WaitLess Bus TrackingDisplay

Matthew BrooksMatthew BrooksChristopher ChidiChristopher Chidi

Daniel NadeauDaniel NadeauJosh MauldinJosh Mauldin

Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia Institute of Technology ECE 4007 Senior DesignECE 4007 Senior Design

Final Project PresentationFinal Project PresentationApril 24April 24thth, 2009, 2009

Project Overview What:What: A display showing GPS locations of Georgia Tech A display showing GPS locations of Georgia Tech

campus buses using LEDs arranged along a map placed at campus buses using LEDs arranged along a map placed at campus bus stops.campus bus stops.

Why:Why: 96% of surveyed students are dissatisfied with current 96% of surveyed students are dissatisfied with current text based bus prediction systems which are limited to only a text based bus prediction systems which are limited to only a few bus stops.few bus stops.

Who:Who: Assists campus pedestrians in deciding whether to wait Assists campus pedestrians in deciding whether to wait for the bus or just walk. for the bus or just walk.

Cost:Cost: Estimated prototype development cost of $6700. Per Estimated prototype development cost of $6700. Per unit cost production will be ~ $600.unit cost production will be ~ $600.

Design Objectives Low PowerLow Power

Solar panel with batterySolar panel with battery Low power micro-processorLow power micro-processor

Internet AccessInternet Access Wi-Fi moduleWi-Fi module Use existing GPS data available via Use existing GPS data available via

NextBus.com (XML feed)NextBus.com (XML feed)

Self-Sustaining/Easy to DeploySelf-Sustaining/Easy to Deploy No wires/low maintenanceNo wires/low maintenance No energy costNo energy cost Weather proof caseWeather proof case

Low CostLow Cost Per unit cost ~ $600Per unit cost ~ $600

Design Overview12Và 5V

Regulator

5V

I2C

5V

5Và 3VRegulator

12V BatterySolar Charger

Processor

LED Display

WiFi Module

5Và 3VVoltage Divider

3Và 5VLevel Shifter

Serial

Obstacles and Modifications

Obstacles and Modifications

PCB Board Design Verification PCB board testing and verificationPCB board testing and verification

− Corrected LED lead assignments Corrected LED lead assignments − Performed diagnostics testing by lighting all LEDs using I2C Performed diagnostics testing by lighting all LEDs using I2C

commands from the Arduino processorcommands from the Arduino processor

Troubleshooting Visual Display and Aesthetics

Tested LED visibility after assembly of display boxTested LED visibility after assembly of display box− Decided to use heat shrink wrap to funnel LED Decided to use heat shrink wrap to funnel LED

illuminationillumination

Serial to Wi-Fi Module Configuration Wi-Fi module network connectivity and XML data collectingWi-Fi module network connectivity and XML data collecting

− Utilized RealTerm Serial / Telnet software for module Utilized RealTerm Serial / Telnet software for module configuration and AT+i serial code debuggingconfiguration and AT+i serial code debugging

Arduino Processor Programming / Debugging

Microprocessor programming Microprocessor programming and debuggingand debugging− Utilized Arduino C Utilized Arduino C

programming platform to programming platform to code and debug data code and debug data communications and communications and parsing algorithms.parsing algorithms.

Power Supply Testing Tested solar panel power supply and battery supplyTested solar panel power supply and battery supply

− Found that the solar panel provides ~450 mA of current in Found that the solar panel provides ~450 mA of current in daylight conditionsdaylight conditions

− Original battery supply was faulty, obtained a new batteryOriginal battery supply was faulty, obtained a new battery

Acceptance Testing Compared WaitLess display with the NextBus Live MapCompared WaitLess display with the NextBus Live Map Performed final testing with system as standalonePerformed final testing with system as standalone

− Assembled final product with battery and solar panel Assembled final product with battery and solar panel attached and positioned system at an actual bus stopattached and positioned system at an actual bus stop

Results Product is capable of tracking all buses on all four Product is capable of tracking all buses on all four

routes of the Georgia Tech transportation serviceroutes of the Georgia Tech transportation service Current draw of the device at peak operating Current draw of the device at peak operating

conditions is ~200 mA which is well below the 450 conditions is ~200 mA which is well below the 450 mA provided by solar panelmA provided by solar panel

Connecting to GTwireless requires external device Connecting to GTwireless requires external device authentication through PCauthentication through PC− New WPA security features of GT LAWN network New WPA security features of GT LAWN network

will ease module connectivitywill ease module connectivity Wi-Fi module sometimes becomes unresponsive Wi-Fi module sometimes becomes unresponsive

after 5-10 minutes of operationafter 5-10 minutes of operation− Needs a firmware updateNeeds a firmware update

Project Demonstration Requirements

Display the tracking of all buses on at least two Display the tracking of all buses on at least two routes of the campus bus serviceroutes of the campus bus service

Demonstrate the sustainability of the product i.e. Demonstrate the sustainability of the product i.e. solar poweredsolar powered

Demonstrate low current draw / power Demonstrate low current draw / power Demonstrate standalone operation running solely Demonstrate standalone operation running solely

on battery and solar poweron battery and solar power Exhibit wireless connectivity and weather resistanceExhibit wireless connectivity and weather resistance

Market / Cost AnalysisComponent

Labor Hours Labor Cost Equip Cost Total Cost

Arduino Duelmilanove/ ATmega328/V

150 $5,250.00 $34.95 $5284.95

I2C LED Controllers 2 $70.00 $16.00 $86.00

Red, Green, Blue LEDs 10 $350.00 $33.99 $383.99

Serial to Wi-Fi Module 1 $35.00 $62.90 $97.90

Solar Panel 1 $35.00 $49.95 $84.95

Battery 1 $35 $18.21 $53.21

Switching Voltage Regulator 2 $70.00 $22.00 $92.00

Custom PCB 10 $350.00 $100.00 $450.00

External Weather-Proof case 3 $105.00 $50.00 $155.00

TOTAL LABOR 180 $6,300

TOTAL PARTS $388.00

PROJECT TOTAL $6,688.00

Market / Cost Analysis

Future Enhancements and Modifications

Reduce the depth of the display boxReduce the depth of the display box− Implement a smaller, more efficient batteryImplement a smaller, more efficient battery− Solder all electronic components to one PCB Solder all electronic components to one PCB

designdesign− Investigate surface mount LED technologyInvestigate surface mount LED technology

Place the vinyl map decal inside of transparent casing Place the vinyl map decal inside of transparent casing to protect itto protect it

Implement WPA security login for easier module Implement WPA security login for easier module connectivityconnectivity

Expand the design to be used for other Expand the design to be used for other transportation servicestransportation services

Add an LED array panel below the map display to Add an LED array panel below the map display to output text-based arrival time estimations for each output text-based arrival time estimations for each stopstop

Questions?