Projects

raspberry

MapleLeaf Client Projects

Bitcoin Wallet
Boston, MA

Description
This is a digital wallet used to store Bitcoin cryptocurrency.

Highlights
Processor: STMH753 Microcontroller
Board: Custom board including a keypad, camera, 1-bit display and Microchip ATECC608a security controller.
Software: Based on Micropython, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up and also setup drivers for most of the components used in the product. Setup a separate bootloader (outside the context of the Micropython environment) to support a secure boot and firmware update strategy and also setup a configuration to allow the application software to reduce the processor frequency in order to conserve battery power.

Wildfire Defense System
Jackson, WY

Description
Similar to a lawn irrigation system but the sprinklers are mounted on the building roof to keep the roof and surrounding property moist for buildings that are located in areas prone to wildfires.

Highlights
Processor: NXP i.MX6
Board: An OTS SBC made by Digi connected to a custom board that contains GPIO expanders to control valves and relays, an ADC to monitor water pressure, a temperature sensor and several network interfaces including Ethernet, WiFi, Cellular and Satellite.
Software: Based on Linux, this system uses the MapleLeaf Station Management System (SMS) to manage the many controllers that have been deployed to customers. MapleLeaf did the board bring-up for the controller board integrating that board with the Digi SBC. The SMS software manages the controller communications with the server but, in addition, we designed software components to manage the network interfaces including the interface failover processing as well as the relay and valve management associated with the controller.

Cryptocurrency Miner
Boston, MA

Description
ASIC-based blockchain miner used to mine Siacoin and Decred cryptocurrency.

Highlights
Processor: TI AM3352
Board: Custom controller board used to control one or more mining boards that contain an ASIC array controlled by an STM32 Microcontroller. Interface to mining boards through UART (RS232) interface with an Ethernet interface providing the Internet access to the mining pool servers.
Software: Based on Linux, this system uses a portion of the MapleLeaf Station Management System (SMS) to manage the software update processing. MapleLeaf did the board bring-up of the custom controller board and then designed and developed the controller software component used to interface with the STM32 microcontrollers that managed the ASIC arrays to support job processing as well as firmware update. We also integrated an open-source software component that manages the job acquisition from the pools and provides the resulting answers to the pools.

Portable Pipeline and Security X-Ray Device
Burlington, MA

Description
Hand-held X-Ray device used to X-Ray pipelines in the petroleum industry to look for pipeline corrosion and also used in security applications to X-Ray bags or suspect containers to determine their contents.

Highlights
Processor: Congatech MA3
Board: Custom controller board used to control a targeting camera, imaging camera, HDMI displays and communicate with a tablet for streaming video and monitoring the system.
Software: Based on Linux, this system uses the MapleLeaf Station Management System (SMS) to manage the many units that have been deployed to customers. MapleLeaf did the board bring-up of the custom controller board and then designed and developed software to provide a user interface, control the X-Ray, record video of the X-Ray data and control various aspects of system configuration including X-Ray power levels. In addition MapleLeaf developed tablet software to connect to the main system via WiFi-Direct, display most aspects of the main unit display and stream video data from the main unit to allow the user to view and record the X-Ray data.

Commercial Washing Machine Monitoring
Manchester, NH

Description
Used in hotels and professional cleaning companies, this system monitors commercial washing machines for machine faults, water usage and chemical usage.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX6
Board: An OTS SBC made by Eurotech and integrated into an enclosure that contains ADC channels for monitoring the washing machine cycles and chemical usage.
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf was originally tasked to stabilize the system that had already been deployed to the field but was failing. The original monitoring software was written in Java and, combined with Eurotech software (also written in Java) the software was consuming large amounts of memory and frequently crashing causing loss of data associated with the washing machine cycles. Remote access was provided through Eurotech software but was also unreliable and many times required a technician to visit the site to reboot the system.
MapleLeaf first assessed the errors, added a system monitor to detect the errors and then, when errors occurred, either restarted the offending software or automatically rebooted the system for the more severe errors. We then used the MapleLeaf Station Management System (SMS) as a basis to redesign the cycle monitoring functionality. Once design was complete the monitoring was implemented in C for a very efficient and maintainable software configuration. SMS provided reliable remote access as well as software update capability that afforded the ability to then make enhancements to the system and deploy those enhancements in a quick and reliable manner.

Human Cell Analysis System
Billerica, MA

Description
This project provided some companion hardware to a human cell analysis system used to measure oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate of live cells in a mult-well plate, interrogating key cellular functions such as mitocondrial respiration and glycolysis. The companion hardware provided user control of a motorized camera used for cell imaging.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX6
Board: Custom board with a touchscreen display and an Aptina MT9P031 camera.
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board-bringup of the custom board configuration as well as the camera driver integration. For this project the customer was developing the user interface but MapleLeaf setup the Qt framework, some example Qt applications and then trained the custom in how to develop their user interface in the context in Qt. We also integrated a QtGStreamer configuration to support the camera processing to the display.

WiFi Monitoring System
Akron, OH

Description
This project was an enhancement to an existing WiFi monitoring system that is a cloud-based platform for continuously monitoring wireless networks and identifying elusive performance issues that impact network performance.

Highlights
Software: Based on Linux, this customer had an existing system capable of monitoring WiFi environments and needed help to automate some of the more complex WiFi authentication schemes. MapleLeaf enhanced their system to automate certificate enrollment and retrieval support for EAP-TLS authentication. The automation was implemented using SCEP in conjunction with Microsoft’s Network Device Enrollment Service (NDES). This implementation involved the design of an agent responsible for interacting between a Microsoft Server and the customer system to facilitate private key generation, certificate signing request, CA retrieval and certificate enrollment and then passing this information back to the customer system. The Java-based server and UI also required enhancements to support this functionality. Additionally the agent was responsible for monitoring the CA and client certificates to perform automatic renewal as the certificates neared expiration.

Audio Conferencing System
Sudbury, MA

Description
This project is an enhancement to a new audio conferencing system being developed by the customer.

Highlights
Processor: TI OMAP
Board: Custom board
Software: Based on Linux, this customer had an existing custom board that had a microcontroller communicating via UART to a microprocessor. However the communication path was too slow to meet the system requirements. A SPI bus connection also existed between the two processors and the customer hoped to use that bus to speed up the communication. The unusual part of this project was that the microcontroller was to be the SPI master and the microprocessor, running Linux, was to be the SPI slave, something not supported by the mainstream Linux kernel. MapleLeaf designed and developed Linux SPI slave driver support and integrated that support with the existing application.

Hotel Room Access System
Los Angeles, CA

Description
This system is used to manage hotel room access without requiring the traditional desk check-in process and room key. At reservation confirmation the customer is sent a QR code that can then be either validated through a Bluetooth LE link or by using the camera to scan the QR code. Successful validation unlocks the hotel room door.

Highlights
Processor: TI AM3352
Board: Custom board that included Bluetooth LE, touchscreen display, camera and WiFi.
Software: Based on Linux, this system uses the MapleLeaf Station Management System (SMS) to manage the many stations that have been deployed to customers. MapleLeaf did the board bring-up of the custom controller board and then designed and developed software to provide a Qt-based user interface, Bluetooth LE support to provide room access as well as camera support to capture QR codes also used to provide room access. We also integrated WiFi support and monitoring to be able to maintain continuous network connectivity.

Wine Dispenser
Boston, MA

Description
This product is a smart wine dispenser consisting of an enclosure in the shape of a wine bottle that includes a display in place of the label. When a wine canister is inserted into the enclosure the type of wine in the canister is detected and the appropriate label is displayed. The user can swipe the display to find out other information about the wine and even place an order over the Internet through the WiFi interface.

Highlights
Processor: TI AM335x
Board: Custom board
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up including the WiFi and the LCD display.

Cellular/WiFi Bridging System
Nashua, NH

Description
This system was developed to bridge Cellular and WiFi communications to aid in providing reliable network access to first responders (e.g FEMA).

Highlights
Processor: Freescale QorIQ P2020
Board: Custom board
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up for the custom QorIQ-based board.

Public Bike Rental System
Montreal, Quebec

Description
This product is a public bicycle rental system used in major cities both in the US and abroad. The system includes a Kiosk through which users can rent a bicycle using either a credit card or a key fob (available for subscription users). Docking stations lock the bicycle in place until a rental operation is completed at which time the user can remove the bicycle and leave the station. The bicycle can be returned at any other station in the city.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX51
Board: An OTS SBC combined with several custom boards including boards for the docking points, station power control and solar charging.
Software: Based on Linux, Mapleleaf was involved in various aspects of development including payment processing for credit card transactions (both mag strip and chip-and-pin), Paypass payment methods, software update, cellular modem support, GPS data collection and consulting on system architecture.

General Purpose Computing Platform
Ann Arbor, MI

Description
This was a custom board developed as a general purpose computing platform to be used by existing customers for prototyping and implementing a variety of applications.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale PowerPC MPC8641
Board: Custom board with Ethernet and USB interfaces
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up for this general purpose board.

Inkjet Printer
Danvers, MA

Description
This customer was developing a new ink jet printer and had developed a custom board that needed to be brought up with the Linux operating system.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX31
Board: Custom board including Ethernet and WiFi interfaces
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up.

Telepresence Robot
Nashua, NH

Description
This telepresence robot allows a user to remotely establish a call that provides both audio and video support. The user can control the angle of the camera and can drive the robot using controls available on their user interface. On the robot side people can see and hear the user to interact with them as if the user were locally present. The mobility of the robot allows the user to move about the facility to visit colleagues, attend meetings/classes, etc.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX27 and i.MX3
Board: Custom board including a display, camera, microphones, WiFi and Cellular network interfaces and controlling a mobile base.
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf was initially tasked to develop Linux drivers to allow the i.MX27 and i.MX31 to communicate over a SPI bus. Following that we moved into general product development including a WiFi seamless roaming solution, integration of a Cellular modem, crypto support for the media stream and many other areas of product development and problem solving.

Digital Picture Frame
Concord, MA

Description
This is a digital picture frame that plays slideshows of photos that a customer transfers from their phone or camera to their server account. Transfer can be done using a browser or by emailing the photos to their account. Once on the server the photos are transferred to the picture frame over the Internet and then included in the running slideshow.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale i.MX31
Board: Custom board including a display, USB port and cellular modem.
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf worked with the customer to define the product requirements. MapleLeaf did the board bring-up as well as the design and implementation of all of the picture frame software.

VoIP and Multimedia Switch
Derry, NH

Description
This project was the development of a general-purpose processor board that could be used to control any of the many board configurations in a multi-board chassis used to provide Cable telephony.

Highlights
Processor: Freescale PowerPC MPC8548E
Board: Custom board that included Ethernet interfaces used for both Internet access as well as to communicate with other boards in the system. The board also contains SPI and I2C interfaces to provide access to devices on the main boards.
Software: Based on the OSE ENEA operating system, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up.

Outdoor WiFi Access Point
Westford, MA

Description
This product is an outdoor WiFi Access Point developed for the U.S. Army and designed to support long-range communications with a minimum 1-mile range and maximum 32-mile range.

Highlights
Processor: AMD AU1550 (MIPS 4k core)
Board: Custom board using an Atheros 5213 WiFi radio
Software: Based on Linux, MapleLeaf did the board bring-up of the custom controller board and then integrated the Atheros reference design software into the configuration, verified all 802.11 features and then proceeded to address issues associated with outdoor operation of 802.11 networks. Radio testing performed in the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Developed several applications to support various customer requirements including applications to determine network topology and network distribution of system configuration. Worked closely with the Army to define system requirements as well as for demonstration and acceptance test of this product. Also responsible for seeing the product through WiFi certification, FCC and ETSI certification and DFS certification.