Using RCWL-0516 Module to Detect Movement in 8-Day Incubated Quail Eggs - Any Insights or Alternative Modules?

[motursa1]

Hello, group! I'm new here. I specialize in raising birds, especially quails. I'm considering if it's possible to use the RCWL-0516 module to detect movement within an egg that is 8 days into incubation. At this stage, the embryo shows movement. Currently, I've removed capacitor C2 to increase response speed. I'm unsure if reducing the detection range increases sensitivity at short distances. Does anyone have any ideas or perhaps know of another module to detect movement within a developing egg? This is useful for identifying infertile eggs without live embryos. I would appreciate any comments

[ericwertz]

There is a whole new wave of radar sensors that are capable of detecting human breathing that might be up to your task. Predecessors all seem to frobnicate at 3, 10 and 24GHz, but these particular ones seem to use 60GHz for the required, increased movement resolution.

https://www.seeedstudio.com/MR60BHA2-60GHz-mmWave-Sensor-Breathing-and-Heartbeat-Module-p-5945.html
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805730477397.html (LD2410, etc.)

The problem you're probably going to have is that your target is so small that might not be conducive to detection. The programming of most of these complete sensor solutions may make assumptions about target sizes and ranges that are antithetical to your particular application.

You may also want to look at putting your eggs on some sort of fulcrum that's gained-up fairly high so that you can detect motion at the far end with either an accelerometer or the highest resolution distance sensors like ST's VL53L* VCSEL jobbies. You could also look into perhaps using a capacitive or inductive sensor to detect those motion changes.

Another method that might be worth looking into is using a capacitive-touch type solution to try to sense the motion within the field created by two surfaces cradling the egg on each side, using copper foil formed to the shell as the sensing electrodes. If not for detecting motion, the changes in the density of the contents might be detectable over time. I don't know if the density characteristics of the embryo would be detectable without compensating for humidity and/or temperature changes in the environment.

You may also be able to use a mechanism similar to the blood oxygen sensors that go over your finger by shining red and/IR light through the egg, with photodetectors on the other side. This may be the most straight-forward solution. As long as you keep the IR energy level low enough not to cook the contents, that is... 1/2 :-).