GUARDING VIGILANTLY AGAINST DISASTER

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1 Open Source on Intel GUARDING VIGILANTLY AGAINST DISASTER WITH FAST, COST-EFFECTIVE EMBEDDED LINUX* DEVELOPMENT A large network of intelligent monitoring stations is a vital public-safety asset in flood-prone regions of the world such as Indonesia. This equipment must be sophisticated enough to provide accurate, timely information where it is needed, while being cost-effective. To produce solutions that meet these criteria, Hydrosix relies on open-source software that includes custom embedded Linux* enabled by the Yocto Project, running on systems based on the Intel Atom processor. The company s sensor equipment passes data to its intelligent logger units, which also receive pictures uploaded from optional onsite cameras. The loggers collect data and communicate it back to central facilities and systems to support monitoring, modeling, and forecasting. Typical data points may include rainfall, surface water or groundwater levels, water flow rates, temperature, and humidity. The solution benefits from the broad ecosystem of x86 software and hardware, which also supports future extensibility. case study Challenge Develop a fullfeatured, intelligent environmental remotemonitoring solution that overcomes the limitations of a previous generation that was based on microcontrollers and firmware. Support new customer requirements for cameras and multichannel reporting while overcoming cost constraints and achieving fast time to market. Solution The Yocto Project enabled Hydrosix to create a custom embedded Linux* OS while overcoming obstacles related to effort, cost, and complexity to focus on the company s core competencies. Results Indonesia-based Hydrosix provides a data-acquisition and reporting platform based on embedded Linux* that enables early flood detection, hydrometry, and general environmental monitoring. The company s network of remote monitors is instrumental in protecting the citizens in one of the world s most disaster-prone nations. Hydrosix met the project s requirements with a standards-based solution that accommodates future expansion, within the company s cost constraints, in just two calendar quarters. 1

2 Accelerated Product Engineering: Streamlined Creation Of Embedded Linux When Hydrosix began the design phase of its latest generation of environmental monitoring and reporting solutions, it faced the challenge of expanding capabilities far beyond the range of its previous platforms. New requirements included the ability to incorporate remote cameras and support communication through multiple wired and wireless channels. The company s existing designs were built on microcontrollers and firmware, an approach that was severely limited in terms of extensibility. The project team saw the opportunity to dramatically extend functionality and to position its platforms for the future by adopting a new approach, based on a full-featured embedded processor and OS. As Hydrosix engineers explored their options, a number of limitations arose, including the following: Cost constraints. As a small company, Hydrosix found the expense of product development based on a commercial OS to be prohibitive. The Yocto Project proved to be a powerful way to address both these challenges. By streamlining the development of a custom Linux OS, this set of tools and technologies helped Hydrosix develop its new solutions within its cost constraints. Moreover, the entire development cycle from concept to production was completed within two calendar quarters, which is a short period for such a complex body of work, given the adoption of an entirely new hardware and software architecture. 2 In addition to these cost and time successes, Hydrosix also reports that the Yocto Project helped optimize solution flexibility and performance. Platform standardization offers a wealth of compatible hardware and software components. In particular, the company benefits from the breadth of the opensource ecosystem, including optimizations contributed by Intel. Current Hydrosix solutions also incorporate open-source building blocks that include Perl*, SQLite*, and jquery*. Time limitations. A built-from-scratch alternative based on free open-source components offered lower up-front costs but would have added undesirable complexity and time requirements to the project. The nation of Indonesia experiences dozens of significant floods each year, taking a heavy economic and human toll. As it builds technology that helps alleviate that suffering, Hydrosix benefits from the Yocto Project on Intel architecture. 2 Image source: U.S. Navy

3 Reaching Out to Where the Data is: Modular Remote-Monitoring Solutions The rapid, cost-efficient development cycle enabled by the Yocto Project helped Hydrosix focus on its core expertise. The company s advanced, rugged solution components collect and report on environmental data effectively and reliably, while standing up to brutal operating conditions. Thanks to the extensible platform based on the Yocto Project and Intel processors, Hydrosix solutions offer abilities far beyond those of their predecessors. Remote picture upload from connected onsite cameras offers visual information that complements numeric data. A flexible communication approach uses a combination of short-range and long-range wired and wireless methods. In-band manageability provides remote equipment configuration without costly technician travel. The key solution components built by Hydrosix to enable robust remote environmental monitoring are shown below. The company also makes airboats that range from 13 to 40 horsepower for use in moving personnel, supplies, and equipment through wetlands and waterways efficiently and with minimal environmental impact. Hydrosix Hydrotech* Intelligent Logger HIL-01 Hydrosix Water-Level Sensor HWL-01 Hydrosix Rainfall Gauge HRG-01 Data collection and reporting solution based on the Intel Atom processor N455, Intel 82801HM I/O Controller Hub, and embedded custom Linux* enabled by the Yocto Project 1.0. Supports hydrology and generalpurpose environment monitoring Transmits data using Short Message Service (SMS), 3G High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), wired Ethernet, or Wi-Fi* Provides multi-level alerting support Floating-type water-level sensor that pairs with the Hydrotech Intelligent Logger HIL-01 for telemetry. Measures the depth of groundwater Senses the levels of rivers and irrigation channels Provides measurement precision to one millimeter Tipping-bucket-type rainfall gauge that pairs with the Hydrotech Intelligent Logger HIL-01 for telemetry. Monitors rainfall volume and rate for climate modeling used with flood forecasting and early-warning systems Provides measurement precision to one cubic millimeter 3

4 PROTECTING LIFE AND ENABLING RESEARCH: EMBEDDED SYSTEMS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING Flooding is a constant threat in Indonesia, with more than 30 incidents leading to more than 100 dead or missing in 2012 alone. 3 Data from the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction ranks Indonesia sixth highest out of 162 countries in terms of the number of people at risk for loss of life by flooding. 4 That data indicates that more than 1.1 million people are in such danger. More than 50 remote monitoring stations based on equipment built by Hydrosix have been deployed in four provinces of Indonesia. The systems monitor a number of environmental factors at each site, ensuring that the relevant parameters remain within a pre-determined safe range. In the event that any values reach warning or danger levels, the apparatus will initiate responses according to a set of established rules. Examples include taking preventive action, alerting local officials, triggering an event in the centralized Flood Forecasting and Warning System, or sounding a public alarm for evacuation. That communication may use a variety of mechanisms and protocols, such as Short Message Service (SMS), 3G High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), wired Ethernet, or Wi-Fi*. Less dramatic but also vital to public welfare, Hydrosix solutions benefit monitoring and modeling related to factors that include groundwater and climate. Groundwater comprises approximately 20 percent of the world s fresh water supply, 5 providing a significant buffer that can protect human populations against shortages in surface water. Thus, monitoring groundwater levels is valuable to our understanding of how to prevent water crises. Indonesian research and government institutions, including the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, the Research Center for Water Resources, and local watermanagement offices, use the devices for data acquisition in conjunction with monitoring and forecasting operations. Similarly, systems built by Hydrosix are utilized for general climate monitoring of factors such as temperature and humidity, providing data that feeds a range of modeling and forecasting applications. Environmental monitoring and reporting equipment developed by Hydrosix, based on Intel architecture and built using the Yocto Project, is deployed at widely dispersed sites in Indonesia. 4

5 HARNESSING FLEXIBLE, RELIABLE INNOVATION WITH THE YOCTO PROJECT When Hydrosix began its search for a robust custom OS, the company quickly found that commercial options were costprohibitive for its purposes. Likewise, building an OS from scratch using open-source components was a cumbersome proposition that also raised concerns about ongoing support. Turning to the Yocto Project, Hydrosix has been able to create a balanced solution that provides both the cost-effective flexibility of open source and the reliability of commercial support if the need arises. Derived in part from the collection of recipes, classes, and associated files that make up OpenEmbedded-Core, the Yocto Project is continually refined, tested, and updated by an active community. As a result, companies such as Hydrosix have the tools they need to accelerate embedded Linux development. Several Intel engineers are among the project s key contributors, delivering board support package (BSP) support across the breadth of Intel s portfolio of embedded hardware, and helping provide rich features, such as the Hob graphical interface. This interface simplifies efforts to create, modify, build, and deploy images for both beginner and experienced Linux developers. Such contributions by Intel to the community-based design of the Yocto Project help developers to focus on high-value tasks and accelerate time to market. collaborate The Yocto Project provides a familiar Linux environment for development, reducing time spent on porting. Having Intel architecture as a platform enables us to choose hardware partners and peripherals with ease. All that helps speed up time-to-market. Endang Wachyan, Managing Director, Hydrosix 5

6 YOCTO PROJECT BENEFITS: FAST TRACK TO A CUSTOM EMBEDDED LINUX DISTRIBUTION Hosted by the Linux Foundation, the Yocto Project is a collaborative, open-source project that facilitates and streamlines the development of custom embedded Linux OSs with proven templates, tools, methods, and community support. The Yocto Project has received the backing of some of the industry s top embedded silicon makers, OS vendors, and embedded board makers. Significant project contributions by Intel help ensure pre-validation for Intel hardware platforms, and an extensive lineup of prebuilt and tested BSPs offer solid Linux support across Intel embedded platforms. The project provides diverse benefits. Fostering Cross-Ecosystem Innovation In the best spirit of open source, the Yocto Project facilitates work across the ecosystem. Simplified license inclusion tracking. Programming filters and automatic reporting on GPL license types simplifies legal compliance. Cross-architecture solution. Porting across application and device types on any hardware architecture, including x86 (32-bit and 64-bit), ARM*, PPC, and MIPS, requires only a minor configuration change for the project to automatically rebuild without additional user effort. Advisory board participation. Intel participates on the Yocto Project advisory board. Accelerating Product Development The Yocto Project enables fast time-to-market for high-quality products. UI framework-agnostic. Developers have the flexibility to use their preferred UI tools, such as Clutter, QT, HTML5, Gnome, and more. economical transition to commercial OS. In addition to supporting roll-your-own OSs, ENEA, Mentor Graphics, and Wind River offer commercial OS support and services, protecting code and design investments when moving from a proof of concept to a commercial OS. Ease-of-use. A rich graphical UI can simplify rapid adoption and day-to-day operation. eclipse* integration. Usability with the Eclipse environment helps optimize the developer experience. automatic device customization. An application development toolkit is created with each image, enabling access to only the capabilities needed for a specific device or application. Yocto Project Training Video Interested in getting a jump-start in using the Yocto Project? Scott Garman, embedded Linux engineer, Intel Corporation, provides developers with a quick orientation and explains how to build an initial Linux image and run it through the emulator. 6

7 Yocto Project Compliance Program The Yocto Project Compliance Program offers businesses a means to demonstrate interoperability by registering their products and components as Compatible, while companies can denote their alignment with the goals and directions of the Yocto Project by registering as a Participant. Test drive the Yocto Project to streamline custom embedded Linux development: The Yocto Project provides an opportunity to help Intel customers differentiate and create unique solutions in the embedded market segment. Intel remains committed to choice in operating systems and our Intelligent Systems roadmap for embedded views the Yocto Project as a way to provide our customers with a flexible Linux enabling vehicle. Ton Steenman, Vice President and General Manager, Intelligent Systems Group, Intel Learn more about open source at Intel, Intel s contributions to the Yocto Project, and Hydrosix environmental monitoring solutions: invent 7

8 spark Intel takes pride in being a long-standing member of the open-source community. We believe in open source development as a means to create rich business opportunities, advance promising technologies, and bring together top talent from diverse fields to solve computing challenges. Our contributions to the community include reliable hardware architectures, professional development tools, work on essential open-source components, collaboration and co-engineering with leading companies, investment in academic research and commercial businesses, and helping to build a thriving ecosystem around open source. customer solutions Linux contributions building blocks tools and resources OPEN SOURCE on Intel industry standards academic research commercial ecosystem 1 Source: Hydrosix. 2 Ibid. 3 Source: 4 Indonesia Risk Profile, accessed on 7 September 2010, at 5 Source: Hydrosix. Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked reserved or undefined. Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising from future changes to them. The information here is subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a design with this information. The products described in this document may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request. Contact your local Intel sales office or your distributor to obtain the latest specifications and before placing your product order. Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling , or by visiting Intel s Web Site Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark* and MobileMark*, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. For more information go to Information in this document is provided in connection with Intel products. No license, express or implied, by estoppel or otherwise, to any intellectual property rights is granted by this document. Except as provided in Intel s terms and conditions of sale for such products, Intel assumes no liability whatsoever, and Intel disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to sale and/or use of Intel products including liability or warranties relating to fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or infringement of any patent, copyright or other intellectual property right. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Copyright 2013 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, and Intel Atom are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. 0413/NKR/MESH/PDF US