A rod-mounted fishing telemetry system that logs casts and distance, detects bite-like motion, and stores sessions for later review. Built around an ESP32-class MCU with a compact on-rod UI and optional Bluetooth sync to a mobile companion app for visualization and metrics.
- Cast detection + distance estimation using a color sensor reading a marked reel/spool. (Sensor method may change to a hall sensor + magnet for a more compact build.)
- IMU-based bite/motion alerts for strike-like rod movement events.
- On-rod LCD for time, basic weather/context, battery %, and session status.
- Local session logging with optional Bluetooth sync to a phone app.
- Mobile app goals: log session data, visualize distance, and display temperature + other contextual metrics.
- Designed for student-friendly fabrication (3D printing/basic CNC) and serviceable sealing (gaskets/O-rings).
- Cast & Distance Logging: Detects casts and estimates line payout by counting spool events (currently via color-mark passes; may transition to hall sensor + magnet).
- Bite/Motion Alerts: IMU monitors rod motion patterns and triggers alerts on strike-like events.
- User Interface: Simple, glove-friendly controls with a readable on-rod LCD.
- Session Storage: Stores multiple sessions for post-session review.
- Connectivity (optional): BLE sync to a smartphone app for session logging and visualization.
- Mobile App (planned):
- Log data in the phone app (session history, events, summaries)
- Distance visualization (per-cast and/or per-session views)
- Temperature and other metrics (contextual conditions tied to sessions)
- Export: CSV/GPX output for analysis and sharing (via app/export flow).
- MCU: ESP32-class (ESP32-S3 supported; final target confirmed during prototyping)
- Sensors: Color sensor (spool mark) / (possible hall sensor + magnet), IMU (bite/motion)
- UI: Compact LCD + buttons
- Power: 3.7 V Li-ion + USB-C charging + regulation
- CAD: Tinkercad
- Firmware: Arduino IDE + VS Code (PlatformIO optional)
- Version Control/CI: GitHub
firmware/— MCU firmware (sensing, UI, logging, BLE)hardware/— wiring diagrams, pin maps, enclosure notescad/— enclosure/brackets (STLs and source files)app/— mobile companion app (sync + visualization + export)docs/— requirements, acceptance tests, field test plans
- Sensing pipeline: Spool sensor (color mark or hall+magnet) → cast events + distance estimate
- Alert pipeline: IMU → bite/motion classification → user alert
- UI pipeline: Session status → LCD + buttons
- Data pipeline: Session logs → local storage → (optional) BLE sync → phone app (logging + visualization + metrics) → export (CSV/GPX)
- Build steps and setup guides will live in
docs/as the MVP solidifies. - MVP demo goals:
- Cast logging rate + distance repeatability
- IMU alert tuning (latency + false positives)
- Session storage and retrieval
- Optional BLE sync
- App-side session logging + basic distance visualization
- Bench: spool event counting consistency, IMU event detection tuning, UI readability, battery runtime.
- Field: cast logging percentage, distance accuracy targets, session retrieval, optional BLE sync success rate.
- Distance via spool sensor: simple, low-cost method for estimating line payout without complex mechanics (color sensor initially; hall sensor is a compact alternative).
- IMU for bite alerts: detects strike-like rod motion without putting electronics in-line with the fishing line.
- Serviceable waterproofing: gaskets/O-rings prioritized over heavy potting for rework and maintenance.
- MVP-first scope: core logging + alerts + UI + storage before higher-level mapping features.
- MVP: cast detection + distance, IMU alerts, LCD status, local storage, optional BLE sync, basic app logging + distance visualization
- Stretch: bobber position estimation (distance + GPS/direction), richer analytics, refined chassis, deeper exports, expanded app metrics (temperature + context)
CECS 490 Senior Project — SmartRod / Cyber Rod team.