20. Software Design SenseBox Transformation Processes Database SenseBox Portal REST API Mapping Component REST API Sensor Access VPN Server Webserver Database Webserver
21. Software Design SenseBox Transformation Processes Database SenseBox Portal REST API Mapping Component REST API Sensor Access VPN Server Webserver Database Webserver
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Editor's Notes
The motivation to this work is the fact that today web-enabled things have become (and are still becoming) more and more ubiquituous. Those kinds of web-enabled things range from: Simple toys that e.g. signal you receiving of new email appliances such as frdges which twitter to you if groceries for tonights dinner are missing smart metering adapters which post the power concumption of your applicanes online nowadays even cars have internet access and with GMs new Iphone app you can check the tire pressure or swith on/off the car digital picture frames that show the pictures from your flickr account up to general sensing devices which can be used in different scenarios 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
The research area of the “Web of Things” deals with the development of infrastructures to connect such real world things to the Web. Physical things are given a web representation. These things get an identity represented by a URI and they are able to communicate through HTTP and simple REST calls. Hence, they can be easily accessed by web servers, or smart phones, information about them can be placed on websites, others things can access them, or they can be part of processes %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% They have a memory as to store and to provide information both about themselves and about the context they are living within. Objects may have additional capabilities. They may act as sensors, taking up certain stimuli and transform them into useful observations. Or they are able to do something, e.g. open and close valves or move to a certain location. Depending on the degree of control by operators these objects act more or less autonomously. All activities require a certain amount of intelligence, i.e. some kind of situational awareness, the ability to conclude and to solve problems. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
We are particularly interested in web enabled things that can not only communicate through the Web, but have also sensing capabilities and by using those are able to provide aggregated spatiotemporal information about some environmental phenomena. The SenseBox project investigates certain real world use cases for web enabled sensing things Aim is to develop a generic sensor platform which is easily deployable in an on-the-fly manner and available as a thing on the Web. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
While in general, the SenseBox is supposed to be generic, we started this project off with a clear first use case in mind. In this this first use case, the SenseBox is utilized in traffic to count cars, measure the utilization of the road, and especially detect traffic congestions. It was elaborated in collaboration with a German road maintenance adminstration. Upon request, for example, in case of mobile road works (e.g. for maintaining batters and guardrails) , a SenseBox should be sent out along with a service vehicle which secures the construction site. This SenseBox is able to count passing vehicles by utilizing an ultrasonic sensing unit capable of measuring distances to objects in front of it. Once switched on, the preconfigured SenseBox automatically connects through the mobile communication network to the Web. Vision: The squad leader of the mobile road work has than the option to access the SenseBox through his mobile device, e.g. to check if it is working properly. He may even add further information on the situational context (e.g. the type of mobile road work, operator of the SenseBox). At the same time the operator of the traffic management system notices a new sensor item popping up on his map display, symbolizing the type of sensor and the current traffic flow. He is able to select this item to get further information such as the number of vehicles currently passing by. Also, Police cars could be equipped with Traffic SenseBoxes. In case of an accident, SenseBoxes could be placed together with warning signs in a certain distance to the accident location.
The requirements we have envisioned for the SenseBox are: 1. generic and flexible so that it can be utilized in different use cases. It has to allow for changes both to its configuration and to its resource/data model as to be adaptable to various use cases. 2. Outdoor deployments, e.g. the detection of traffic density, require the SenseBox to be robust against external influences such as mechanical stress, dust, temperature, humidity. Furthermore, it needs to make reliable observations under varying environmental conditions concerning for example weather, traffic, or position of the sensor. 3. Since non-technicians deploy a SenseBox, this process needs to be easy. 4. As to be discoverable it has to self-register at predefined registries. 5. While the application protocol for web enabled objects is HTTP by definition, the SenseBox has to support a variety of communication patterns (e.g. pull, push) 6. Together, those requirements shall be achieved with low costs. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
The SenseBox prototype is designed to operate on 12V and 24V batteries or car lighter sockets, as used in case of the Traffic SenseBox. To achieve a compact design a Mini-ITX low-power motherboard is chosen which allows an integration of the needed hardware components within 15x15x15 centimeters. The motherboard is equipped with a 1.66 GHz Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM and 8GB CompactFlash mass storage for data processing, data storage and as web server platform. The web connectivity is established by a UMTS/3G USB device so that all collected and processed data is available on the web in real time. The web accessible data within our prototype setup is mostly derived from the two sensor outputs, GPS and ultrasonic sensor. The Arduino framework, consisting of microcontroller board hardware and the firmware programming language, is utilized to integrate the sensor components with the web enabled computing component. The Arduino Uno microcontroller board provides the capability to connect and configure a variety of different sensors in an easy way, and to preprocess the sensor outputs and send them to the main computing module. The ultrasonic range finder is configured to measure the distance between the near side lane and passing vehicles the GPS component provides location and time awareness, e.g., to georeference the other sensor´s outputs. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
This figure shows the assembled SenseBox hardware prototype which has been tested in the car counting scenario. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
… in the traffic sensebox use case, the experimental deployment looked like this. We hooked up the special traffic sensebox to the car battery next to a road The ultrasonic sensor measures the distance to object infront of it. If the distance is „unlimited“, so to say, nothing is in front. By recognizing steps of differences between measured distances, we count by-passing cars. Of course, this way of measuring is not 100% accurate, but appears to be good enough in this case and served the purpose. 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
After applying this simple algorithm for car counting, we established a 2 step data processing. First, we create observations … A second process creates announcements….
For being able to discover and then access senseboxes, they are registered at our SenseBox Portal
To be discussed … centralized vs. decentralized
To be discussed … centralized vs. decentralized
For realizing also push-based delivery of information gathered by a SenseBox, the announcements that are created from observations can be sent out to registered users as notifications on different communication channels (twitter, mail, sms)
Screenshot of the SenseBox portal 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
Screenshot of the SenseBox portal 2011-05-03, Linked Open LANUV Data A.Remke, G. Börner
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