Libre Project - Advanced Sensor Characterization and Analysis

Project Overview:

In this project, I led the evaluation and characterization of multiple sensor types, focusing on precision and reliability in temperature measurements. The primary objective was to assess and enhance the performance of a Resistive Temperature Detector (RTD) and a BME280 environmental sensor through detailed experimental analysis and optimization techniques.

Responsibilities:

Designed and implemented experimental setups including voltage dividers and Wheatstone bridge circuits to facilitate accurate sensor readings.

Conducted extensive testing to compare sensor outputs under controlled variations of temperature using a lighter to simulate environmental changes.

Performed calibration adjustments for the RTD sensor to account for cable resistance and improve measurement accuracy.

Analyzed sensor data to calculate important metrics such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and gain, and applied statistical methods to evaluate sensor performance and linearity (R² value).

Achievements:

Demonstrated high linearity in RTD sensor readings with an R² value close to 1, indicating precise temperature measurement capabilities.

Identified and addressed issues with the BME280 sensor, which showed inaccuracies in readings beyond a specific range.

Enhanced data integrity through innovative calibration techniques, reducing temperature reading errors significantly.

Improved the overall sensor system’s performance by optimizing signal processing and amplification to maximize the output without exceeding the ADC’s voltage limits.