Designing a Smart Multisensor framework based on Beaglebone Black board

Transcription

1 Designing a Smart Multisensor framework based on Beaglebone Black board Angelo Chianese, Francesco Piccialli, and Giuseppe Riccio Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies University of Naples Federico II, Italy {angchian,francesco.piccialli}@unina.it g.riccio@naosconsulting.it Abstract. This paper presents an intelligent multisensor framework based on the BeableBone Black platform, a complete open hardware and software embedded computer; the challenge is to create a multi-purpose hierarchical network composed by smart nodes able to gain and manage heterogeneous data and spaces according to the Internet of Things paradigm. Thanks to several expansion modules, the designed nodes can become an instrument for monitoring, preservation and protection of several environments. As a proof of the proposed framework we conducted a first prototypal experimentation within the Cultural Heritage domain; in detail we deployed the system in an art exhibition within the Maschio Angioino Castle, Naples, Italy. Keywords: Pervasive Computing, Smart Environment, Internet of Things 1 Introduction The feasibility of equipping everyday objects of a digital identity and to connect them to each other on a network opens up many opportunities, such as to arouse in the recent past, a growing interest from governments, international research centres and companies. The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm supports the transition from a closed world, in which an object is characterized by a descriptor, to an open world, in which objects interact with the surrounding environment, because they have become intelligent [4, 5]. Accordingly, not only people will be connected to the internet, but objects such as cars, fridges, televisions, water management systems, buildings, monuments and so on will be connected as well. Indeed, thanks to recent advances in miniaturization and lower cost of RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy, sensor networks, NFC, wireless communications, technologies and applications, IoT is gradually acquiring an important role in several research fields [6]. As it is well known, embedded computers have been able to communicate wirelessly for years. However the majority of these have been in closed systems, with a one-to-one relationship with the central computer that they talk to. Data aren t automatically shared more widely and there is no ability for one embedded computer to interact with another. Hence,

2 2 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions embedded platforms are transforming, evolving quickly from standalone computer systems to become part of a smarter, more connected IoT [7, 8]. More than just Internet-enabled, these intelligent systems are networked and communicating, gathering and sharing information that enable insight and solves problems [9]. In this described scenario, this paper presents the design and a prototypal implementation of a smart multisensor framework based on the Beaglebone Black (BBB) embedded computer. Thanks to a hierarchical organization and a modular architecture, the framework can be adopted and deployed in different environments adapting itself to their restrictions and needs. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 briefly describes the BBB, Section 3 describes the framework hierarchy and details the system architecture, Section 4 reports preliminary implementations. Finally, Section 5 concludes the paper. 2 The Beaglebone Black board Beaglebone Black board is a platform distribuited by Circuitco 1. The hardware features can be found here 2 ; it is an open hardware and software product equipped with an Unix-based OS and presents a big community that supports developers also providing several expansion capes. These capes, designed by the BBB community, are now over 80 for display, motor control, prototyping and power supply, among other functionalities. The arrival of the BBB has heralded a time when a small Linux-powered board can easily, and economically, make sense as a complex sensor or display in the IoT. It also means that developers can end up using web technology that s not suited to the Internet of Things, where the connections may only be occasionally available and as reliable as a cellphone call and where devices need power while sending and receiving information. Figure 1 shows all the components (sensor modules) we have used and tested in order to design an intelligent framework composed by different nodes able to (i) sense the environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, gas, ambient light, etc.; (ii) communicate with other entities like people, servers, other nodes, smartphones, thanks to a communication layer that relies on bluetooth low energy and WiFi connectivity; (iii) offer safeguard functionalities. 3 The Multisensor framework hierarchy The smart framework we present can be considered as a hierarchical sensor network composed by multiple nodes, each of them with specific features and functionality. In the following, each type of sensor node will be detailed. STAND-ALONE: it can be installed in locations without any kind of connectivity. Therefore, the BBB is equipped with a 3G/UMTS cape module. This cape ensures connectivity to the BBB via a telephone operator and the

3 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions 3 Fig. 1. The BBB with the communication layer and the sensor modules. GPS component provides information about the georeferenced coordinates. The data collected by the BBB are sent to a remote platform that captures, stores and supplies data analysis activities. CLIENT: in this kind of node the 3G/UMTS module is not installed; the collected data can be viewed via a web browser. This node can be extended with other capes, such as the camera HD, in order to save images and/or video for the environmental monitoring. If inside the environment a SERVER and/or MONITOR nodes are installed, the CLIENT will start to communicate and share data with them. MONITOR: it is an aggregator of CLIENT nodes; when in its surrounding area are deployed multiple CLIENT nodes, they can connect to it providing information about the related monitored space. The MONITOR is designed to aggregate the information received from each CLIENT inside the same area, track their activities and report bugs. In addition, this node can be integrated with an LCD cape providing an interface through which the user can check the information held by the node. SERVER: it is an aggregator of MONITOR and the basic features are the same. In addition, the main task of this kind of node is to oversee the activities of the other nodes; the information retrieved by MONITOR and CLIENT nodes are analyzed in order to eventually start the activation of the alarm system intrusion, fire protection, etc. Figure 2 illustrates the smart framework hierarchy and each type of node previously described. 3.1 The system architecture The architecture consists of the following components:

4 4 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions Fig. 2. A hierarchical sensor network with types of BBB nodes. The MACHINE component represents the physical BBB. The installed OS is a Debian Linux distribution, customized to ensure excellent performance and useful applications; at the same time such OS provides the capability to extend the machine functionalities by recovering applications from several repositories. In detail, the system consists of a set of bash scripts and cron jobs that access to different components and ensure the proper resources management. A web server configured and equipped with useful extensions is also installed. The FRAMEWORK component represents the platform deployed on the MACHINE. This platform runs on the web server as it uses the http communication protocol. It is written in PHP language by adopting the MVC pattern; moreover a number of extensions are enabled like: curl, sqlite, mysql, imagemagick, gd, json, memcache, pdf, pdo. The APPLICATION component represents the implementation of the MVC platform. The LIBRARIES component consists of a set of libraries that support the APPLICATION; among these libraries should be noted: SLIM - Framework to create a RESTful system, REDBEAN - ORM for PHP, LOG4PHP Library for managing LOG PHP, SMARTY - Template Engine for PHP, jquery - Javascript Function Library, Bootstrap - Front-End Framework

5 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions 5 The LANGUAGES component designed to integrate the PHP language and Python used to enable the communication between the platform and the hardware components. The SENSOR LIBRARIES component consists of a series of classes and Python libraries providing access to hardware components such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, pir, ultrasonic sensors. Services offered by the platform are different; typically each functionality is made up of a set of services offered by a crud rest mechanism as well as a web interface; in detail, all services are enrolled in a catalogue of services offered by any board to a special service implemented in the platform. Each implemented service is marked with the required input parameters, expected outputs, the related types, a brief description and how to access them. Other special services are dedicated to the network nodes management. Fig. 3. A system architecture overview. 3.2 An example of use In order to understand how the sensor network can interact with users and environment, we can imagine the following situation (see Figure 4): an user interacts with the framework through a GUI enabling the PIR sensor on the CLIENT node. The framework setting out the MVC mechanisms and sends the http request to the CLIENT node; this node is pending for requests (REST mechanism)

6 6 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions and after it receipts a request, the framework analyzes the information and interacts with the python module to query the PIR sensor. Once PIR is enabled, in case of movements within its range, the sensor will notify the state to the framework. Then the python component (i) intercepts the signal, (ii) enables any other components and (iii) sends the signal to the APPLICATION. The APPLICATION sends such information to the SERVER node to notify movements within the environment. The SERVER acquires this message and notify it through a video stream, , etc.. Fig. 4. An example of use enabling the PIR module. 4 Preliminary experiments and implementation Currently, a case study is conducted to deploy the framework within cultural environments like museums or art exhibitions, in order to built up a smart cultural space. As real scenario we consider an art exhibition of sculptures within the Maschio Angioino castle, in Naples (Italy). This space is composed by several rooms where we have deployed: three SERVER nodes, five MONITOR nodes and multiple CLIENT nodes. Outside the exhibition building a STAND-ALONE node in also installed. This testing scenario has been devised with the aim of giving a proof of concept of the smartness principle underlying the design of the framework, indeed the author of this paper have already experienced the creation of smart environment within this kind of spaces [1 3]. The Figure 5 shows on the left side the first prototype implementation by using a simple breadboad; on the right side some prototypes of our sensor nodes by using some box realized with a 3D printer. 5 Conclusions In this paper we have presented a smart framework based on Beaglebone black platform that supports the creation of intelligent environments throught a sen-

7 Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Authors Instructions 7 Fig. 5. From a breadboard implementation to the deployment within 3D box. sor network composed by different nodes. Thanks to the possibility of multiple configurations, it is possible to adapt the sensor nodes to the different needs and restriction of the environments. A first prototypal implementation and deployment of the proposed framework is currently within cultural spaces; the feasibility model we propose represents the first step towards the realization and diffusion of this framework in large-scale within Cultural Heritage domain. References 1. F. Amato, A. Chianese, A. Mazzeo, V. Moscato, A. Picariello, F. Piccialli: The Talking Museum Project, Procedia Computer Science Vol. 21, pp , (2013) 2. A. Chianese, F. Marulli, F. Piccialli, I. Valente: SmARTweet: A Location-Based Smart Application for Exhibits and Museums, In: Proc. of the Intern. Conference on Signal-Image Technology & Internet-Based Systems (SITIS), pp , (2013) 3. A. Chianese, F. Marulli, V. Moscato, F. Piccialli: A smart multimedia guide for indoor contextual navigation in Cultural Heritage applications, In: Proc. of International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation, (2013) 4. L. Atzori, A. Iera, G. Morabito, From smart objects to social objects: The next evolutionary step of the IoT, IEEE Comm. Mag., vol. 52, pp , (2014). 5. T. Sanchez Lpez, D. Ranasinghe, M. Harrison, and D. McFarlane, Adding sense to the internet of things: An architecture framework for smart object systems, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, vol. 16, no. 3, pp , (2012). 6. L. Zheng, Technologies, applications, and governance in the internet of things, IoT Global Technological and Societal Trends, (2011). 7. Wang, J. and Zhao, H. and Xu, J. and Bi, Y., Webit&NEU: An embedded device for the internet of things, Intern. Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks, (2014). 8. Kanuparthi A., Karri R., Addepalli S., Hardware and embedded security in the context of internet of things, Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security, pp , (2013) 9. Guo B., Zhang D., Yu Z., Liang Y, Wang, Z. and Zhou X., From the internet of things to embedded intelligence, World Wide Web, Vol. 16, pp , (2013)