Portfolio

Android Device for Automotive GPS/GLONASS Navigation and Communication

At the order of a Russian design office, we have developed a car navigation and communication device which supports GLONASS / GPS, mobile communication in hands-free mode and data transmission in 3G networks. This navigator automatically updates information on road conditions and offers the driver the best route taking into account traffic congestion. The device is controlled through a 5-inch touch screen and operated by Android.

Key Features of the Navigation and Communication Device

GPS/GLONASS receiver reduces the number of “dead” spots in high-rise urban areas (compared to GPS navigators)
Estimation of the best route taking into account information on the road conditions (traffic jams, repairs, etc.)
Mobile GSM/GPRS/3G (hands-free) support
Android 2.2 support and the option of installing additional mobile applications for gaming, watching movies, reading books, etc.
Durable compact enclosure (aluminum and plastic)
Five-inch touch screen

Technical Features of the GPS/GLONASS Vehicle Navigator

Hardware
Processor	AM3517 Texas Instruments, ARM Cortex-A8, 600 MHz
Graphic accelerator	POWERVR SGX™
Memory	— MCP K524G2GACG Samsung, LPDDR 256 Mb, NAND 512 Mb — eMMC memory KLM4G1FE3B Samsung, 4 Gb — Micro SD
Interfaces
Display	5-inch TFT touch screen KWH050TG08-F02 FORMIKE ELECTRONIC, 800х480 pixels
GSM/2G/3G module	SIM5215E SIMCom
Audio	— internal microphone — integrated speaker — standard 3.5 mm audio jack
Software
Operating system	Android 2.2
Audio codec	TLV320AIC3107 by Texas Instruments
General Features
Power	— adapter through the mini USB connector at 5 V — LI-Polymer 1500 mA/hour battery with a nominal voltage of 3.7 V — PMIC TPS650732 supply voltage controller by Texas Instruments

Project outcomes

The development of the GPS/GLONASS vehicle navigation and communication device was a turn-key project. Promwad experts performed the following tasks:

— Hardware platform development
— Software development
— Enclosure design and engineering
— Prototyping

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Onboard automobile data logger

By order of an American vendor of automobile communication devices we developed a new ready-to-operate product — a portable automobile recorder for control and diagnostics of technical state ("black box" for an automobile). It is plugged into a standard OBD-II plug, traces a route, fixes tens of technical parameters, records negotiations of passengers in a passenger compartment and transmits all information over a wireless channel to a dispatch-coordination center. The size of the recorder: slightly more than a matchbox.

Key characteristics of the automobile recorder

The casing of the device is protected from unauthorized shutdown (the mechanism is blocked in a plug using a special key)
The device fixes different technical parameters according to the OBD-II standard:
- rate of motion
- engine speed rate
- fuel content
- brake operation
- coolant temperature
- air conditioning system state, etc.
If the automobile is in a Wi-Fi access area (IEEE-802-11b/g), data of the recorder can be transmitted remotely. The capability to store information on a USB drive is also implemented.
Software provides the following functions:
- fault-tolerant firmware upgrade without data loss
- codification of an initialization file of the recorder
The device can be used for finding causes and RTI causers, information collection for a hire fleet and parental control

Onboard recorder specifications

Hardware
Processor	Atmel AT91SAM9RL64, ARM 9
RAM	32 MB SDRAM 1024 MB NAND flash
Interfaces
GPS	Worldwide navigation network
USB	USB 2.0 Device
WiFi	IEE802-11b/g
UART	Used for debugging
SPI	Used for connection with a microchip of CAN-interface
CAN	Interface for automobile diagnostics
Software
Operating system	Linux
OBD-protocol support	ISO9141, ISO14230, PWM, VPW
General characteristics
Sizes	66,5 mm х 56 mmх 33,8 mm

Project results

In the process of developing the onboard automobile recorder Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Software development and testing
— Case design and construction development
— Production and debugging of prototypes

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Multifunction AK-Systems IP-Plug mini-server

By order of the Russian company "AK-Systems" we developed the first Russian commercial plug-computer — IP-Plug AK-Systems. It is a multifunction mini-server for solving a wide range of tasks in IP networks, functions as a computer or a server. Operates off 220V supply line, differs in low energy consumption and small sizes (related to battery charger sizes for a mobile phone).

Key characteristics of IP-Plug mini-server

Configuration and control of the device via web-interface
Built-in USB interfaces, WiFi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth are available. The device can be used as a network gateway
Network protocol support is implemented:
- DLNA — for video stream screening
- NAT — for package routing
- FTP and SMB — for data access arrangement
- QoS mechanisms — for traffic quality assurance
IP-Plug can replace bulkier and pricier devices. The scope of the mini-server can be expanded by software adaptation. The device can be used as:
- Hardware and software complex for measuring and monitoring through quality parameters of an IP network
- Small server of a hardware and software complex for access isolation and information protection in Intranet/Extranet-networks at network and transport levels
- IPTV-accelerator for continuous reproduction of streaming HD video from big media portals (NBC, Fox, YouTube, etc.) and for increase in carrying capacity of streaming video devices

Plug-computer specification

Hardware
Microprocessor	1 GHz Marvell Kirkwood 88F6283, ARM Compliant
RAM	Up to 1024 МБ 16 bit DDR2@800 MHz Up to 4 Gb NAND Flash
Interfaces
Ethernet	2x Gigabit Ethernet
USB	2xUSB 2.0
Wi-Fi/BT	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT 2.1 EDR (optional)
Software
Operating system	Linux Debian 6.0
General characteristics
Supply	input voltage: 100–240 В, 50/60 Hz; power consumption: 15 Вт, 5В@3,0A max
Sizes	118 mm x 76 mm x 43 mm

Project results

IP-Plug plug-computer of AK-Systems has been developed ready-to-operate. Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Hardware platform development
— Software development
— Case design and construction
— Production of prototypes

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VoIP router

By order of a supplying company of VoIP-systems we developed an analogue phone telephone adapter (ATA) for voice communication on IP networks. The hardware of the device is based on Blackfin BF527 processor of the AnalogDevices Company. The software is based on OS Linux. The ready-made device for VoIP-telephony has FXS, FXO, Ethernet and USB ports.

VoIP router specifications

Hardware
Processor	ADSP-BF527, 500 MHz (Blackfin architecture), Analog Devices
Interfaces	1x 100/10Mbit Ethernet 1x 100/10Mbit Ethernet + PoE IEEE 802.3e 3х USB 2.0 Host 1x RS-232 1x FXO 2x FXS
Software
OS	Linux (uCLinux distributive)

Project results

In the process of developing the VoIP-router Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Cost selection and optimization of the hardware components
— Schematic circuit development, PCB layout
— Software development and testing
— Production and debugging of prototype models

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JPEG2000 image video recorder

For the Russian vendor of small-scale digital recording systems we developed a full-function prototype of a device for recording PAL/NTSC video in Motion JPEG 2000 format and USB drive data recording. The device hardware support was implemented on the basis of AnalogDevices BF533 EZ-KIT Lite debugging kit. The software basis is EmbeddedLinux. Long term batch operation of the prototype and low bit-rate radio channel data interchange is provided.

In order to control JPEG 2000 hardware compression the ADV202 chip driver was developed, it provides v4l2 (videoforLinuxtwo) interface using which the user application on demand can capture JPEG2000 compressed stream, regulate brightness, saturation and contrast parameters via ATsP ADV7183B video driver.

A program module was also developed to save frames received from ADV202 in a video stream. The obtained data are saved in avi format. Video in Motion JPEG2000 format has no interframe connections. This made it possible to realize the function of extracting frames from archive with a random step.

Video recorder specifications

Hardware
Debugging kit	Analog Devices BF533 EZ-KIT Lite
Expansion card	WiFi-USB-ZigBee BF Extender Board
Video codec JPEG2000 (microchip)	ADV202 BF-Expander
Software
OS	EmbeddedLinux (uClinux-dist for embedded systems)
Video compression algorithm	Motion JPEG2000

Project results

In the process of developing the JPEG2000 image video recorder Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Software development
— Production and debugging of prototypes

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4-channel video and audio recorder

By order of the Russian producer of small scale audio/video registration systems we developed a video registration device for digitalization, storage and distribution of audio and video streams on request from 4 analogue sources.

Key characteristics of the 4-channel video recorder

CompactFlash built-in drive video recording
Video/Audio coding — JPEG2000 + OGG Vorbis
Advance architecture of the managing software makes maximal best use of capabilities of the hardware platform (necessary program modules, drivers, user interface are developed).
Implemented network control protocol of the video recorder allows using the following functions:
- Diagnostics and control of video modules, power management
- Change in record parameters - standards, resolution, chromaticity, etc.
- Control of file archive, set parameter search
- Setting the video record quality (D1, QCIF, CIF)
- Low-bit-rate channel broadcast - in real-time mode or from archive
Compact firmware upgrade - only 1,5 MB, together with a U-Boot loader - 2 MB
Using a FOSS standard component (freeandopensoftware) — uClinux-dist, ffmpeg and Linux kernel - significantly reduced the term and development cost
Long term batch operation of the device and low bit-rate radio channel remote control

4-channel video recorder specifications

Hardware
Processor	Analog Devices BF548 (Blackfin architecture)
Debugging kit	ADV202 BF-Expander
Software
OS	uClinux-dist - special distributive Linux for built-in systems
Video codec	ADV212
Video compression algorithm	JPEG2000 (with wavelet technology) - high degree and quality of compression, noise tolerance, video resolution changeability and interframe link nonavailability (frames can be selected from a video stream without any processing)
Audio compression algorithm	OggVorbis - effective compression without considerable deterioration of audio quality, small recording volume and patent restraint nonavailability

Project results

In the process of developing the 4th channel video and audio recorder Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Hardware platform development
— Software development
— Production of device prototypes

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Cinema Control Panel for 5D movie theater

By order of the animatronics supplying company we developed the CinemaControlPanel program for a 5D movie theater system. It allows controlling reproduction of movies, special effects and platform movement in a cinema hall. The software was implemented using cross-platform library Qt 4.7 and DirectShow technology.

Cinema Control Panel key characteristics for 5D movie theater

Control / User interface
- Understandable interface — running the program without studying documentation
- Control: touch screen or computer mouse
- Selection of movies from a convenient list with posters and detailed description
- Display of the current time of 5D movie reproduction
- Russian and English interface support

Video / Audio operation
- Video output from a cinema hall camera to an external monitor of a 5D movie theater
- DVD video recording capability from a camera in a cinema hall
- Support of an external monitor for installation near a 5D movie theater
- Transmission of MP3 files in a cinema hall — for a greeting or advertisements
- Output of commercials, posters and trailers to an external monitor of a 5D movie theater — for customer acquisition

Video licensing / Security assurance
- Authorization of an operator and an administrator using a password
- Automatic and manual diagnostics system blocks movie launch when detecting failures of a 5D movie theater platform
- Emergency stop capability of the movie being played
- License control system of equipment and 5D movie theater movies
- Maintenance of viewership statistics — daily SMS-message sending from a 5D movie theater with an indication of viewership

Project results

In the process of developing Cinema Control Panel program for a 5D movie theater Promwad experts accomplished the following tasks:

— Hardware platform development
— Software development
— Production of device prototypes

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Onboard multimedia computer

By order of a European systems integrator and a vendor of autoelectronics components we developed an onboard multimedia computer for GPS navigation, calculation of time expenditures when moving on route, management of air conditioning systems, maintenance of an address directory, audio playback from USB drives / iPod. Multilingual voice activation of navigation, radio and audio player is implemented.

Key characteristics of the onboard computer

Navigation
- GPS satellite system support is implemented
- Route calculation based on a map and road condition data (online updating)
- Leading on route, movement log execution (tachograph)
- Calculation of time expenditures with due account for additional parameters (attaching a trailer or a baggage hold on the top of a car)
- Predicting a path of a car when backing
- Handling points of interest (POI): search, description, filtration, upgrading and creating user points

Multimedia data handling
- AM/FM/XM/DAB broadcast support
- Reproduction of audio streams from CD, USB drives, iPod
- Support of MP3 and WMA audio formats

Control, interface and access setup
- Multilingual onboard computer voice navigation
- Interface blocking in attempting to control a computer when moving (speedlock)
- Support of a personal address directory
- Multilingual graphical user interface
- Air conditioning system management

Onboard computer specifications

Hardware
Global positioning system	GPS
Process architecture	MIPS
Interfaces
USB	1 x USB 2.0
SD	1 х SD
Components of the device
Embedded unit with CD/DVD-drive	2DIN
Color module	TFT LCD 8''
Front panel	has control elements
Button module on a control wheel	for fast access to voice activation

Project results

Promwad experts developed software to implement necessary functionality of the onboard multimedia computer.

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