Sensor Lab IoT Smart Pole

Initial brief entailed creating a product to house smart city sensors at the top of street poles to capture and feed data into the City of Newcastle’s Living Lab, utilised by the council, university and CSIRO researchers. This data is then utilised to better understand and respond to issues; solve city challenges; and encourage entrepreneurial activity for progressing research, prototyping and product development. Design Anthology identified an opportunity to also include a product at street level to collect a wider range of data. Smart Pole product then became modular with a S2 unit (on pole) and S1 unit (street level).

DA designed and developed a solution that comprised of: concept development, detailed design, prototyping, drafting, tooling, production, support documentation, launch material of the product and project management of the electrical and electronics engineering. Outside the original brief, we also: 1. Optimised the S2 installation and removal process to include push-to-connect fittings and developed the patented Pole Climbing Robot. 2. Designed the new product S1 to integrate into the Smart Pole access panels on street level. 3. Designed the S1 and S2 for in-pole or stand-alone use, therefore expanding the product’s usability.

The smart city hardware platform enables: • Start-ups, researchers, developers and academics to create, test, validate and commercialise new IoT solutions through the City of Newcastle Smart City Living Lab. This creates new technologies and ventures that: increase job opportunities; develops the region’s workforce’s technical skills; and attracts commercial markets nationally and internationally. • The generated data and project outcomes to help the Council (and global cities) better understand and respond to city issues that impact: o transport, communications and energy efficiency o the urban environment such as urban heat island effect, air pollution, flood management and water sustainability

Design Anthology developed a range of various key design features to enhance the product, which include: • Being modular which suits a wide variety of sensors and IoT hardware • An open platform and therefore designed to accommodate test hardware from start-ups, researchers, developers and academics • Configurable and can accommodate a variety of edge processors • Innovative installation: in pole, on pole or wall mounted with a universal wall bracket • IP rated whilst allowing airflow to sensors • Stealth design and rugged to prevent vandalism • Configuration to be plug-and-play or stand-alone with solar and battery power • Designed for quick deployment • Can be repurposed as: o AI voice activated information portal o An emergency point o Wi-Fi hotspot Examples of the S1’s capture capability: • Gas sensing such as Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Nitrogen Monoxide, Methane, Ammonia, Sulphur Dioxide. • Noise sensing • People counting • Particulate sensing • Temperature monitoring • WiFi hotspot • Emergency point • AI powered; voice activated information portal Examples of the S2’s capture capability: • Lightening sensing and tracking through the Living lab sensor network • Irradiance sensing • UV sensing • Wind speed and direction sensing • Rain sensing and measurement • Temperature sensing • Humidity sensing • Pressure sensing