IOT Product Development

About the Project

What if communities everywhere could access clean drinking water at will by extracting it from the air around us?

Thats what Hydronomy aims to do, by helping over 11,000 communities whos drinking water is in violation of the Safe Drinking Water act.

We teamed up with Hydronomy to help build out the initial version of their Hydrator product, an IOT device capable of pulling water from the air, alongside a user facing app to manage the device

The Challenge

A key challenge in the software design process was accounting for unreliable network connectivity on the Hydrator device.

This impacted the way data was pushed from the device to the cloud for analysis, as well as the user facing application designed to manage the Hydrator device and interact with its data.

Creating automated control mechanisms for the Hydrator device was critical to ensure that it could operate effectively in various outdoor environments are react to changing conditions in weather, sunlight, and humidity.

Starbourne Labs' Solution

Leveraging caching mechanisms, event queues, and embedded programming, we were able to develop a robust automated application to drive the Hydrator device, alongside a full stack web app designed for end users.

On-board caching

We developed an on-board caching mechanism to avoid data loss during network downtime. Once connection was re-established after losing connection, device data was safely queued up to store in the cloud.

Device Control Automation

We integrated a multitude of sensors on an IOT device to measure various environmental factors, allowing us to automate water filtration systems and pump availability.

Device Touchscreen

We built an Electron application to manage the on-device touchscreen, allowing users to view water and energy levels and manage the device.

User Facing Web App

We designed and built a full stack web application to manage the entire user journey from setting up their Hydrator device to interacting it remotely in an intuitive, user friendly manner.

Data Storage

Collecting and tracking data points across a fleet of deployed Hydrators is critical for Hydronomy to operate and improve the system. We built and deployed a data stream connecting the devices to a cloud database for secure storage.

Implementation Process

The Project was executed in close collaboration with the Hydronomy team focusing on iterative feedback and improvements both in application design as well as embedded software.

1. Embedded Software Development

Objectives

1. Build Hydrator device control systems from scratch, enabling automated actions based on environmental conditions.

Outcome:

1. A well tested, functional control mechanism including documentation and test suites.

2. Web App Design and Development

Objectives

1. Enable users to setup their Hydrator device and allow users to view their existing devices, along with their energy and water levels.

Outcomes

1. A responsive full-stack web application using React and NodeJS to manage the entire user experience.

3. Deployment

Objectives:

1. Deploy the Web app to the cloud and enable device connectivity to backend services.

2. Ensure secure communication between edge devices and cloud services.

Outcomes:

1. A fully deployed, scaleable cloud based environment leveraging popular PAAS to make devops more manageable and flexible.

2. Authenticated communication protocols for edge devices.

Throughout the entire development process, Starbourne maintained a close relationship with Hydronomy, including regular meetings and check-ins and in-person meets to test device functionality.

Conclusion

Starbourne's collaboration with Hydronomy showcased our ability to develop products across a wide array of technologies in a cost effective manner. This project encompassed a multitude of different technologies, from embedded programming to UI/UX design and web development.