LTE for IoT Merch Cart

This project is designed to use the LTE for IoT SDK and supported modems like the Qualcomm® MDM9206 modem to track a Merchandise Cart in an outdoor event venue, as well as track the cart’s inventory levels . A DragonBoard™ 410c from Arrow Electronics is also used and designed to interface with Thin force sensors that keep track of inventory that is flying off the shelf. Or maybe the inventory is not moving at all! Either way, the setup can give the event organizer insights and ability to re-deploy vendor carts as needed to optimize selling opportunities.

• DragonBoard 410c board
• 12V wall adapter
• Quectel LTE OPEN EVB
• Phidgets Thin Force Sensors and wiring
• HDMI monitor
• Keyboard/mouse
• USB 4-Port Expander Hub
• PC

Download the source from GitHub

Download the source from the GitHub repository. The downloaded files have the following structure

This folder has the python scripts that need to be copied to the DragonBoard 410c.

This folder has the web application that needs to be copied to the EC2 instance.

Setting up the EC2 instance in the AWS Console

Create EC2 instance and enable port 8655 in security group to run your application in EC2.

Install NodeJS :

To install Postgres :

Install NodeJS process Manager

Adding application to EC2 instance:

Copy **webapp** folder to your EC2 instance.

Run the application

Run the server in EC2 instance with:

Setting up the DragonBoard 410c

Execute the following command to install pyserial

DragonBoard 410c download contains 2 files.

• config.json
• main.py

Please, change the following configuration

{
    "usb_setting" : "/dev/ttyUSB0",
    "sensor_count": "5",
    "url_connect" : "http://ip address of AWS Instance:8655/api/updateItem",
    "response_time": "60",
    "apn": "Network_Provider_APN",
    "username": " ",
    "password": " ",
    "auth_id":"0"
}

usb_setting – Mention the USB port where the Quectel board is connected.
sensor_count – Mention number of thin force sensor connected.
apn – Access Point Name of the carrier used
username – Username for the APN if any
password – Password for the APN if any
auth_id – Authentication for the APN if any and below are the accepted values.

• 0 – NONE
• 1 – PAP
• 2 – CHAP
• 3 – PAP or CHAP

Make hardware connections

• We have created a sensor mat using the Thin Force sensors that can be placed on the shelf of a Merch Cart.
  
  
• Place the sensor mat on the shelf of the Merch Cart
• Connect the sensor wires to the DragonBoard 410c as seen below:
  

Setup DragonBoard 410c connections:

• Plug in USB 4-port hub to the DragonBoard 410c USB port at the far edge of the board
• Connect to the Touch Screen HDMI cable and plug in the USB touch screen cable into the 4-port hub (the 7” display is powered by the DragonBoard 410c)
• Plug in wireless keyboard USB dongle and power on the keyboard
• Connect the USB extension hub to the DragonBoard 410c.
• Connect the DragonBoard 410c to HDMI monitor. Connect the USB from the HDMI monitor to the USB extension hub.
• Connect keyboard to the USB extension hub.

Setup the Quectel EVB connections:

• Connect the power cable to the Quectel EVB. Make sure the power switch is in OFF position.
  

Connect the Serial to USB cable between “Com Main” on the Quectel EVB and USB port closest to the High Speed Expansion header on Quectel Board as seen below:

Connect the USB end of the Serial cable to the DragonBoard 410c USB port closest to the High Speed expansion header, as seen below:

Power on the DragonBoard 410c and wait until you see the Desktop.

Power on the Quectel EVG board This is a two-step process,

1. Flip the switch to ON position.
2. Press the power button next to the Micro USB connector
   

You will see Green LED turn ON. This means that the Board is ON

• POWER – Red (Constant)
• STATUS – Green (Constant)
• NET_STATUS – Blue (Blinking)

On the DragonBoard 410c, open a terminal window: Left click on the icon in the lower left status bar, then System Tools -> UXTerm:

Launch the demo with the command:

You will see the following logs in the terminal window.

Launch Chrome Browser on any host PC and navigate to the following link: http://ip_address_of_AWS_instance:8655