Refrigerated Vehicle Temperature Control System

This assignment describes the development of a wireless temperature sensor system for a refrigerated vehicle. The system utilizes Bluetooth technology (BTM) to enable strong communication between the refrigerator, thermistor, and microcontroller. The student contributed by procuring components, implementing the hardware network, and deriving a formula for temperature estimation embedded within the microcontroller's code. The project emphasizes teamwork, with roles assigned for software development, component integration, and technical guidance from an assistant professor.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 3
NAME

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Wireless Temperature Sensor Using Bluetooth
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
It is the demand of the vehicle refrigerators to develop a reliable and convenient system
for monitoring the temperature whereas; there are still many difficulties in implementing the
temperature recorder and sensor in the vehicles. In manner to eliminate this problem, I have
developed a system that can sense and record the temperature of the vehicle and external
environment wirelessly. I have developed this project considering the elimination of wiring for
the sensors and recorders in the trailer-tractor and such vehicles those carries foodstuffs. This
project will be helpful in monitoring the temperature the temperature and manipulate it according
to the external temperature of the refrigerated delivery vehicles. I have implemented many
theories and calculative formulas for the delivery of this project and thus, I was able to develop
this system successfully.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
Refrigerated vehicles loaded with foodstuffs always need to balance the temperature of
the vehicle’s interior temperature in manner to keep them fresh. I have considered this as a
problem and not much highlighted concern for this sector so, tried to deliver this system. For
delivering this project successfully, I had developed following objectives:
 To develop a system that can sense and record the temperature wirelessly
 To prepare project that can be popular for the industries with wider scope
 To keep the project within the budget and deliver an efficient and effective system
 To eliminate the problems for the refrigerated vehicles for example trailer-tractor
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
I was taking care of the implementation of the WTS hardware in the system that consists
of the BTM (Bluetooth Module), microcontroller, power supply, and thermistor. Embedding
software within the microcontroller was my teammate’s responsibility and implementing that
microcontroller was mine. I had implemented the thermistor in manner to measure the
temperature of the air in the refrigerator of the vehicle. The measurement and calculation of the
temperature has been implemented within the embedded software. I had derived following
formula for this measurement:
1/T= A B(ln(R)) C(ln(R))3
A,B, and C are the material constants of the products stored in the refrigerated vehicles and T is a
variable unit depending on the temperatures at the three corners of the vehicles rated as high end,

middle end, and low end. Following is the block diagram based on which, I had implemented all
the devices in this project.
Figure 2: WTS Hardware System
CE 3.2.4 Project Group

CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for the purchasing of the devices and implementation of those devices
into the design developed in my work (WTS Hardware). I was also responsible for the derivation
of the formula that I had gathered from the various research papers after evaluating and adding
my additional efforts. I had highlighted my team members to put emphasis on this sector as
many researchers do not yet touch it and it could be a boon for the vehicles travelling food. I was
assigned to make the measurement of the data related to the power consumption, output and rest
factors. After measurement, I noted that power consumption is directly proportional to the
activity of the Bluetooth that implies that activity of the Bluetooth will be responsible for the
power consumption.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
This project is a wireless technology that can be helpful in sensing, recording, and
calculating the temperature of the refrigerated vehicles carrying foodstuffs. I have kept this
project very simple and very less complex through embedding the components those are
necessary for the temperature detection only. My team members embedded the software to
activate the formula that I had derived through calculation in manner to calculate the temperature
considering the three corners’ temperature of the vehicle. I was involved in grouping all the
devices within the system to make it working in efficient and effective manner. BTM was the
core principle for this project and was power consuming too however, the sensor was
implemented in manner to activate the refrigerator whenever temperature gets high and maintain
the saturated temperature of the vehicle.

CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had applied my knowledge of microcontroller and mathematics that I had gained during
my academics and tried to implement that knowledge in this system. I had chosen the Bluetooth
for the wireless communication, as it is a low power, low cost, and small size device that can
enable the communication for a short range. I had made the complete circuit for the transmission
of the signals between the devices in manner to allow the software to make the calculation and
present the expected outputs. This device can also be connected to the internet via Smartphone
and could allow remote access to the temperature of the vehicles.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
I had derived the formula for the calculation of the temperature in manner to manage the
temperature of the vehicle according to the change of the external temperature. I had integrated
the mobile products, Bluetooth, and internet for the better communication and smooth automatic
control of the temperature. BTM was installed within the developed system for the short-range
communication that enables the sensors to automatically detect the temperature difference and
trigging the refrigerator of the vehicles. Software was embedded within the microcontroller
considering the derived formula for the trigging of the refrigerator and thus managing it. I had
implemented the thermistor in manner to detect the temperature and send signal to the
microcontroller regarding the need of the temperature change.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
The range of the device was one of the issues that I faced while delivering the project.
The other issue faced while executing the project was related to the formula and what should be

encoded within the microcontroller. Power consumption was the factor that extremely needed to
be decreased in the whole system.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
The range of the device was made strong through the implementation of BTM that allows
a strong communication network between the refrigerator, thermistor, and the microcontroller. I
had derived the formula after several findings and provided that formula for implementing codes
within the microcontroller. Power consumption was not decreased to a very efficient level
because of the enhancement in the signal transmission strength through BTM.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I had read many research papers however, I could find very few research papers related to
the implementation of wireless sensor device for managing the temperature within the
refrigerated vehicle. However I used those theory to complete this project and implemented
additional features such as connecting it to the internet, using it from mobile, embedding
software in microcontroller and using it.
CE 3.3.6 Collaborative work
This project was a result of the collaborative team who deployed their roles with
complete responsibilities. I was working as a member in this team and took direction from the
team leader and assisted by the assistant professor regarding the issues faced while execution of
this project. Team leader divided the task, I was appointed to make the shopping and implement
the devices within the design of the WTS, and rest of the team members embedded the software,
implemented thermistor and rest of the activities. The assistant professor and the team leader

played vital role in providing assistance and motivating the team towards the goals and
achievement set for the successful deployment of the project.
CE 3.4 Project Review
CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
This project was delivered to sense, record, and manipulate the temperature of the
refrigerated vehicle and make it happen through implemented Bluetooth technology. In addition
to that internet and mobile products were also implemented for the communication between the
electronic components and ensuring the better and smooth communication. The effective
transmission has been enabled through the BTM that enables the connection, inquiry, and reset
options operated through the microcontroller.
CE 3.4.2 My contribution to work
I was playing the role of a team member within the team selected for the successful
development of this system. I was assigned to purchase the components and implement the
embedded microcontroller, BTM, Thermistor, Power supply and the whole network for the
effective transmission of the signal. I had derived the formula for the estimation of the
temperature difference within the interior of the vehicle that was embedded through coding
within the microcontroller. I had made all the connection of these components and ensured that
the circuit was closed and the strength of the signal is enough to be captured by the
microcontroller, thermistor, and BTM. I had executed my theory learnt in the academics and
gained from the research papers practically, in this project.