Denoising MAX6675 reading using Kalman filter and factorial design

This paper aims to tune the Kalman filter (KF) input variables, namely measurement error and process noise, based on two-level factorial design. Kalman filter then was applied in inexpensive temperature-acquisition utilizing MAX6675 and K-type thermocouple with Arduino as its microprocessor. Two levels for each input variable, respectively, 0.1 and 0.9, were selected and applied to four K-type thermocouples mounted on MAX6675. Each sensor with a different combination of input variables was used to measure the temperature of ambient-water, boiling water, and sudden temperature drops in the system. The measurement results which consisted of the original and KF readings were evaluated to determine the optimum combination of input variables. It was found that the optimum combination of input variables was highly dependent on the system's dynamics. For systems with relatively constant dynamics, a large value of measurement error and small value of process noise results in higher precision readings. Nevertheless, for fast dynamic systems, the previous input variables' combination is less optimal because it produced a time-gap, which made the KF reading differ from the original measurement. The selection of the optimum input combination using two-level factorial design eased the KF tuning process, resulting in a more precise yet low-cost sensor.