Is the keg empty? Acoustic beer keg monitor

Using a Raspberry Pi to roughly detect when the fill level of a liquid in a closed steel container (Otherwise known as a beer keg).

avatardelta

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Description

Using a Raspberry Pi to roughly determine the fill level of a beer keg.The level of the keg is determined by sending/recording an acoustic signal, and performing a frequency analysis.

Details

Hand-Wavy Goal:

Determine the level of fluid in a beer keg.

Objectives:

Create and record a signal that echoes through the keg.
Analyze the signal and determine if a noticeable difference between full and empty kegs exists.
Create a software model to process a signal and give the fluid level
Assemble Electronics
Create/Design a case for the device.
Fabricate the case
Complete the prototype
Collect more data.

Restrictions:

The device cannot extend past the top of the keg (i.e the keg can still be stacked.
The device must be "hands off" when deployed. (i.e runs independently without outside input)
The device must provide indication of the level of a keg, internally or externally.

Current Status:

Case fabrication ongoing.
Completing component design - BRANCHING OUT TO SUBIMPROVMENTS
Prototype Electronics outlined / assembled. - See above
Need to further explore signal processing. - yes definitely
Completing Case Allows real-world data capture - ALMOST THERE

Files

IMG_0552[1].JPG Top of case sans lid. JPEG Image - 1.18 MB - 11/02/2016 at 02:17	Preview	Download

IMG_0551[1].JPG Keg-side/bottom of prototype case JPEG Image - 1.11 MB - 11/02/2016 at 02:17	Preview	Download

Components

1 × Raspberry Pi B+
1 × Witty Pi
1 × Adafruit PowerBoost 1000 Charger
1 × Transducer
1 × Adafruit Stereo 3.7W Class D Audio Amplifier - MAX98306

Project Logs

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A case? A case. I see there's a case.
avatardelta • 11/04/2016 at 12:14 • 0 comments

Got a very rough prototype case fabricated.
Thoughts and notes consist of:
"How do I turn it on now?"
"I can't push the button"
"this lid is too wide"
"This doesn't quite fit but it'll do for now"
"now I need to work on the signal processing"
Project status:
Prototype electronics assembled
Rough case fabricated
Simple program sequence made for collecting audio samples.
Work needing doing:
Redefine the electronics for lower power consumption.
Complete the signal processing model.
Collecting more audio samples
Planning data retrieval schema that doesn't involve removal of device.