Linux Powered Autonomous Arctic Buoys

Explore the technical and design challenges of developing autonomous Linux-powered Arctic buoys in this 43-minute conference talk by Satish Chetty from Hera Systems. Discover how low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf components are utilized to create an extreme environment sensor data gathering platform that measures albedo, weather, and water temperature. Learn about the custom embedded Linux system optimized for efficient solar and battery power usage, as well as the implementation of various low-cost, high-accuracy sensors and satellite/terrestrial wireless communications. Gain insights into addressing issues such as custom kernel building, Linux drivers, frame grabbing, power limitations, clock drifts due to low temperature, summer melt challenges, sensor failures, and intermittent communication problems. Delve into the speaker's background in embedded Linux, robotics, and polar research technology, and understand the importance of Linux in this embedded environment. Follow the journey from initial concept to deployment, exploring hardware considerations, troubleshooting techniques, and software updates for these autonomous Arctic buoys.