, no doctors to find and the medicine shops gave us wrong or fake antibiotics, which didn't help. So, during that time we had the need for a thermometer but couldn't find any after searching whole Tapovan. Her condition worstened and nothing helped, so after a lot of convincing and back and forth, we brought her to the Rishikesh Hospital, masked up and evading the doctors in the entrances, who were to trying to catch and test all the "Covid Tourists". We found out, after the usual India chaos, that she had a bladder infection that had started spreading to her kidneys. 
She stayed in the hospital for 4 days, we visited. 

That gave me this idea, what if I could build a thing that had say, Body Temperature and HeartRate monitor, a Powerbank and a Lamp. We definitely wouldn't have been so clueless and unaware of the danger that she had been in. Our friend slowly got better with the help of antibiotics. Right after that, we decided to leave from Delhi for Germany with the last Government chartered ariplane, wich we almost missed. 

Back in Germany i started planning. Very little know how about machining coding etc. but i'm getting there, slowly but surely. 
Going through all the available arduino sensors and now looking into industrial sensors. 
Getting into deep rabbitholes about for example thermal conductivity of aluminium vs copper variants. 
Trying to add functionality into every last square mm while keeping it 'minimal' and robust.