Application of the Arduino Platform for Recording Wind Waves

Abstract

Purpose. The paper describes development of a device (placed on the Arduino platform) for recording wind waves. It is intended for the wave gauge of Marine Hydrophysical Institute, RAS, which is installed and applied at the oceanographic platform in Katsiveli. The device is designed to record and store the wave gauge data in an off-line mode. At that, it is protected from power surges and environmental effects (dust, moisture, temperature drops). Methods and Results. Two versions of the Arduino-placed recording device are represented: for the single- and six-string wave gauges. Their hardware and software are described; block diagram of the applied software algorithms and electrical connection schemes are given. Particular attention is paid to stable functioning of the devices, namely continuity of the data reading, recording and storing, as well as synchronization of the obtained measurement results with the time of record. The example of the sea level elevations recorded in course of a year is cited. Conclusions. Development, construction and testing of the Arduino-placed device for recording wind waves are described in the paper. Since 2015, the off-line operation of the device has shown high efficiency, reliability and stability; at that, the risks of losing the measurement results are minimal.