College - Author 1

College of Engineering

Department - Author 1

Computer Engineering Department

Degree Name - Author 1

BS in Computer Engineering

Date

6-2019

Primary Advisor

Lynne A. Slivovsky

Abstract/Summary

Throughout the course of this project, our team helped the Cal Poly Biological Sciences department refine an intertidal zone simulator. The aim of this device is to allow any marine biologist to easily simulate a vast range of tidal zones in order to test animal behaviors within these zones. Another goal of this project is to make each simulation tank independent from the others by using a single microcontroller to handle all inputs and outputs of the system as well as logging all relevant data. The current system is set up so that a separate microcontroller handles dissolved oxygen and food dosing for all four tanks. One program controller per tank will make experiment setup more straightforward and thus was main goal of the project. Another goal was to make experiment setup data (tide transitions, temps, DO etc) input all in one file in Excel. The current system has some experiment data input through Excel and some that needs to be compiled in the code. This forces the scientists that use the simulator to be familiar with the development software and also introduces the risk of bugs being created accidentally. Our process to reach these goals and objectives has been documented in order to replicate the system in the future.

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