Meeting and testing

Week 48

Meeting with technical specialist  

 

On Tuesday we had a meeting with our project specialist and we got some much needed information about radio modem functionality. We also got our hands on two radio modems and information about how to test them.

Testing functionality

 

Today we tried testing the functionality of our two routers. We got everything to work and now we have a little more knowledge about how to get them to send data to each other.

Next weeks Tuesday we are going on a trip to Salo to visit Satel headquarters. After that we can hopefully start doing some needed measurements to take the next step in our project.

Here is a little picture of the stuff we were doing today.

In short, we plugged the two modems to our lab power supply, supplied them 12 volts and plugged them in two serial ports in a usb to serial converter. Then we used a Linux program called minicom to send data between the two routers. We also tested loopback a little to send the data from one modem to the other so that the other one just sends it back to the other router.

Review of the peer group's blog findings

Peer group's blog https://iotcapstone.blogspot.com/

An IoT Based Air Pollution Monitoring System for Smart Cities

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334092485_An_IoT_Based_Air_Pollution_Monitoring_System_for_Smart_Cities
Air quality all around the world, and in cities especially, is decreasing and air pollution is cited responsible for millions of deaths per year worldwide, according to WHO. According to the article, the solution to this problem is smart cities and IoT air quality control devices that are, e.g. based on Raspberry Pi 3 Model B with sensors, a cloud data storage platform and an API/dashboard. With these sensors we can track qualities like temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, smoke, gases and concentration of hazardous particular matter. The article is based around an Android app while the data is stored privately on ThingSpeak and is requested through the API through HTTP requests. The data stream is sensors (analog to digital converter depending on sensory output) -> Raspberry Pi -> ThingSpeak -> JSON format -> application.

We think the article about IoT-based air pollution monitoring system for smart cities was most interesting, as it is connected to our own project’s topic of long-distance communications. IoT sensors need to be realiably connected to the cloud storage for accessing and analyzing the gathered data.

With Raspberry Pis air quality monitoring can be implemented easily and cost-effectively to buildings. This way people can be easily notified of the current air quality conditions and take the needed action fast. The gathered data can also be used for research purposes in an effort to find ways to improve the air quality of cities.

Idea Tree

Mindmap

Click here to see full size image

Secondary research

Three most interesting products or software

SATEL Proof-TR4 / -TR9

SATEL Proof-TR4 / -TR9 are the radio modems we are using in the project to build our real network to get parameters for the simulation with ns-3. Satel provides four of these for us in addition to the antennas, necessary cables and radio modem configuration software. Radio modems are going to be used on Satel’s nominated test frequency, with nominated power level and with provided antennas. These radio modems have RS-232 interface that we are going to use most likely at 115200 bps speed. Also these radio modems support different air interface modulations and air interface encryption.

Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pis are the computers we are using in our real network as sub stations to simulate remote terminal units (RTUs) i.e. sensors, actuators etc. These are provided for us by the school. Raspberry Pis are small computers that perform well on these tasks.

ns-3 Network Simulator

ns-3 is the simulation tool we are using in this project once we get the parameters from the real network. ns-3 is a discrete-event network simulator for Internet systems, targeted primarily for research and educational use. ns-3 is free software, licensed under the GNU GPLv2 license, and is publicly available for research, development, and use. We are using version 3.30.1 of this software.

Academic articles and journals

Network Simulations with the ns-3 Simulator

The article describes basic information about ns-3 discrete-event network simulator. The article is written by Thomas R. Henderson, Mathieu Lacage, and George F. Riley. Additional authors are Craig Dowell and Joseph B. Kopena.

ns-3 simulator is a replacement for ns-2 simulator that has long been a widely used simulator for research and education on Internet and other network systems. ns-3 is borrowed concepts and implementations from several open source simulators including ns-2, yans, and GTNetS. ns-3 differs from ns-2 in several ways, for example new software core that is designed to improve scalability, modularity, coding style, and documenation. The core is written in C++ but with an optional Python scripting interface. Other differences are attention to realism, software integration, support for virtualization, testbed integration, attribute system, and tracing architecture. 

ns-3 is open-source and licensed under GNU GPLv2 like ns-2, and welcomes developers and contributed code from across academia, industry, and government.

Network Simulations with the ns-3 Simulator

A performance comparison of recent network simulators

The article compares performance of five network simulators named ns-2, OMNeT++, ns-3, SimPy and JiST/SWANS by implementing an indentical simulation set-up in these simulators. The article is written by Elias Weingärtner, Hendrik vom Lehn and Klaus Wehrle.

Results reveal large differences according to both runtime performance and memory usage. Simulation runtime test showed that as network size grows SimPy does not scale well and should not be used in large-scale network simulations. ns-2 also showed weaknesses in this test. Rest of the network simulators OMNeT++, ns-3, and JiST performed quite well around the same speed (JiST was the fastest). Memory usage test showed that JiST uses up much more memory resources than the other simulation tools even if the garbage collection is manually triggered at times. ns-2, OMNeT++ and SimPy share a similar linear growth of memory usage, with ns-3 being the most efficient simulation tool in this test.

ns-3 demonstrated the best overall performance with both low computational and less memory demands. Although it was surpassed by JiST in terms of simulation runtime. Keeping scalability in mind good choices for network simulators are JiST, ns-3 and OMNeT++, but the answer is largely dependent on the specific use case.

A performance comparison of recent networksimulators

WHAT IS SCADA?

SCADA stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. It is software package that is positioned on top of hardware. SCADA in general is interfaced via Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), or other commercial hardware modules.

SCADA systems are widely used in industry for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition of industrial processes.

WHAT IS SCADA?

Basic Lean Canvas for the project

We created a basic Lean Canvas for the project:

Our project is an company internal project, so it is hard to analyze the customers when there is only one. The revenue payment is just something that could happen in reality (One time payment). The project idea is to just create a basis for simulation, that will be easy for the company to expand when needed. Additional revenue would probably not exist.

First PO meeting done (Memo)

First PO meeting is done and we learned a lot of new information.

PO meeting was held by the PO and the project technical specialist.

Things we learned:

• What Satel is as a company.
• Why and where radio modems are used.
• The planned project goals.
• The necessary equipment for the project.
• Useful links for the project.

Things to do:

• Plan the project.
• Split the project goals into smaller parts and assign the parts for our group members.
• Estimate the timeline for the smaller parts and decide if the project goals are doable.
• Create an agenda for the next meeting.
• Create a private git repository for the project.

Things to study:

• SCADA.
• TR4 -radio modem (Test frequency is not allowed to be changed).
• NS-3 (Good starting point: CSMA NetDevice).
• Documentation "helpers" (NS-3).
• Basic electronics.

Panu Porkka

Hello!
My name is Panu Porkka and I'm 21 year old ICT student at Turku University of Applied Sciences. My specialization field is Data Networks and Security.

Through various courses and by other means, I have gotten some experience in programming with languages such as C#, C and Java (currently ongoing). I'm interested in learning more about programming during the course/project. I also have some basic experience with Linux from a System Software course. I'm also interested (in addition to my specialization field and programming) in computers, gaming and IT in general.

During this course, I expect to gain important experience about working on proper group projects and with real companies. I feel that the experience and knowledge I will gain from the course will be quite important while working as an ICT engineer.

Team rules

Team rules

-        All members of the group should attend planned meetings (at least 75% attendance).

-        Inform if you can not make it to meeting for example via WhatsApp.

-        Be on time for meetings.

-        All members of the group should come prepared to meetings.

-        Finish the assignments in time.

-        Be open

-        Be respectful towards team members.

-        Breaks in long team meetings.

-        Confront any issues.

-        Positive attitude.

Janne Salmi

I'm Janne Salmi, a 22-year-old student from Turku and I'm studying ICT engineering in Turku university of applied sciences. I'm specializing in networking technologies. My interests include computers, photography and technology in general.

I have previously worked in tech support, where I have worked with a lot of different people. When it comes to work, I'm kind of a perfectionist, I always want to finish what I started and do it well. I'm looking forward to learning more about programming especially during this course.

Lauri Kattelus

My name is Lauri Kattelus I'm 25 years old and I'm from Turku.
I study ICT and I'm specializing in to Embedded Systems.
I'm interested in programming low level stuff with C/C++ and also on higher level languages like C# and Java.
My hobbies include programming my hobby projects and playing video games.
I find my strengths to be that i can learn new things quickly and I like to keep up with the technology news and articles and as my weaknesses to be that i sometimes find myself struggling with a problem too long before asking for help.
My expectation on course are that I'll learn new technologies and gain more experience on working on projects. 

Niko Hangas

I'm a 20-year old student from Turku. I study networking and data security at the Turku University of Applied Sciences. I would describe myself as calm, down-to-earth person. Some of my interests include IT and history.

I have experience working as a general IT specialist, fixing computers, doing customer service and mapping networking equipent.

Jimi Österholm

Hello!

My name is Jimi Österholm, I’m a 28 year old student from Turku. I’m studying my 3rd year in Information and Communications Technology in Turku University of Applied Sciences. I’m specializing in Embedded Software.

My former studies include:

- Gymnasium graduate

- Started electrical engineering in Vaasa, but stopped after 1.5 years (went into security studies, after working as a guard in Vaasa Prison)

- Vocational studies in security in Vaasa

Before starting my studies in Turku, I used to work as a security guard in Vaasa, I did that for a little over 2 years. Now I am working part time in Turku University hospital as a vahtimestari (Can’t really find a good english word to describe this).

My biggest interest at the moment is programming. I hope I will be able to learn some more about C++ and networking during this course. In my free time I like to play some games and hit the gym.

My strengths:

Fast learner

Perfectionist (also a weakness)

Trustworthy

My weaknesses:

Pretty quiet

Stress a bit too much

Joni Tuomisto

Hi,
My name is Joni Tuomisto, 23, I'm studying in TUAS and my study field is embedded software. I usually spend my free time sitting at the computer, painting miniatures or riding my motorcycle.
I have high expectations for this course because it is exciting to get to work with real companies and gain valuable experience.
For my strengths I'd count being headstrong about the tasks I'm set to do and getting them done right and helping others in their tasks if they need it. My greatest weakness must be that I'm really anxious person and it may hinder my productivity but I will always try my best nevertheless.

Coding has become a personal interest for me during the past few years and I hope it will some day become the thing I do for my living. I have not yet gathered too much experience in coding outside of school aside a few optional courses from the internet, but I do consider myself as a fast learner and already a decent coder and I have plans for a side project outside of school with a friend of mine involving coding and utilizing a Raspberry Pi.
Languages that I have more experience with: C, C++, C# and Python; and languages that I'm a bit less familiar with but have used in the past: Java and JavaScript

Hopefully this course will be an educational experience!

Mikael Jääskeläinen

Schools I have attended

I started vocational school in autumn of 2014 in Turku vocational institute at Juhannuskukkula. I specialized in Information and Telecommunications Technology. I qualified from Turku vocational institute in spring of 2017 to ICT technician.

What I am studying now

I am currently studying Information and Communication Technologies at the Turku university of applied sciences. I Started my studies here in the Turku university of applied sciences in autumn of 2017. Duration of my studies is four years. I specialized in Data Networks and Cybersecurity. I will graduate in spring of 2021 to Bachelor of Engineering, Information and Communications Technologies.

Jere Kankaanpää

Hello! 

My name is Jere Kankaanpää. I am a 21-year-old student from Turku. I am studying at the Turku University of Applied Sciences for the third year and I recently specialised to data networks and security.

I am especially interested in data networks. I also like programming and working with hardware and I want to develop these skills during the project.

By nature I am calm, hardworking, responsible and reliable. I always finish what I start. I also own teamwork skills.

I have worked a bit with Raspberry Pi and Linux before and I am looking forward to learn more about these during the project in addition to learning about projects.