GeoPreserverTM

1

• GeoPreserverTM
• ENSC 305/440 Presentation
• April, 2006

2
Team/About Us

• Bryan Friesen
• CTO and Hardware Engineer
• GPS Specialist
• Jason Lee
• CEO and Hardware Engineer
• Firmware Implementation and Integration
• Jason Cho
• CFO and Hardware Engineer
• Transceiver Specialist

3
Team Contd

• Will Chan
• COO and Software Engineer
• GUI Designer
• Jeff Huang
• CIO and Software Engineer
• Serial Interface Software

4
Overview

• Problem and Solution
• Market Research
• System Overview
• Hardware Implementation
• Testing and Obstacles
• Budget and Funding
• Future Outlook

5
Problem

• Fishing is one of the most hazardous industries
  in BC
• Approximately 5 people die each year in BC
• Drowning accounts for 81 of all fishing related
  deaths
• Recovering MOB in the dark can be very difficult
• Rescue time frame is very short

6
Possible Solutions

• RFID sensor network
• GeoFence
• Home Brew triangulation system
• GPS based system

7
Research

• Stevestons Commercial fisherman docks
• Habits Fish night or day, fish with 1-3 people,
  wear pfds
• Electronics several GPS units, onboard inverters
  
• Lower Mainland is a small market
• Cannot wear loose articles

8
Market

• Fisheries
• Cruise Ships
• Families
• Nursing homes
• Tour Groups

9
Existing Solutions

• The ALERT 2 System
• Mobi-lert
• ACR Vecta 2 Radio Direction Finder
• McMurdo Pains Wessex MOB Direction Finder
• McMurdo Pains Wessex Fastfind Plus 406 PLB EPIRB
  w/ Internal GPS

10
Our Solution

• GPS data transmitted back to boat
• GPS data is displayed onto a PC
• Software determines location of personnel
• Alarm sounds when Man Overboard

11
Description of Hardware

• Personal Unit
• Base Station

12
Choice of Components

• Microcontroller
• Microchip PIC18F2525
• GPS
• Laipac TF-11
• Transceiver
• Maxstream XBee RF
• Module

13
Firmware

• Personal Unit
• Data Buffer between GPS and Transceiver
• Base Station
• Monitors for data from Personal Unit
• Acquires own location
• Buffers data between components and PC

14
Software

• Prototype GUI Application with multi-threading
• GUI Thread
• Serial Port Listener Thread
• Test Driver Thread

15
Software Contd
16
Obstacles

• Funding and Time
• Transceivers blowing up
• Pitch on transceivers and GPS
• GPS Course Drift

17
Testing

• Stationary Tests
• Sunny Room
• Field/Walking Tests
• Maggie Benson Center
• AQ
• Car Test
• Lower B-Lot
• Driving along SFU and local roads

18
Budget

• Budget
• Funding
• Lab Component Funding (50)
• Wighton Fund (Pending)

Equipment Actual Costs
Microchip ICD2 Development Kit 310
GPS Receivers 310
RF Modules and Development Board 300
Enclosures 30
Supporting Components 100
Total Cost 1050
19
Timeline
20
Future Outlook

• Multiple Personal Unit
• Embedded base station
• Multiple Boat Support (Search Rescue)
• Accuracy of components
• Waterproof Manufacturing
• Certification and Standards

21
Acknowledgment

• Adam Smith
• Industry advisor and motivation
• Eric S.
• Maxstream Tech Support

22
Conclusion

• Hardware/Software experience
• Practical Application
• Team work

23
Questions

• Thank You