Gyroscope Module
HomeBase
Environment Module
Personal Communication Module

Inspiration

We were inspired by survival satellite phones they give people access to communication in harsh / remote environments. We wanted to build a system that works regardless of location or circumstance that works together to connect the area of disaster with emergency responders.

What it does

Our system is grounded with a home-base that receives and processes the information coming in from the other modules. It has a screen to display information to a operator as well, increasing transparency. The first module we built has a gyroscope to detect any changes in angle of the structure its attached to. It is helpful for keeping an eye on unsafe structures as it will give a warning if it tilts too much. The second module analyses the environment it is in and sends warnings whenever there is a radical change in temperature, sound, or motion. The last module is a simple personal communication device. It has two buttons that allow for quick, easy messages to be sent back to the home-base.

How we built it

We built all three modules and the home-base on breadboards. We coded the ESP-32's used for communicating between the devices using our laptops.

Challenges we ran into

We had to hot glue wires to push buttons used for the communication module. Coding a ESP-32 was completely new to us, so Luke spent a lot of time diving deep into learning about its architecture and behaviors in order to make a working product.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We made three modules and a home-base that all talk to each other simultaneously.

What we learned

We learned how ESP-32 modules function, how sensors send their outputs back to the ESP-32, and how challenging wireless connectivity can be. Most of all, we learned how much fun it is to build something new using the knowledge we gained in our classes combined with new lesson we discovered along the way.

What's next for Lifeline

If we were to continue with this project we would make more modules and increase the depth and accuracy of the current ones we have. The biggest thing we would do, however, is give all the parts proper housing that protected the internal wires and increases the aesthetic look of the design.