Project:HUGnet
From HUG Wiki
HUGnet is the network of sensors that we use to measure lots of things about our buildings. We created the network to be able to attach just about any sensor we want to it. This allows us a lot of flexibility in what we measure.
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Why Make Our Own System
Having our own system is about the same cost as using someone else's. We would still be doing custom software even if we were using someone else's system. We would also still be spending time installing the devices. Those two items take most of our time with the system. With the time commitment basically being the same, it is nicer to have our own system because it is more flexible and it won't go out of production unless we want it to.
Pieces and Parts
The HUGnet system can be broken down into 5 pieces.
- The endpoint/daughter board are the boards that actually make and record the measurements. They are generally close to where the measurements are being made.
- The controller board actually powers the HUGnet and acts as a medium between the endpoint and the data collector. It uses RS485 to talk to the computer.
- The data collector is the computer (PC or embedded) that controls everything. It polls the endpoints for data and monitors the HUGnets for unsolicited packets. It can be, but is generally not the last stop for the data.
- The database server is the final stop for the data. It is a much more powerful computer than the data collector and has much more storage space.
- The web server This machine can be anything that can run PHP with a web server. Joomla must be installed. See User Interface for more information.
The database server, data collector and web server can all be the same computer. They do not have to be separate.
Status
Hardware
We currently have the capabilities of doing the following:
- Reading inductive, capacitive, resistive, and voltage sensors
- Reading contact closures
- Driving a 12-24V@2A load.
What we can't do:
- Display any data without a computer
- Control a load and read sensors on the same board (for low latency)
Software
What we can do:
- Show arbitrary sensor data in a graph
What we can't do:
- Do any math on the sensor data
- control endpoints (only sort of works)
License
Documentation
HUGnet documentation is released under the GNU Free Documentation License
Software
Released under the terms of the GNU General Public License
Hardware
Licensed under the TAPR Open Hardware License (http://www.tapr.org/OHL)
