PROJECTS
RASPBERRY PI ~
A local firm wanted a product that does GPS turn by turn prompting for the transportation industry. Their desired solution was based on the popular open source Raspberry PI running Linux.
The project required GPS processing, deriving direction, creation of a keypad/display, sending messages to a scroll sign, integration of a cell modem, management of audio signals, and integrating an audio amplifier.
The software is the Raspbian Linux operating system. The code is written in C and C++, and compiled with GCC. The code involves the use of threads to make communications timing smooth, and user interface timing management. The project required the creation of text route files, and the software reads and writes these files. The application is designed to take files to and from a flash stick if the operator inserts one.
This project is now complete, being sold now, and is in use by customers.
CRASH PROJECT TO CONVERT HARDWARE & SOFTWARE FROM A 1990 VINTAGE SYSTEM
The Rail system in the UK is using very old hardware and software. The multi-display work-stations were particularly hard to support, with no new sources of replacement PC boards.
In addition to repairing as much hardware as we could, I also rewrote an extensive program to port the application over to modern desktop computers running Windows. This involved reverse engineering a complex serial port stream, vintage PCMCIA storage formats, and graphics engines that were not available. The original code was written in K&R C, and the replacement is a multi-threaded C++ application.
This new system is now installed throughout the control rooms for the client and is operating without issue.
LIGHT INDICATOR BAR FOR A FIRETRUCK MANUFACTURER
In order to get the drivers' console manufactured for their fire truck, the customer required an LED light bar with 28 multi-color LED indicators. The project went smoothly, with software written that was flexible. The client could specify the color, polarity, and audio alarm enable for each of the 28 indicators in a table.. and compile to generate the final unit.
But at the last minute, they discovered that some of the indicators had to be linked into the engine controller in order to be OBDII compliant. A crash program was undertaken to add CAN bus to the device, and J1939 software written to enable statuses to be read and written from the ECM in real time. From panic to working device, we accommodated a 120 day work time.
RUGGED INVENTORY DISPLAY FOR TRUCKING
The customer needed something that could withstand the rigors of temperature extremes, vibration, and outdoor weather. The unit indicates to the truck driver what the status of the load is.