ECE 110/120 Honors Lab Section : Elephant Alarm

Statement of Purpose

The battle between rural farmers in Asian and African countries and elephants has escalated in the recent decade causing increased damage to farms and the deaths of humans and elephants alike. This conflict has lead to the rapid decline of elephant populations. According to a report by the World Wildlife Foundation, up to 300 people are killed annually in elephant crop raids and between 30 - 50 humans a year in just India. Solutions that exist for this problem are still primitive ranging from the use of bee hives to fences that are easily overcome by elephants. A smart sensor to detect elephants approaching the plot and scare them off using known methods such as a tiger growl, bee buzzing, or a loud alarm can prevent the deadly interaction between humans and elephants. 

Background Research

My family runs a farm in rural India where elephants have caused severe damage to both property and the crops. Furthermore, there have been numerous injuries to the workers who have to scare the elephants away. There have been numerous studies that show the effects of predator noises on elephant behavior one of which is cited below. This project came up as a request from my grand father and father who is currently running this farm. 

PIR sensors

pir sensors work by detecting movements of a heat source in front of their field of view. When a heat source passes through it the first half of the sensor detects a positive differential change. When the source passes the second source it detects an equal magnitude but opposite sign differential change. By measuring this change the sensor can determine if an object has passed through it. In order to sustainably power the solution the PIR sensor was selected as a trade off between accuracy and power consumption. In order to only detect larger animals the device is mounted above a certain height. The same principle is used in home to security systems to avoid detecting dogs and other household pets. 

Solar Panel

Flow chart

The flow chart shows a infrared sensor that is calibrated to the signature of a large body similar to an elephant. This sends a high output when it detects an elephant. The signal goes to a microcontroller where it sends a signal of a tiger sound, bee noise, or loud sound to scare off an elephant. The microcontroller then sends a text message to the farmer noting an elephant approached the property through a connection that is established by a wireless router. The Lipo battery provides power to the microcontroller and speaker through the microcontroller. A solar panel charges the lipo battery. 

Parts list

• Arduino Uno 
• 3.7v lipo battery - https://www.gearbest.com/chargers-batteries/pp_43032.html?lkid=11392316
• protoboard 
• 8 ohm speaker - https://www.adafruit.com/product/1890?gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCb7dMPeUmPfw9d5ZZn49vN4UxPt1G1biFpTSo3z2j6Oz_uYQ30xD2eRoC6QgQAvD_BwE 
• Solar panel Setup
  • 3.3 to 5v stepup- https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/sparkfun-electronics/PRT-10967/1568-1254-ND/5762404?utm_adgroup=Evaluation%20Boards%20-%20DC%2FDC%20%26%20AC%2FDC%20%28Off-Line%29%20SMPS&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_Product_Development%20Boards%2C%20Kits%2C%20Programmers_NEW&utm_term=&utm_content=Evaluation%20Boards%20-%20DC%2FDC%20%26%20AC%2FDC%20%28Off-Line%29%20SMPS&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCb9_QnBWrbsI6odh_VdJnTTKXHdXRGrR7FlKQ280fRJ8F97AP810S3BoCvisQAvD_BwE
  • Lithium battery charger - https://www.gearbest.com/other-accessories/pp_248278.html?lkid=11331259
  • lM555 timer - https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/texas-instruments/NE555P/296-NE555P-ND/277057?gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCb4ZW9zqIDJi8RyOiGKCEYb4mDNjjvZWf0sTlI6qrPTikjgwaItbxdRoCe8MQAvD_BwE
  • 10 nf, 100 nf capictors.
  • 1M, 100k, and 10k Ohm resistors
  • relay
  • 2n3904 - https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/rochester-electronics,-llc/2N3904/2156-2N3904-ON-ND/11554806?utm_adgroup=Discrete%20Semiconductor%20Products&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_DK%2BSupplier_Rochester%20Electronics&utm_term=&utm_content=Discrete%20Semiconductor%20Products&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCb3AnAQdRShJeHJpvRW_3gghEswNg-YqaNFxgbXwmPN1WzTNjmS4elRoCPHYQAvD_BwE 
• Wireless route https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/SparkFun/WRL-13678?qs=WyAARYrbSnZdmwzlRTs1Tw%3D%3D&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCbxN6vgmC5ZnwHFSOF_4HP-PV8rc8l1n7Ro5uKkr2f7Ks48PkHFqMwRoCcwsQAvD_BwE 
• PIR Sensor https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/seeed-technology-co.,-ltd/101020060/1597-1182-ND/5487425?utm_adgroup=Evaluation%20Boards%20-%20Sensors&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_Product_Development%20Boards%2C%20Kits%2C%20Programmers_NEW&utm_term=&utm_content=Evaluation%20Boards%20-%20Sensors&gclid=CjwKCAjw2dD7BRASEiwAWCtCbxQmH_D7zwTH9BiUNfVw2poCorsUu3VTDvheuwGt_WZ8ogetTsLFpBoCQCEQAvD_BwE

All parts are already owned as I had them already. 

Possible challenges 

• Because of the way a PIR sensor works you can "calibrate" a PIR sensor by changing the height of the sensor from the ground and therefor giving it only a view of elements taller then a certain amount. 
• Getting enough power from the solar panel to sustainably power the entire setup
• Making the device weather proof  

Sources 

World Wildlife Foundation. 2020. India: Up To 300 People May Be Killed Annually In Human-Elephant Conflicts. [online] Available at: <https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/endangered_species/elephants/asian_elephants/areas/issues/elephant_human_conflict/> [Accessed 18 September 2020].

Bhatta, A., 2020. Tiger Growl Recordings Deter Crop-Raiding Elephants. [online] SciDev.Net. Available at: <https://www.scidev.net/global/innovation/news/tiger-growl-recordings-deter-crop-raiding-elephants.html#:~:text=2003%20and%202009.-,To%20avoid%20such%20danger%2C%20Thuppil%20positioned%20infrared%20beams%20on%20paths,either%20tiger%20or%20leopard%20growls.> [Accessed 18 September 2020].