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- [2022-09-13: Meeting Notes](README.md#2022-09-13-meeting-notes)
- [2022-09-14: Hardware Components Research](README.md#2022-09-14-Hardware-Components-research)
- [2022-09-16: Meeting with Jack Blevins](README.md#2022-09-14-Meeting-With-Jack-Kilby)
## 2022-09-13: Meeting-Notes
Discussed with TA regarding our project proposal and our system and subsystem designs. Some things and suggestions to take note of:
- Add subcomponents for the cloud server for block diagram.
- Label necessary voltages at each power line for block diagram.
- Expand high-level requirement involving power to include 24-hour availability while the board is plugged in.
- Don't bother making your own Wi-Fi module; just buy one since budget is $150.
Since we have a limited $150 budget, all of our purchases will most likely be limited to Amazon, Digikey, and Mouser. Parts we are leaning toward using:
- [ESP32-S3-MINI-1](https://www.espressif.com/sites/default/files/documentation/esp32-s3-wroom-2_datasheet_en.pdf)
- This ESP32 is versatile, not super expensive, offers various functionalities, and is used in many IoT projects, both hobbyist and professional.
- Furthermore, this microcontroller has been proven to be compatible with AWS.
- Currently, we aren't planning on integrating the 5 GHz frequency into the Radio Scanner Suite due to time constraints. The primary issue is that if we were to also scan 5 GHz, we would need to purchase a separate Wi-Fi module and write the drivers for it, which would take too much time and effort to integrate. So we plan on settling for 2.4 GHz frequency for our Wi-Fi module for now
- [USB-to-UART Bridge](http://esp32.net/usb-uart/): We need to make use of this bridge and attach it to our ESP-32.
- LiPo battery: safe, effective, efficient, and cheap. Moreover, the "ease and form factor" of LiPo batteries are a plus.
- [AP2112 Voltage Regulator](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/diodes-incorporated/AP2112M-3-3TRG1/5305555) (3.3V): The ESP32 series of SoCs all use 3.3 volts as their operating voltage. Since all USB types generally operating at or above 5 volts, we need to drop the voltage down. 3.3 V is a very common voltage for these sort of scenarios
- [MCP73831T Battery Charge Controller](https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/microchip-technology/MCP73831T-2DCI-OT/1979804): mainly used to prevent overcharging
## 2022-09-16: Meeting-With-Jack-Blevins
We met with Jack Blevins, a UIUC alum whom has earned one of the first EECS degrees
back in 1970 and has a 50+-year track record spanning all kinds of
projects in industry (recommended to use by Professor Lumetta), and will essentially serve as another, "informal" mentor for our 445 project. Our team gave an overview of our project and followed up with some questions and comments from Jack:
- Jack essentially solidified our design decision from earlier and agreed that trying to implement and incorporate 5 GHz frequency into our Wi-Fi module would be too impractical.
- For the Web programming side of things, we discussed which applications, languages, databases, etc. we were going to utilize. Since we established that we would be using AWS for our server side of things, we were leaning toward programming in Python and using a NoSQL Amazon database like DynamoDB. We were also open to using SQL or MongoDB from our discussions.
- Exchanged contact information so we can contact Jack whenever if we had any technical queries regarding our project.