Open Source Hardware Platform Research Articles

A Review on IoT Based Smart Security And Home Automation

Recent advances in smartphones and affordable open-source hardware platforms have enabled the development of low-cost architectures for Internet-of-Things (IoT)-enabled home automation and security systems. These systems usually consist of sensing and actuating layer that is made up of sensors such as passive infrared sensors, also known as motion sensors; temperature sensors; smoke sensors, and web cameras for security surveillance. These sensors, smart electrical appliances, and other IoT devices connect to the Internet through a home gateway. This project is based on implementation of an IoT based home security system, to be able to control entrance from anywhere in the world is the major aim of this project and at same time it should be secured, and this was achieved with the use of Internet of things and some other electronics components. An automatic door control system working through a mobile app and also through a keypad was achieved. IoT refers to the infrastructure of connected physical devices which is growing at a rapid rate as a huge number of devices and objects are getting associated with the Internet. Home security is a very useful application of IoT and we are using it to create an inexpensive security system for homes as well as industrial use.

Remote Recognition of Moving Behaviors for Captive Harbor Seals Using a Smart-Patch System via Bluetooth Communication.

Animal telemetry has been recognized as a core platform for exploring animal species due to future opportunities in terms of its contribution toward marine fisheries and living resources. Herein, biologging systems with pressure sensors are successfully implemented via open-source hardware platforms, followed by immediate application to captive harbor seals (HS). Remotely captured output voltage signals in real-time mode via Bluetooth communication were reproducibly and reliably recorded on the basis of hours using a smartphone built with data capturing software with graphic user interface (GUI). Output voltages, corresponding to typical behaviors on the captive HS, such as stopping (A), rolling (B), flapping (C), and sliding (D), are clearly obtained, and their analytical interpretation on captured electrical signals are fully validated via a comparison study with consecutively captured images for each motion of the HS. Thus, the biologging system with low cost and light weight, which is fully compatible with a conventional smartphone, is expected to potentially contribute toward future anthology of seal animals.

Design of Interactive Device on Climate Warming Based on Arduino, an Open-source Hardware

Nowadays, new media art has flourished as the focus of contemporary art and its creative potential has been greatly unlocked by Arduino, a convenient and fast open-source electronic prototyping platform. It is the application of Arduino that makes artworks more dynamic and appealing, so it is easier for viewers to resonate with the emotions that the artworks convey. Moreover, as the relationship between human society and the ecological environment has become increasingly closer, environmental issues have sparked heated discussions, in which designers and artists also participate with their unique artistic language. The device, “City Countdown”, stands as an artistic creation and it is designed in accordance with the reflection on the current global warming and is supported by Arduino, an open-source hardware platform. This artwork intends to achieve the interaction between viewers and itself, so as to guide people to realize the negative impact of human activities on climate change, and to further reflect on the today’s human life.

Design and Evaluation of an Electrodermal Activity Sensor (EDA) With Adaptive Gain

Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a physiological signal that can be measured non-intrusively and associated with the sympathetic nervous system, hence being widely used nowadays. Although multiple sensor designs have been proposed over the years, practical hardware limitations still persist, due to differences in the electrode materials used to interface with the body, sweat gland density at the recording sites, and variability in the overall electrical properties of the skin in-between users. This is particularly challenging when low resolution Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC) are used, which, due to the proliferation of open source and low-cost hardware platforms, are currently widespread. In this article we present a design and experimental evaluation of a new circuit for EDA measurement with adaptive gain control, allowing the dynamic adaptation of the measurement range. The proposed circuit has shown comparable results to those obtained with a reference sensor, obtaining a mean correlation coefficient of 0.967, and proved to have superior performance in cases where the reference sensor would saturate.

ProSe Direct Discovery: Experimental Characterization and Context-Aware Heuristic Approach to Extend Public Safety Networks Lifetime

Device-to-device communication, as provided by the third generation partnership project standardization, can play a vital role in designing a reliable pervasive public safety network, which allows the user equipment (UEs) to communicate directly with each other in emergency situations. In this paper, we analyze the performance of direct discovery, one of the features introduced by proximity services. This is examined in heterogeneous environments using the OpenAirInterface open-source software and USRP hardware platform. The experimental results highlight the suitable values for different gains and frequencies of the UEs for performing reliable baseline direct discovery in out-of-coverage scenarios. We evaluate the performance of direct discovery in terms of reliability and maximum range in outdoor and indoor scenarios. Furthermore, we propose a context-aware energy-efficient heuristic algorithm for direct discovery with the aim of extending the network lifetime in emergency scenarios. This heuristic yields significant improvements in UE lifetime (20-52%) and reduces redundant transmissions of discovery messages compared to the baseline approach.

Shock tube data processing tools using open source hardware and software platforms

AbstractTo cater the need of specific shock‐tube data acquisition and processing system, a low cost open‐source alternative has been developed and presented in this paper. Using easily available open‐source hardware and software platforms such as ARDUINO, a robust 5.3 MHz speed data acquisition system along with optimized shock tube data processing software is designed and an indigenous shock tube data processing tool has been developed. This has been found to be 10 times less cost than the general‐purpose computing equipment available on the market, with a substantial reduction in shockwave data processing time and effort. The setup has been tested with the different diaphragms producing shockwaves of different Mach numbers. The experimental results are compared with the theoretical values obtained using normal shock relations and are found to be consistent with admissible error limits. This validates the design and construction of the device for scientific experiments.

Retrofit planning and execution of a mediterranean villa using on-site measurements and simulations

In this research, a full rehabilitation study (retrofit) of an isolated villa in a Mediterranean climate was carried out in order to show how a retrofit of a building with a combination of simple passive and active strategies can improve the sustainability, energy efficiency and the thermal comfort. This is performed thanks to the design of a methodology of using a thermal simulation tool with experimental measurements based on a low-cost open source hardware platform in order to evaluate the energy saving measures and analyse the thermal comfort and energy savings. To accomplish this, a study of the housing needs is performed a priori to later design the different actions in the rehabilitation, using if possible, ecological materials in its development. Basically, walls and ceilings are insulated, three solar air collectors are included to heat the air ventilation and decrease the heating demand, and two pellet stoves are installed. Finally, the refurbished house is modeled and simulated in EnergyPlus and compared with the indoor air temperature and relative humidity measurements, made using an Open-Source Monitoring System (OSMS) developed for this research in Arduino, obtaining results with no significant differences without the need to calibrate the system. The results of thermal comfort, heating and cooling demand and heating energy consumption of the house before and after the renovation are compared providing a decrease in thermal demand of 66% and a decrease in heating energy consumption of 50% in the winter season, where 60% of the energy consumed is contributed from renewable sources. In terms of thermal comfort, the comparison of the PPD and PMV values shows an improvement in the house in heating and cooling season.

Open Source Hardware and Healthcare Collaborative Platforms: Common Legal Challenges

Open collaborative platforms to share open source hardware project designs are a growing paradigm. In the healthcare sector, platforms – such as Careables.org, Patient Innovation, Makers Making Change – are becoming a popular means to share knowledge and create healthcare solutions. Users of these platforms, however, might be unaware of the legal requirements and possible consequences of non-compliance. This paper is addressed to designers and makers involved in co-design and co-creation of open source hardware healthcare solutions. It aims at mapping, using plain language, the common legal challenges for developing Open Source Hardware in healthcare – stemming from laws on privacy and data protection, intellectual property, liability, and medical devices. Publisher’s Note: A correction article relating to this paper has been published and can be found at https://openhardware.metajnl.com/articles/10.5334/joh.37/.

Self-Powered 6LoWPAN Sensor Node for Green IoT Edge Devices

In this paper, a simulation model and practical testbed for green Internet of Things (IoT) edge devices are proposed based on solar harvester with constant voltage-maximum power point tracking (CV-MPPT) technique. Billions of connected edge devices represent the essential part of the IoT through the IP-enabled sensor networks based on IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN). In traditional IoT edge devices, the stored energy in the non-rechargeable battery determines the node lifetime while it is being depleted with time. Therefore, purchasing billions of such batteries is costly and must be disposed of efficiently. This paper is aimed at simulating and implementing a new class of green IoT edge devices that can report data wirelessly and powered perpetually using clean energy. The developed edge device utilizes solar energy harvesting mechanism through photovoltaic (PV) module, this approach will avoid periodical battery replacement and hence, the energy supplied to the sensor mode is not limited anymore. The implemented testbed is based on open-source hardware and software platforms while the simulation environment is based on MATLAB/SIMULINK 2019a. The effects of temperature and solar irradiance on the performance of the developed approach are examined in order to confirm the leverage of the proposed methodology scheme. The lifetime of the developed green IoT device is predicted based on the device’s activities, current consumption, and energy storage capacity. The obtained results showed that the battery lifetime is extended by 38-49% when the edge device runs on an independent power source.

Development of Smart Incubator Grow System For Plant

In the current industrialized food production network, most food suppliers rely on large, mono-crop farms that grow massive amounts of a single product and ship it around the globe. Food may travel thousands of miles over the course of days, weeks, or even months before it reaches our tables. Not only is this system strain on the environment, and on the cost to the consumer, but it also affects the quality of the food we put in our bodies. The objective of this project is to design and develop a smart incubator grow system for plants by developing the open source hardware and software platforms for sensor-controlled hydroponic and aeroponic agriculture systems. Inside of this smart incubator, climate variables such as carbon dioxide, air temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, potential hydrogen, electrical conductivity, root-zone temperature, and more can be controlled and monitored. Usage specifications such as operational energy, water use, and mineral consumption can also be monitored and adjusted through electrical meters, flow sensors, and controllable chemical doses throughout the growth period. The complete set of conditions throughout a growth cycle produces unique phenotypic expressions, or physical qualities in different plants. Plants grown under different conditions may vary in colour, size, texture, growth rate, yield, flavour, and nutrient density. The system can be monitor and control through wireless connectivity technology

Design and control of an exoskeleton robot with EMG-driven electrical stimulation for upper limb rehabilitation

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to design and develop a new robotic device for the rehabilitation of the upper limbs. The authors are focusing on a new symmetrical robot which can be used to rehabilitate the right upper limb and the left upper limb. The robotic arm can be automatically extended or reduced depending on the measurements of the patient's arm. The main idea is to integrate electrical stimulation into motor rehabilitation by robot. The goal is to provide automatic electrical stimulation based on muscle status during the rehabilitation process.Design/methodology/approachThe developed robotic arm can be automatically extended or reduced depending on the measurements of the patient's arm. The system merges two rehabilitation strategies: motor rehabilitation and electrical stimulation. The goal is to take the advantages of both approaches. Electrical stimulation is often used for building muscle through endurance, resistance and strength exercises. However, in the proposed approach the electrical stimulation is used for recovery, relaxation and pain relief. In addition, the device includes an electromyography (EMG) muscle sensor that records muscle activity in real time. The control architecture provides the ability to automatically activate the appropriate stimulation mode based on the acquired EMG signal. The system software provides two modes for stimulation activation: the manual preset mode and the EMG driven mode. The program ensures traceability and provides the ability to issue a patient status monitoring report.FindingsThe developed robotic device is symmetrical and reconfigurable. The presented rehabilitation system includes a muscle stimulator associated with the robot to improve the quality of the rehabilitation process. The integration of neuromuscular electrical stimulation into the physical rehabilitation process offers effective rehabilitation sessions for neuromuscular recovery of the upper limb. A laboratory-made stimulator is developed to generate three modes of stimulation: pain relief, massage and relaxation. Through the control software interface, the physiotherapist can set the exercise movement parameters, define the stimulation mode and record the patient training in real time.Research limitations/implicationsThere are certain constraints when applying the proposed method, such as the sensitivity of the acquired EMG signals. This involves the use of professional equipment and mainly the implementation of sophisticated algorithms for signal extraction.Practical implicationsFunctional electrical stimulation and robot-based motor rehabilitation are the most important technologies applied in post-stroke rehabilitation. The main objective of integrating robots into the rehabilitation process is to compensate for the functions lost in people with physical disabilities. The stimulation technique can be used for recovery, relaxation and drainage and pain relief. In this context, the idea is to integrate electrical stimulation into motor rehabilitation based on a robot to obtain the advantages of the two approaches to further improve the rehabilitation process. The introduction of this type of robot also makes it possible to develop new exciting assistance devices.Originality/valueThe proposed design is symmetrical, reconfigurable and light, covering all the joints of the upper limbs and their movements. In addition, the developed platform is inexpensive and a portable solution based on open source hardware platforms which opens the way to more extensions and developments. Electrical stimulation is often used to improve motor function and restore loss of function. However, the main objective behind the proposed stimulation in this paper is to recover after effort. The novelty of the proposed solution is to integrate the electrical stimulation powered by EMG in robotic rehabilitation.

Exploring MDSplus data-acquisition software and custom devices

Abstract MDSplus is a software tool designed for data acquisition, storage, and analysis of complex scientific experiments. Over the years, MDSplus has primarily been used for data management for fusion experiments. This paper demonstrates that MDSplus can be used for a much wider variety of systems and experiments. We present a step-by-step tutorial describing how to create a simple experiment, manage the data, and analyze it using MDSplus and Python. To this end, a custom example device was developed to be used as the data source. This device was built on an open-source electronic hardware platform, and it consists of a microcontroller and two sensors. We read data from these sensors, store it in MDSplus, and use JupyterLab to visualize and process it. This project and code demo are available on the GitHub site at this URL: https://github.com/santorofer/MDSplusAndCustomeDevices

EduBal: An open balancing robot platform for teaching control and system theory

In this work we present EduBal, an educational open-source hardware and software platform for a balancing robot. The robot is designed to be low-cost, safe and easy to use by students for control education. Along with the robot we present example tasks from system identification as well as SISO and MIMO control. Using Simulink, students can quickly implement their control algorithms on the robot. Individual control parameters can be tuned online while analyzing the resulting behavior in live signal plots. At RWTH Aachen University and ETH Zurich 28 units have so far been built and used in control classes. In first laboratory experiences students show high intrinsic motivation and creativity to apply the studied concepts of control theory to the real system.

Use of Arduino in the Development of a New and Fast Automated Online Preconcentration System Based on Double-Knotted Reactor for the Mn Determination in Tea Samples by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (F AAS)

In the present paper, an automated online preconcentration system based on the use of two knotted reactors (KR) was developed for Mn determination in tea samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F AAS). The system automation was performed by using four solenoid valves to switch sample streams and reagents. Valves were driven electronically by an integrated Darlington transistor circuit and controlled by an open-source Arduino hardware platform written in C language. The preconcentration was based on the precipitation process of metal ions complexed with 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-(diethylamino)phenol (5-Br-PADAP) on the inner walls of the reactor, followed by elution with a solution of hydrochloric acid. The optimized system allowed the Mn determination with limit of detection (LOD) of 2.1 mg L-1, precision (relative standard deviation (RSD), 50.0 mg L-1) of 2.6% and enrichment factors of 8. The system presented a sampling frequency of 60 h-1. The method accuracy was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material (CRM) apple leaves (NIST 1515) and by addition/recovery tests obtaining recoveries between 95.2 to 119%. This method was applied in the Mn determination in commercial tea samples purchased from local trade. Manganese levels were found in a concentration range of 2.95 to 123 µg g-1.

Blinkies: Open Source Sound-to-Light Conversion Sensors for Large-Scale Acoustic Sensing and Applications

We propose an open source hardware platform called Blinky, a sound-to-light conversion sensor that harvests sound power at low-rate and conveniently. Blinkies are made up of a central processing unit connected to two microphones and a few light-emitting devices, are powered by a battery, and protected by a robust enclosure. Distributed in space and combined with a conventional video camera, they allow to practically sense sound power over a very large area without hassle. We give a comprehensive overview of the proposed system and its potential applications. We describe the hardware design and trade-offs made. We provide a model for the channel between sound power measurements and signal acquired by the video camera. Because each sensor is potentially affected by a different attenuation due to the channel, we propose a calibration procedure to restore the scale of the measurements. The effectiveness of the calibration is validated in an experiment. Finally, we demonstrate sound source localization using a hundred-and-one actual Blinkies in highly reverberent environment.

Unified Open Hardware Platform for Digital X-Ray Devices; its Conceptual Model and First Implementation.

Background: Digital radiography devices are still the gold standard for diagnosis or therapy guidance in medicine. Despite the similarities between all direct digital x-ray systems, researchers and new companies face significant challenges during the development phase of innovative x-ray devices; each component is manufactured independently, guidance towards device integration from manufacturers is limited, global standards for device integration is lacking. Method: In scope of this study a plug-integrate-play (PIP) conceptual model for x-ray imaging system is introduced and implemented as an open hardware platform, SyncBox. The researchers are free to select each individual device component from different vendors based on their intended application and target performance are utilized in criteria. Result: As its first implementation, SyncBox and its platform a full body high resolution radiographic scanner that employs a novel TDI digital detector. Conclusion: We believe that SyncBox has a potential for introducing an open source hardware platform to x-ray equipment design.

Elemental: An Open-Source Wireless Hardware and Software Platform for Building Energy and Indoor Environmental Monitoring and Control.

This work demonstrates an open-source hardware and software platform for monitoring the performance of buildings, called Elemental, that is designed to provide data on indoor environmental quality, energy usage, HVAC operation, and other factors to its users. It combines: (i) custom printed circuit boards (PCBs) with RFM69 frequency shift keying (FSK) radio frequency (RF) transceivers for wireless sensors, control nodes, and USB gateway, (ii) a Raspberry Pi 3B with custom firmware acting as either a centralized or distributed backhaul, and (iii) a custom dockerized application for the backend called Brood that serves as the director software managing message brokering via Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol using VerneMQ, database storage using InfluxDB, and data visualization using Grafana. The platform is built around the idea of a private, secure, and open technology for the built environment. Among its many applications, the platform allows occupants to investigate anomalies in energy usage, environmental quality, and thermal performance via a comprehensive dashboard with rich querying capabilities. It also includes multiple frontends to view and analyze building activity data, which can be used directly in building controls or to provide recommendations on how to increase operational efficiency or improve operating conditions. Here, we demonstrate three distinct applications of the Elemental platform, including: (1) deployment in a research lab for long-term data collection and automated analysis, (2) use as a full-home energy and environmental monitoring solution, and (3) fault and anomaly detection and diagnostics of individual building systems at the zone-level. Through these applications we demonstrate that the platform allows easy and virtually unlimited datalogging, monitoring, and analysis of real-time sensor data with low setup costs. Low-power sensor nodes placed in abundance in a building can also provide precise and immediate fault-detection, allowing for tuning equipment for more efficient operation and faster maintenance during the lifetime of the building.

Predicting Reliability of Open Source Hardware Platform

Embedded system today are influencing every sphere of life and all application domains. These systems were initially designed according to the application requirement as special hardware. This approach of embedded system design was influenced by particular family of processor. The new approach of embedded system design envisages the use of general purpose on the shelf hardware modules to be incorporated. These on the shelf hardware modules are also referred open source hardware platforms as their entire hardware module design in available in public domain. Thus populating such hardware platforms by different individuals becomes easy. At instances these open source modules are not as good as the original ones. This is because calculating and predicting the successes achieved or failure caused by the copy is not tested. This can be verified by the performance of the module designed in terms of reliability.

Open-Source Software and Hardware Platforms for Building Backscatter Systems

In this article, we will provide a brief introduction of available opensource backscatter platforms that can be used by researchers and engineers to build interesting applications or investigate novel backscatter communication technologies. Instead of diving into the details of each platform, we will focus our discussion on the principles used in designing each platform and the unique feature provided by each platform. At the end of this article, we will discuss several key hardware and software modules that can be used by researchers or engineers to build their own backscatter platforms.

Inquiry-Based Learning With RoboGen: An Open-Source Software and Hardware Platform for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence

It has often been found that students appreciate hands-on work, and find that they learn more with courses that include a project than those relying solely on conventional lectures and tests. This type of project driven learning is a key component of “Inquiry-based learning” (IBL), which aims at teaching methodology as well as content by incorporating the student as an actor rather than a spectator. Robotics applications are especially well-suited for IBL due to the value of trial and error experience, the multiple possibilities for students to implement their own ideas, and the importance of programming, problem-solving, and electro-mechanical skills in real world engineering and science jobs. Furthermore, robotics platforms can be useful teaching media and learning tools for a variety of topics. Here, we present RoboGen: an open-source, web-based, software, and hardware platform for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence with a particular focus on Evolutionary Robotics. We describe the platform in detail, compare it to existing alternatives, and present results of its use as a platform for Inquiry-based learning within a master's level course at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.