Realization of prototype of a low-cost bidirectional communication system through fibreless optics

Abstract

The article deals with the design and realization of a prototype of an efficient Low-Cost, Low-Power, Low Complexity—hereinafter (L-CPC) bidirectional communication system for reading and configuration of inbuilt devices (e.g. devices for reading of water meters, power meters, gas meters, identification of property and other specific applications), which will comply with the requirements of no radio waves, reuses already existing components (NRW-RAEC). The goal of the authors was to realize a fibreless optical communication system that would be capable of efficiently replacing current systems (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, IrDa etc.) at a fraction of their initial cost with an emphasis on L-CPC and NRW-RAEC. Within the development of the prototype, the authors were responsible for the hardware, firmware (ASM, C) and software components (C#) of the prototype. The functionality of the technical solution of the prototype was verified in a real-life application (reading of water meters). The original contribution of the presented article is the realization of a functional prototype including a patented technical solution and design of an intuitive UI. Real-life experiments have shown that the functional prototype designed by the authors can fully replace current systems at a fraction of their initial cost within the scope of the required parameters.