Sensible Flow: IoT-based Smart Retrofit Water Flow Meter for Taps
Abstract: This paper presents a novel approach to estimate
water usage without directly interfacing with the water line.
Instead, it utilizes a device that indirectly gauges water
consumption by monitoring the position of the tap handle
after it is rotated or moved. The setup process for this device
is straightforward, as it doesn’t require any modifications
to the existing water infrastructure. The system, known as
”Sensible Flow,” employs a sensor node consisting of an Inertial
Measurement Unit (IMU) to track and analyze the movement
and position of the tap handle. To ensure accurate readings,
the device is initially calibrated using a flow rate sensor or
through manual measurement with a known-volume beaker.
Once the flow rate is inferred based on the tap handle position,
the data is transmitted via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to a
base gateway unit. This base unit provides real-time updates
on water consumption and can also be configured to send
the collected data to the cloud via WiFi, enabling further
analysis and monitoring. Extensive testing has been conducted
to evaluate the device’s accuracy and performance. The Sensible
Flow system provides a cost-effective and non-intrusive solution
for estimating water usage, with potential applications in water
conservation and management.
Video URL: https://youtu.be/-AgiZZRpAac
Repository URL: https://github.com/joshjomer/Sensible-Flow
Submission Number: 6
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