We integrate a new radio module into your device
Why is this necessary
- You are aware about the planned stop of the release of elements of your device or you can no longer buy them.
- You are forced to update the element base in order to meet modern standards.
- You are experiencing a shortage of elements and want to replace them with more affordable ones.
- You want to extend the functionality of an existing device.
- You want to reduce the cost of the device.
What we will do
- Select a new module and integrate it into the device.
- Transfer your code to a new element base by adapting it to new interfaces.
- Optimize the code for the new platform, using the hardware capabilities of the new module, instead of the software ones (performed at the expense of the processor).
What we will do
- Select a new module and integrate it into the device.
- Transfer your code to a new element base by adapting it to new interfaces.
- Optimize the code for the new platform, using the hardware capabilities of the new module, instead of the software ones (performed at the expense of the processor).
What you will get
- Extend/restart the lifespan of your device. You will have new device life on a new element base.
- Improved performance.
- New features and functionality.
- Get rid of old problems, reduce the cost of support.
Case 1. Obsolete Wi-Fi module replacement
Client: manufacturer of solar energy devices.
The gateway device:
collect, process, and display information from an array of solar panels.
The RS9110-N-11-24-02 radio module was used for communication, which provides communication over Wi-Fi of the 802.11 b standard. On the microcontroller side, the lwIP library was deployed to implement the TCP/UDP network layer and the IP protocol layer.
An issue:
The solution contained shortcomings: network stability problems caused by porting the cumbersome lwIP library to NXP processors, and a long loading time, since the communication module required initialization before each launch, which also complicated the architecture and startup sequence of the entire device. But the solution was generally viable and worked until the RS9110 modules were discontinued.
Solution:
switching to the Wi-Fi module ESP WROOM32U (802.11 n), modified the client code so that the implementation of network protocols moved from the processor to the hardware of the new Wi-Fi module, more unnecessary network library was removed from the firmware of the microcontroller, memory and CPU load were freed, the architecture was simplified by independently loading the module from the static memory of ESP32.
Benefits:
- Reduced cost ($10 → $ 4)
- The problem of unavailability (due to the cessation of sales) of the radio module was solved
- The project support was simplified, since the cumbersome external libraries were removed
- Thus, solving the problem of unavailability of components, along the way, a few business tasks were solved, aimed at updating the solution and increasing stability
Case 2. Adding a radio module for hardware-reborn to the old system
Client: manufacturer of industrial washing machines.
The devices:
Huge arrange of commercial laundry machines of different series.
An issue:
In the series of machines developed over the years, various UART protocols were implemented to transmit data on the intensity of use, errors that occurred, and other statistics, but this data was collected manually: during the service process, the master connected wires to each machine and read the data.
Solution:
An expansion board with a NORDIC microcontroller and an nRF52 radio module were developed and manufactured. On the basis of the MCU, an interpreter of all existing UART protocols of all available series of machines was implemented; data through the radio module using the Thread network over the Ethernet channel began to go to the server hosted in the cloud. The customer added the developed expansion board to all existing machines and installs it in new ones. All the company’s devices are connected to a single network, and data is automatically collected in a single data center.
Benefits:
- Savings in service costs (reduced data collection and diagnostic costs)
- Improving the quality of customer service by quickly responding to malfunctions, the condition of the devices is clearly visible
- Automatic data collection from all devices to a single data center
- Now you can use machine learning methods to analyze data, connect predictive analytics for timely maintenance and repair before failure
