Airtachable

Due to increase in environmental concerns across the world, we as future engineers decided to develop a project that can help address this concern and in the process gain more knowledge in our field. The Environmental Protection Agency currently gathers air quality data using multiple expensive devices for each pollutant. Our project goal is to develop a single device, that can measure 3 of the 6 of the major pollutant concentrations that are required by the EPA to monitor air quality, which are particulate matter, ozone, and carbon monoxide. In addition to these, we will also incorporate other common pollutants found in everyday life, such as methane and carbon dioxide. With the use of  a drone, we will be able to facilitate and expand data collection. Our prototype consists of having all the pollutant sensors working simultaneously inside a casing covering the sensors with a GPS module that allows to match coordinates for each data point taken by the sensors. Using and arduino microcontroller and software we will be able to display the data being taken by the sensors and GPS module. The prototype will run off a battery. As a handheld, the user can monitor the air quality on foot if desired or in places otherwise inadequate to fly a drone. When used in conjunction with a drone it will attach to a custom case which itself will be mounted onto a drone. Our custom case design would allow our air pollutant monitoring device to be compatible with drones of different sizes. Once properly calibrated, our sensors are able to measure pollutant concentrations within a few particles per million, or a few micrograms per meter cubed as applicable. We hope our design will allow researchers and others to efficiently take air pollution measurements at a lower cost.