Re: Contest Entry for an Wireless Web based Ship Monitoring and Control system
bsnut
Posts: 521
This is contest entry for an Wireless Web based Ship Monitoring and Control system that will be able to check on status and control ship based monitoring systems such as
1) Monitor and control the Bilge Alarm panel in case of flooding problems. Which as 13 inputs.
2) Monitor and control the F/A panel in case of fire on board ship.
3) Monitor the Electrical Switchboard.
4) Monitor and control the Solar Charger.
The system will be able to allow key personnel to see status by web browser and also be able to silence the horn that will be mounted outside on the ship's deck through the web browser. The system will send and receive status from the Propeller based I/O controller using Bi-Directional Serial communicate to the Spinneret. The Spinneret will be connected to CradlePoint CBA250 allow access to the Spinneret to communicate to the outside world.
This will be aboard the former USS Zuni / USCGC Tamaroa which was the ship the book and the movie "The Perfect Storm" was based on.
1) Monitor and control the Bilge Alarm panel in case of flooding problems. Which as 13 inputs.
2) Monitor and control the F/A panel in case of fire on board ship.
3) Monitor the Electrical Switchboard.
4) Monitor and control the Solar Charger.
The system will be able to allow key personnel to see status by web browser and also be able to silence the horn that will be mounted outside on the ship's deck through the web browser. The system will send and receive status from the Propeller based I/O controller using Bi-Directional Serial communicate to the Spinneret. The Spinneret will be connected to CradlePoint CBA250 allow access to the Spinneret to communicate to the outside world.
This will be aboard the former USS Zuni / USCGC Tamaroa which was the ship the book and the movie "The Perfect Storm" was based on.
Comments
As you all can tell. Me and an other member of Zuni Maritime Foundation are working on our web based monitoring our ship and what I am looking for the best or the easier object to work with. This object has to be able to read the RS485 com port which will be setup to talk to and from an Propeller, which is reading and controlling the I/O (eg alarm horn, push buttons and float switches).
The one big question that I have is. Will this variable name like this and a value like this work for http coding that will need be sent and received from the Propeller or those it need to be like this
The goal of this question is to make sure sending the correct variables back to the Spinneret.
Attached is a photo of the ship that system will be going on and a drawing on how the system is going be setup to give you all an idea what trying to do.
Thanks for any help you all provide and you all will be helping our ship.
Updated: I have changed the block diagram based on forum members suggestions
Two common methods for submiting variables to a web server are in the URL (GET) and in the body of the HTTP message (POST).
http://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616.html
A GET request looks like [some url]?name=value&name2=value2
A POST is when you submit a web form. The form name/value collection is contained in the body of the HTTP message and looks like [header] [new line] [new line] [name=value&name2=value2] if you where to view the request.
[some url]?name=value&name2=value2.
Why, I ask this is each input the Propeller sends down the RS485 network has an number value assign to it, like this
alrmval = 1 (bilge switch 1) and alrmval = 2 (bilge switch 2) and so on for following inputs.
The main goal is to see the states of the inputs that are connected to the Propeller and also send back an value such as this silval = 1 which can silence that input, which in turn silences the outside horn.
I am sorry for the misunderstanding I work overnite maintenance and was up for 16+ hours and hope you understand what I am trying to do.
Sure, no problem... just be careful of encoding.
The communication protocol is up to you. Is alrmval = 1 a Naval standard?
Since I know this now. I can finalized the Propeller Based I/O Controller that will be down near the main switchboard.
Cool and thank you for your help.
Yes, I was talked out of using Ethernet to talk to my Propeller I/O Controller, because I need the I/O pins on the Prop and I was trying to do something can't be done. Which is, use the USB programming port for an com port through an USB to Ethernet Adapter and the other end was going to be connected into the Spinneret. I tough it could be done. I love using RS485 because it is easy to add anything into the network and the cable runs can run up to 4000 foot.
We are also talking about GSM cellar here in this thread as well.
http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?130440-GMS-Cellar-Modem-with-the-Spinneret&p=985769#post985769
The decsion hasn't not been made on which GSM modem I was going to use.
Me and an other member of our group who lives 150 miles away from me are working together on this project. He will be are beta tester and is also doing http coding for the site design and I am doing the hardware design and coding for the Propeller I/O Controller and the Spinneret.
I could be way off base here, but just an FYI - remember this is a Spinneret contest, not a Propeller chip contest. I'm not sure if I fully understand what you said above but it sounds to me like your shying away from the 5100 chip, which leaves only a Prop chip, not really a Spinneret. I would consider talking to Parallax about that before building it.
The 4 pins on the Spinneret are plenty to talk to another Prop chip, and then that one can talk to even more, aren't they? Then you take your GSM modem's TCP/IP stack and setup your WAN network. You should highly consider a gateway between the modem and the Spinneret.
Ok, which GSM modem do you suggest me to use for this contest? This was the one, I was thinking about to use first PIC GSM Cellular Development Board http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8851
We are nonprofit group and any thing we do comes out of our pockets or from dontions from other people like you.
My next question is are you sure you want to be locked into GSM 900/1800/1900Mhz?
Where did you want data connectivity in the world?
Is your project more like a monitoring/control system for when the ship is docked and empty?
Controlling bilges and silencing alarms on a ship that size, why not just stick to monitoring? You're really setting the bar high, I don't think it needs to be that high, at least not in this amount of time.
It is one board that noticed that had ethernet on the board. Do have any other ideas for better GSM modem? We as an group needs to be able to see what is going on board ship and this saves us from connected to a landline on shore. Yes, it is boats and ships do sink? We need to be able to turn off the outside horn, when we noticed alrarm. This ship is like an small floating building.
I always love an good contest like this one and group can use the prize money if we win. If, I don't win the group is noticed for what we are trying to do and that is saving our nations history.
A ship your size is required to have ship to shore, most of those can do data, you sure you can't just use that connection?
I completely understand, I wish I could work on that ship. That would be a dream come true for me.
The GSM modem will be located on the Bridge "02 Deck".
Yes, are ship is required to have an basic ship to shore VHF radio for voice communications, which we do have. One thing about VHF ship radios, they only work well in line of sight. They do make marine cellular based systems that do internet, but they are expensive ( I will be happy camper if someone donated one our group.) and I was looking for an inexpensive way to cover all sensors, I want to cover. The other systems that I looked at, only cover 4 points and would send one text message for each point. This type of system is only good for smaller boats.
My idea for an ship monitoring system came from two type of systems. One was text message based and other one was based on an building automation system that is web based for monitoring and control that I work with at my work.
How will you connect the Spinneret to the Internet or LAN? Is the GSM modem always connected to the Internet? Can you view the status of the ship with a browser on demand 24/7? If an alarm fires, what happens?
I think that depends on the carrier and most require an unlimited data plan now because of those abnormally high bills.
No, this is where the confusion is coming from. There is not cellular on the ocean, there is only satellite. Cellular uses ground based antennas which in SoCal we have voice 1 mile offshore, data to about 1.5 miles, past that nothing. If you need this to work in international shipping lanes, it's not gonna happen on GSM.
Are big goal is to save are nations history. Remember this ship did the real rescue in the "Prefect Storm" that the book and movie was based on.
The monitoring system will be use when we are docked and not when the ship is out at sea. Remember this is going to be an museum ship. It's only going to be used when no one is on board doing work or giving tours.
Let me move on to your guys other point about the Sim card. Right now we will be doing prepaid for testing and I realize it can be expensive for the long term. One of my goals is to get unlimited data plan with an cell phone provider. If, I can't get an unlimited data plan I will need to come up with something else.
I guess, I didn't give all the details about this project and that is my problem for not providing all of information to the forum members.
Are group works off of donations and our group members to keep our projects going. This project is coming out of my and another member's pocket to fund what we are going to do.
Remember I am open to all suggestions that you all make and I may use them in this project in one way.
Okay thank you. I was never quite sure where it would need to work that's why all the questions. So now you just need to see which carrier has the best signal on the boat and what it costs.
Also keep in mind the inexpensive 3G connections use dynamic IPs. You will need a service like dyndns.com running to reach it from the outside world. That will need a compatible router or computer on the network to update. They will also disable some incoming ports, and outgoing ports.
I would look at CradlePoint too, they make excellent products and it's the same price as the sparkfun board.
One other thought- Since you're working on such a historic ship, you may be able to get a wireless sponsor. I bet if you found the right person at the right provider you could work a deal. Given the nature of the ship being a museum, if I were Verizon or Sprint I'd gladly do something like that.
Thank you for your post Xanadu . Is this the site and idem you are talking about http://cradlepoint.com/products/wireless-n-portable-router-ctr35? This is an cool product and I knew that one was out there and it is priced right. I have an Virgin Mobile USB modem that I was using for the laptop (one I am doing this post on), which I don't use anymore due to the fact that I have smart phone which I use now for my laptop Internet connection now.
I was trying to use the Virgin Mobile USB modem in this project, but didn't think it would work. The Virgin Mobile USB modem, now has unlimited Internet access for around $40 a month and it's prepaid This now changes the whole show now and meets the requirement of this contest and provides the ship with Internet access, which was my other goal.
The CTR35 can be problematic and doesn't connect the WAN to wired network in the way you need, only wi-fi. I could be wrong since I haven't had one in awhile and sometimes they do add stuff in firmware releases. The other thing is the CTR35 has NO external antenna port for the built in wireless, so that's not good if you want there to be any wireless on the ship, you're going to need a real antenna on it, and probably another access point in addition to it on your LAN.
Check this PDF if you haven't-
http://cradlepoint.com/files/uploads/Cradlepoint_ProductLine_02-11_sm.pdf
Because of port forwarding, routing, and the fact your IP is dynamic. I would go with the CTR500. It has a whole slew of features you can use IF you have a supported USB or PCMCIA Modem device
You should call up CradlePoint, explain who,what,where,why. I think that any vendor would be more than obliged to help you out. I don't want to give you any bad advice so it's hard to be specific when you're over there. Honestly if I were CradlePoint and your mobile provider I'd be giving you some deep discounts, being a Historic Maritime Museum, I wouldn't expect anything less. In fact I insist (if you have not) you look for sponsors for this type of thing, you could be missing out on some really good deals.
I haven't used that one, but it looks like a good choice. If you plug the CBA250 into a router that does port forwarding and dynamic DNS you should be ok without a computer on the LAN. For your available incoming port range you're at the mercy of your carrier. Some block the usual ports, some block the upper range, some change when they feel like it...
So yeah that hardware is going to get you by. As IT goes, I'm not really allowed to recommend running a web server on a non-business ISP account with a dynamic IP. If you're going to do this, you should consider getting a static IP business account. That would be much more reliable and less restricted as far as ports, and their terms of service. There's always a chance you can upgrade the account on the fly so my best advice is test what you can without buying anything, make some calls, etc.
The Spinneret Ethernet connection is going to communicate with the CradlePoint CBA250 which is going to have the Virgin Mobile USB modem plugged into the CBA250. Of, course the CBA250 will be located on the Bridge "02 Deck", which is the highest point on our ship.
The Spinneret will be next to and connected to the Gadget Gangster Propeller Platform USB. It will communicate using the the "Full Duplex Serial" to pass the control variables back and forth to the Spinneret.
I will update the Block Diagram today and will post our updates in this thread as we move through the coding and testing phases of this project. I will also post our code as well.