Design and Prototype of a Freshwater Ice Thickness Measuring Device

The proposed electromechanical design is an autonomous thermistor chain which can be used to relay the temperature profile of a body of water to an onshore receiver. The device utilizes thermistors to measure the temperature of water/ice at various depths to quantify the ice thickness of a body of freshwater. The device aims to increase ice safety by eliminating the need for on ice tests. After designing and manufacturing a thermistor chain prototype, the team created an insulated testing apparatus to simulate the freezing process of a body of freshwater such as a lake or pond. The data collected provides a representation of the accuracy of the device and serves as proof of concept