“Abstract
The world today is extremely dependent on the ocean, from sources of food to raw materials. However, recent studies show that an increase in pollution poses a danger to these large bodies of water. In order to aid the solving of this problem, we created an autonomous buoy that is able to collect a wide selection of data. Our buoy stays afloat in the ocean for extended periods of time and is entirely self-sufficient. It contains solar panels connected to an internal power module to provide power to run its electrical components. There is a turbidity sensor to measure the clearness and purity of surrounding water, which allows the determination of present contamination. There is also a pH sensor which provides data to keep track of the pH levels in the ocean, as a rising level of acidity in ocean water is harming biological ecosystems. A dissolved oxygen sensor connected as well, to further provide data for analysis. A GPS module allows this data to be transferred to a central monitor or receiving location to be analyzed and stored. The continuous power from the solar panels allows the buoy to stay in the water and provide a continuous updated stream of data. The data collected will provide information vital to the creation of a solution for this pressing issue. Acidity and purity levels are important factors in determining pollution levels, and more data will allow a better understanding of the problem in order to find the best solution.”