Interim Progress Report

I ABSTRACT

This project is an attempt to use a wireless protocol to design a system that will monitor whether or not the robots are within a specified, confined area. The robots will be monitored using transponders, a transceiver, and a central computer that will process information about which robots are within the specified, confined area. The transceiver will be able to distinguish between robots so that it will be possible to determine how long any robot was being monitored.

There are two main problems that must be addressed in order to successfully complete this project. The first problem involves choosing the appropriate wireless protocol. Many such protocols exist and include, but are not limited to: Global Positioning System (GPS), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared, and Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR). The group has chosen to use RFID.

The group expects that the project can eventually be expanded to serve a larger scale purpose. For example, the technology could be used by correctional facilities to keep track of where their patients are located within the facility. Therefore, it is important to choose a technology that will serve on both a smaller and larger scale.

The second problem involves writing the necessary software so that the transceiver and the transponder(s) can communicate the necessary information to the main computer. In the case of the project, the main computer will be a laptop. On a larger scale such as the correctional facility, the main computer might be a computer accessible by security and staff, which would keep track of where all the patients are located. Also, the computer would need to able to support information sent by multiple transponders to multiple transceiver devices at once. For the project, electronic toy robots that can move on their own will wear the transponders.

While the group intends to solve the two main problems, there is an additional problem that the group encountered. Though the RFID transceiver was purchased to track the position of the robots, the group discovered that RFID transceivers are incapable of performing such a task. Consequently, the group modified the original proposal. Now, the goal is to keep track of which robots are within the field generated by the transceiver.

The group may encounter other problems. The group intends to address all such problems in an attempt to successfully develop a method by which the robots can be tracked using wireless protocols.

I-1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The group would like to acknowledge Applied Wireless Identifications Group, Inc. (AWID) for their help in finding the appropriate RFID transceiver for the group's project and for providing all relevant information regarding setting up the transceiver and making it operational.

II PROJECT PROGRESS

The Multiple Robot Network is an attempt to use a wireless protocol that will monitor the existence of objects within a specified radius of 2 feet. The design approach includes the use of transponder, transceivers, and a central computer. Using transponders, transceivers, and a central computer, robots labeled with transponders will be detected via the transceivers which will in turn send information to a computer that will log the identifications of the robots.

The technology being used is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID is a reliable system that carries data (specifically, identification numbers) on transponders, which are known as tags. The tag is embedded with an antenna or a coil that emits radio signals that is received by the transceiver. The transceiver has a decoder, which interrogates the data encoded in the tags integrated circuit, and the data is passed to the central computer.

In terms of functionality and performance, the Multiple Robot Network has altered its original objectives. Initially, the group intended to track the movement of the robots, but due to the limitations of the RFID equipment, the objective is now to develop a database application that will log the presence of a robot in the specified area. The database application will indicate the identification of the robot as well as record the times the robot entered and left the field.

The current functionality of the project can still be applied to our potential nursing home customers. Nursing homes will be able to determine patient whereabouts based on previous patterns of patient behavior. The database will provide accurate information regarding whether a patient is in a specified area, and given their behavioral patterns (via information logged in the database), the whereabouts of the patients will be determined more easily.

Currently, we are working on test procedures that will communicate information from the transponders/transceivers to the central computer. This test procedure is critical to the successful development of the prototype. After the communication aspect is done, the database application will be developed using Java. The code attached is currently being implemented for the prototype discussed above.

The anticipated design risk that our team has encountered is developing a program to access information sent by the transceiver to the serial port the transceiver is plugged in to. This application program will be capable of receiving the data from the MR-1824 transceiver to create a database and display the time and identification of the individual tags on the screen of the laptop. The group chose to program in Java because one of the group's members has done network programming using Java for a different class. Since none of the other group members have any practice with network programming, the group decided to program in Java even though only one group member knows how to program in Java. If the group cannot solve this problem, the group will seek some assistance from experienced programmers such as fellow CS students and the CS faculty. Furthermore, we can find some examples of serial port programs through www.java.sun.com and can seek Java programming assistance from that website.

The above problem is not the only problem that the group has encountered with this project. The group is having technical problems, too. In terms of technical problems, the MR-1824 will not work by itself. It will need to be wired and connected to a linear power supply to get the needed voltages. This reader will be destroyed if the group uses a non-linear power supply. After several research and contacts with sale associates and engineers, the group was able to obtain a linear power supply through the Stevens Circuit lab. The power supply the group is using costs about $535. However, due to the group's limited budget, the group can borrow the power supply and later return it after the final testing.

However, the main problem that the group encountered in the beginning of this semester was that the MR-1824 ordered was not able to perform the functions that it was expected to. The MR-1824 was ordered because it was expected to tell the exact location of the tags within its radio frequency range. After receiving the order the group learned that the MR-1824 is not capable of telling the exact location of the tags. It can only tell if a tag has entered its frequency range or not. This problem occurred due to miscommunication over the phone. Ordering an S-650 reader and RF gamma gateway antennas could have solved this problem. These antennas could be put together and programmed for triangulation, which would be able to keep track of the motion of the robots. Each reader costs $400 and each antenna costs $2,395. For the completion of this project at least four antennas would have been needed. This option was not possible because of budget constraints. Other than money there wasn't enough time to order the product and wait to receive it. The only other and affordable solution to this problem was to modify the project. Therefore, instead of keeping track of the entire motion of the robots, the project will now involve making a database. This database will be used to keep track of when a specific robot entered the field, how long was it in the RF range and when the robot left the field.

Getting the MR1824 hooked up to the laptop and power supply also took a while. The reason was that there were no manuals or user guides with the product. It took a while to get the required documents and information for setting up the MR-1824. The needed information was finally received after a few phone calls and this problem was solved.

In order to build the database, knowledge of Java is required. Most of the group members are not very familiar with Java. Yet they are working hard to learn it and be able to work with it to finish the database in a timely fashion.

Great efforts are being made to get familiar with java and to use it for the database. The group members are working hard and should be able to finish it in timely fashion. The revised Gantt chart is as follows:

As can be seen from the Gantt chart, the MR-1824 hardware problem and setup took a couple of weeks to solve. The block diagram for the Multiple Robot Network is as follows:

III CONCLUSION

This project is especially relevant to medical and correctional facilities that need constant surveillance. While the project being done by the group is of a much smaller scale the results of this project can easily be scaled up. Though the project involves a robot tracking and finding an object the results of the group's efforts can be applied, for example, to hospitals that need to keep track of their patients.

Indeed, the major strength of this project is that it can easily be scaled up and down to fit the needs of the facilities that decide to use such a tracking system. Also very important is that the parts are not very expensive. Hence, on a larger scale, the group's design could be sold for less than other systems and also earn a greater profit.

The major difficulty the group must overcome is developing and programming the Java program that will monitor which robots are within the field generated by the MR-1824.

The most important part of the project is that the group is developing a technology that is not used in industry already. In other words, health facilities do not presently use RFID technology to keep track of their patients. A second aspect of the project is that other groups can build on whatever this project accomplishes. New, and better, technologies may be discovered that might further improve the group's final design. Consequently, other groups will be able to take what this group will have accomplished and improve upon it.