COMET Communicate and Explore Through it

Project Title

COMET Communicate and Explore Through it

Project Area of Specialization Internet of ThingsProject Summary

According to ‘Rescue 1122’, there have been almost 7m rescue operations reported since 2004, increasing year-on-year. There is no doubt that Pakistan has suffered from natural disasters resulting in the destruction of communication infrastructures. We commend the emergency response teams, for their proactive efforts. COMET is here to synergize and team up with operation wings, emergency officers and rehabilitation wings, connecting the disconnected. Pakistan is the sixth largest population in the world, and enjoys hosting over 1.75m foreign tourists yearly. Over 500 companies are in operation to cater for them. Secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan “Karrar Haidri” drew attention of the authorities towards the lack of facilities and infrastructure, mainly poor network coverage in the far flung northern areas famous for tourism.

COMET is a light off-grid communication device that synergizes with the existing communicational infrastructure to further support this growth. If you are in cell dead zone and don’t have access to any mobile network, satellites or internet then COMET can help you stay connected with your team. There are three simple steps for the user with an elegant user-interface design.

First – pair your mobile with your COMET device via Bluetooth. Second – in the COMET android app login with your username and password. Third – search for available users in range  and communicate with them, securely.

 Each COMET device has a range of up-to 10km, with the option of enhancing the range via our unique mesh networking system - that leverages other existing COMET devices. 

The project has surpassed its ambitions: we recently won FICS 2019 at NUST a competition for startups - competing with over 200 teams through three stages. COMET has partnered with Rescue 1122, Rawalpindi, who will be needing “at least 50” devices “for the initial round”.  Rescue 1122 will also help us with testing our product to finely tune it for mass deployment. According to the ‘Special Communications Organizations’, the idea behind COMET is “very innovative” and “it would help us solve our communication problems”

MESH NETWORKING:

COMET SWITCHING HUB:COMET comes with a switching hub which enablesswitching between various transceivers includingMobile Networks,  Military Combat Radios, Satellite, Landline, HARRIS Radios. What this means is that let’s say there is user “A” in a place where he has access to mobile network and he wants to get in touch with user “B” who does not have access to mobile network but has COMET and he has placed the HUB where it is receiving mobile signals. User “A” will send his message through GSM on his app, which will be sent to the hub from where it will be routed to the user “B” thus even though he does not have signals he can still get in touch with people far away.

Project Objectives

1. Synergize - enhance the current network infrastructure to empower emergency response teams and tourists to expand the edge of connectivity, for labor and leisure
2. Decentralise - provide a network that connects communities seamlessly where there is no other available means of communication
3. Commercialise - boost the economy, provide jobs and create new exciting ventures
4. Connect - the unconnected, from secluded areas to base camps and summits to emergency response units and firefighters
5. Secure - encrypted communication, private and for your eyes only

Project Implementation Method

FIRST PHASE: The first phase was the testing phase which included implementation of communication waveforms (BPSK, GSMK) on USRP using GNU radio and transmission of data/messages. Following tasks were completed:

Study of schematics of USRP-1

Integration of USRP with Raspberry Pi,  we replaced the wired connection between USRP and laptop with a wireless one. Raspberry pi was used for this purpose, we successfully connected USRP and laptop wirelessly and shared the data (text files and Python Code generated via GNU radio in Laptop) between them

Integration of USRP with mobile phone, Then we moved towards the next step which involved the integration of mobile phone with USRP. Because for our final product we were using mobile phone so we had to integrate USRP with it.

SECOND PHASE: We worked with Zigbee Pro S3B 900HP (as our RF Front end) while designing our device since USRP does not have an on baord programming chip. The tasks carried out were:

Xbee-Xbee communication via laptop, two Zigbee modules were connected through laptop and then data was sent from module A to B and vice versa. The messages were sent and received successfully.

Xbee-Xbee communication via laptop and arduino, for the transmitter side, the data travelled from laptop to arduino and then to Xbee whereas in the receiver side the data was received to Xbee from where it went to arduino and then finally to the laptop.

THIRD PHASE: After we had completed the testing phase on laptop, we moved towards the final step which involved the data transfer through mobile phone, following tasks were carried out in this phase: 

Data transfer between mobile phones; using the same set up as used before we exchanged messages between two mobiles. The android app used for this purpose was “Serial Bluetooth Terminal” 

PCB desiging and component stuffing:  For the hardware layout of the device, we used HM10 BLE module and Atmega 328p to make the device light weight and portable

Android App development: The basic idea for the application is that it takes control of the Bluetooth settings of the user’s phone, connecting the phone with the BLE being used in the device hardware. After the connection has been established, the data will be transferred to the Bluetooth module via BLE link, from where it will be taken to the recipient’s device using xbee module. So the application will send and receive the data through the device.

Benefits of the Project

COMET an off-grid communication device that synergizes with the existing infrastructure. Following are some of the key benefits of this product:

1.  No dependency on mobile networks, satellites or internet
2. Helps you stay connected with your team “always” with a range of up to 10 km
3. Create your very own parallel network
4. COMET privately and securely hops messages across devices creating a mesh network thus extending range. No base station or repeaters are required
5. COMET kit comes with a switching center which can switch the wireless data received from comet devices to  landline, mobile, or radios easily as selected by sender via mobile application and vice versa
6. Enables you to send Text Messages, Voice Notes, Files and your current Location
7. Emergency beacon/ Panic button in COMET app sends an alert message to all available devices
8. Offline maps are integrated within the COMET app
9. Secure and durable (AES 256 optional encryption)
10. Nearly 50% cheaper than expensive international brands
11. Light weight and portable, ideal for hikers, emergency search and rescue operations.
12. Can be used when encountering a natural disaster where network service is disrupted, it helps you maintain critical communication
13.  Maintain real time situational awareness during emergencies or public events with COMET
14. No product training isrequired. COMET is super easy to use.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Technical details of final deliverables:

Final deliverables of the project can be categorized into two main categories as:

1. Hardware
2. Software

Hardware: The final product contains two COMET devices where each has a PCB (designed and manufactured) containing the following component

1. XBee module with header
2. Atmega 328p
3. 2 x Capacitors 22pF
4. 1 x Capacitor 10 uF
5. Crystal oscillator 16 MHz
6. 3 x Resistors
7. HM 10 BLE module
8. Lipo battery 3.7 V
9. Charging module
10. Voltage booster
11. 2 x Led
12. Power button

Furthermore, one hub/switching center will also be included in the final project which will allow GSM users to send and receive messages to COMET users and vice versa. This will include the following components

1. Arduino Mega 2560
2. Xbee module with base
3. GSM Module SIM 800
4.  Adapter 5V 2000 mA
5. Power Cable

Software:

Our final deliverable is also an android app named COMET which will provide a user-friendly interface to our customers in order to send and receive messages via off grid communication

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemType of Industry Telecommunication Technologies Internet of Things (IoT), OthersSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	54435
XBee PRO 900 HP KIT	Equipment	2	15750	31500
DC Step-up power module voltage boost	Equipment	4	120	480
Lithium Ion battery	Equipment	4	150	600
Charger Module	Equipment	4	50	200
Capacitors	Equipment	5	5	25
HM-10	Equipment	2	450	900
AT-MEGA 328	Equipment	2	290	580
xbee sheild	Equipment	2	550	1100
XBee	Equipment	2	3400	6800
XBee base	Equipment	2	550	1100
PCB	Equipment	3	100	300
Arduino mini pro	Equipment	2	350	700
USRP manual	Miscellaneous	1	800	800
NEO- 6M	Equipment	1	900	900
CP 2102	Equipment	1	250	250
Cable	Equipment	2	100	200
Print Outs	Miscellaneous	50	30	1500
Duty tax on XBee kits	Equipment	1	6500	6500