Test setup and system (via Liquidware)
Ok, so maybe you might not want to risk shark infested waters, but what if you had a alert system? It’s more of a ‘proof-of-concept,’ but engineers from Liquidware have designed a laser shark intrusion system that alerts you via Twitter when it’s been tripped (giving you just enough time to turn around to face what’s about to eat you). The engineers designed their intrusion system using a Bosch laser-light level (used in construction and not quite submersible) that’s aimed at an Arduino-based AMBI light sensor which is connected to a BeagleBoard (running Android) along with BeagleTouch LED display.
The laser emitter has a light-value of around 700-800 that’s picked-up by the light sensor and once the beam is broken the light-value drops, which sets off the Android program that sends a ‘Red Alert’ warning across the sensors LED display (when the light-value reaches 400) and in the form of a Tweet that can be received by any mobile device. The team tested their design using a typical glass aquarium along with a plastic shark named ‘Bruce’ (inspired by Shark Week) that was used to trip the laser. Successfully, the system alerted the tiny plastic SCUBA-diver (via Red Alert on the sensors display) of impending doom while simultaneously sending a Twitter message to the engineers smart-phone. As to whether or not the Liquidware laser intrusion detection system could be fielded in the ocean, it’s a possibility, but it would require a more powerful laser set-up along with a more sensitive light-receiving photo-sensor and a tremendous amount development to calibrate the system based off of water depth and conditions.
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