Nexus Maritime Domain Awareness

The following scenarios demonstrate Nexus data fusion in a maritime domain. The software platform is a custom application integrating satellite imagery and a virtual globe from Google Earth.

Vessel Trespassing in Canadian Waters

In this video, a target is picked off trespassing in Canadian Waters, designated by user parametrized virtual fences. As a result, Nexus assesses the situation and raises an alert so that proper action can be taken by a human operator.

© Larus Technologies 2008-2011. Copying and/or redistributing is strictly prohibited.

Track Correlation and Association

In this video, a target is correlated (i.e. represents the same contact reported by one type of sensor) and associated (i.e. represents the same contact reported by different types of sensors).

© Larus Technologies 2008-2011. Copying and/or redistributing is strictly prohibited.

AIS Not Reporting

In this video, a target is picked off by a land-based radar and it is noticed that it is not transponding AIS. As a result, Nexus assesses the situation and raises an alert so that proper action can be taken by a human operator.

© Larus Technologies 2008-2011. Copying and/or redistributing is strictly prohibited.

AIS Sending Suspect Reports

In this video, a target is detected to be sending mismatching vessel type and vessel specific reports. As a result, Nexus assesses the situation and raises corresponding alerts so that proper action can be taken by a human operator.

© Larus Technologies 2008-2011. Copying and/or redistributing is strictly prohibited.

Want to know more about how Nexus for Territorial Security capability can be incorporated into your surveillance system? For technical specifications and pricing, Contact Us.

LISANET with Environment Sensors

LISANet - An End-to-End Sensor Networking Solution

LISANet is a proprietary network solution that works with existing interfaces and protocols, as well as with LISA Products to maximize overall network productivity, by providing the following:

• Distributed resource management: This framework provides a flexible, extensible and open mechanism allowing for interoperability and seamless integration of the sensor/actuator into an open network. This module provides the network-centric strategic capabilities of the sensor and actuator network (SANET) (e.g. turning off some sensors to conserve energy);
• Network communication: A wireless/wired network sensor and actuator protocol, required to allow for the efficient utilization of the available network channels and sensing and actuating capabilities. This ability allows SANET protocols that have been provided by deployed sensors and actuators to be integrated within the network and translated to other systems which require a user defined protocol.

This video demonstrates LISANet's ‘plug and play’ sensor functionality and sensor network management software configured for off-the shelf sensors to track and monitor environmental changes (temperature, pressure, and humidity).

Download the LISA Video Transcript.

The LISANet solution is easily configurable for a range of sensors ( positioning, range detectors, inertial and motor control, etc) and communication protocols.

For technical specifications and product pricing, Contact Us.

LISA Starter Kits

Connecting off-the shelf directional sensors on demonstration robots

The University of Ottawa's Real-Time and Embedded Software Design course within the Software Engineering department (SEG 4140) uses a custom configuration of the LISA Networking product. With LISA Networking, interfacing to multiple sensor modules is simple and effective with plug-and-play capability on our custom-designed circuit boards.

The University of Ottawa was looking for an affordable and easily configurable solution for robotic controllers.

LISA Networking products offers a unique plug-and-play feature allowing new peripherals to be plugged in at anytime; providing immediate access to controller. No custom interfaces are required. LISA products are readily adaptable to a wide range of peripherals, including: ultrasonic ranger, gyroscope, accelerometer, speech synthesizer, CMU2 camera, compass and others.

Peripheral interface modules can be custom developed for other sensors, actuators and transceivers.

Plug-and-Play Functionality

The LISANet platform supports hot swap plug-and-play functionality for its sensor modules. As seen in this video, a robot equipped with LISANet-enabled sensors is programmed to act autonomously using an embedded robotics controller. Then the robot is stopped and a new sensor is swapped in, replacing an existing sensor. The embedded system recognizes the new sensor and immediately puts it to work without having to reprogram the robot.

Customized Configuration for the University of Ottawa:

SEG Starter Interface Kits (SIKs) included:

• 1 Interface Gateway plus 6 peripheral interface modules, including:
  • 1 Power module (supporting voltage/current monitoring)
  • 1 LED module (supporting 8 LEDs)
  • 1 Wheel Encoder module (supporting 8 wheel encoders
  • 1 Sharp DP2D02 IR Ranger module (supporting 3 IR sensors)
  • 1 Servo module (supporting 4 servo motors)
  • 1 UART module (supporting Bluetooth communications)

Key Features:

• Hot swap plug-and-play peripheral interface modules
• Expandable to connect up to 112 peripheral interface modules
• Data processing capabilities on the interface modules
• Gateway serial interface via RS232 or 3.3V UART
• Auto baud rate detect hardware, tested between 0.3 k to 2,000 k Baud
• GUI validation software, for fast product familiarization
• On the fly firmware upgradeable - future proof
• Student proof design with a resettable fuse, and key shape connectors
• Low power design, for battery powered applications

The addition of the LISA Networking products to the University of Ottawa robotic platforms benefited the students by improving their learning outcomes and reducing their laboratory start up times.

For information on technical specifications or product pricing, Contact Us.

LISA Sensor Networing

An intelligent sensor or actuator provides transducers with the ability to be augmented and enhanced by providing the necessary controls, connections, and protocols required by the ensuing ad-hoc mesh network. This allows the user to simultaneously visualize and monitor an area of concern (e.g. a border crossing) with minimal delay and human interaction. For current commercial and military sensors to become intelligent, ready to be integrated into a unified network, a hardware and software solution must be provided.

The LISA Networking Product family is such a solution; it comprises embedded computer products consisting of hardware interface controllers and integrated software intelligence that provide the following:

• Local intelligence: Provides the intelligence that allows the sensor or actuator to augment their behaviour by conforming to environmental and operational requirements of the network and sensor/actuator; and
• Sensor and actuator interface: The physical interface and processor which augments the sensors and actuators with embedded processing abilities and unique interfaces that integrate each sensor/actuator into the network, while providing them with computational resources for autonomy and local intelligence.

The LISANet, a LISA Network, is a proprietary network solution that works with existing interfaces and protocols, as well as with LISA Products to maximize overall network productivity, by providing the following:

• Distributed resource management: This framework provides a flexible, extensible and open mechanism allowing for interoperability and seamless integration of the sensor/actuator into an open network. This module provides the network-centric strategic capabilities of the sensor and actuator network (SANET) (e.g. turning off some sensors to conserve energy);
• Network communication: A wireless/wired network sensor and actuator protocol, required to allow for the efficient utilization of the available network channels and sensing and actuating capabilities. This ability allows SANET protocols that have been provided by deployed sensors and actuators to be integrated within the network and translated to other systems which require a user defined protocol;

Larus Technologies Networking Products are compatible with most off the shelf sensors or actuators. Larus is manufacturer independent – we do not make sensors or actuators but rather work with companies and customers to add value to sensors, actuators and other data acquisition devices through our proprietary networking products.

How can Larus Technologies help you better serve your customer?

Larus Embedded Products

Larus Technologies has developed a number of smart interface and networking products known as LISA Networking Products to connect to a broad range of sensors and actuators, resulting in reduced set-up and configuration effort and improving overall scalability.

The Larus Technologies Sensor Interface and Networking product family, known as LISA Networking Products, includes:

• Larus Interface Node (LIN): designed to simplify embedded system designs; it connects to a broad range of peripherals including sensors, actuators, communication modules and memory, resulting in reduced interfacing effort and increased system development time
• Larus Interface Gateway (LIG): designed to offload interfacing hardware and software from host systems; it improves overall system performance and scalability
• Peripheral Interface Modules (PIMs): designed to provide a custom interface to a specific peripheral; it manipulates data to perform filtering, unit conversion and other low-level functions.

The LISA Networking Product line improves the quality, usability and compatibility of off–the-shelf or proprietary sensors or actuators. LISA products make sensors and actuators smarter and easier to use.

LISA Networking Products support various components, most notably the following types of industry recognized sensors and actuators prevalent in autonomous robotic systems:

• Distance & Orientation
• Temperature, Pressure & Humidity
• Power
• Positional
• Acoustic
• Gas and air pollutants
• Motor
• Buzzer
• Magnetic, Infrared & Motion
• Smoke & Fire

The unique plug-and-play feature allows new peripherals to be plugged into the system at anytime; providing immediate access to the controller and discovery by the network - no configuration is required.

PIMs & LINs are, respectively, the USB devices & hubs of today’s SANETs

Product Features

• Uses a simple serial interface for the Plug and Play of peripherals, including sensors, actuators, motors, custom peripherals and communications hardware
• LISA Networking Products are designed to have low power consumption and an expandable bandwidth of 1 Mbps
• Hot plug and play peripheral interface modules
• Expandable to connect up to 112 peripheral interface modules
• Data processing capabilities on the interface modules
• Gateway serial interface via RS232 or 3.3V UART
• Auto baud rate detect hardware, tested between 0.3 k to 2,000 k Baud
• On the fly firmware upgradeable – future proof
• User proof design with a resettable fuse, and key shape connectors
• A high level protocol has been developed for the LISA Networking Products providing the ability to manipulate all system components
• LISA Networking Products are designed to offload interfacing hardware and software from host systems, improving overall system performance and scalability
• A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows users to access registers and provides a visual display of sensor streams in real time
• Supporting component documentation is provided

How can LISA Networking Products Help?

If you are a Manufacturer of Robotic Platforms, Controllers or Sensors, they can be quickly enhanced through the seamless introduction of new sensors, actuators or other peripherals.

If you are in the Academic sector or participate in Robotic Competitions, Computer Science and Engineering programs or courses at University, College and the High School level, use LISA Networking Products to turn single-use robotic platforms into a multi-use teaching aid. Students can focus on core course requirements and not on the time-consuming integration issues.

If you are an Innovator & Hobbyist and need a gateway to test your prototype? Or have a product or tool that can be enhanced if it could ‘talk’ to another device? LISA Networking Products can provide you with an easy-to-use interface solution.

More Information

For more information on pricing, packaging options, custom solutions (including peripheral interface modules and additional features), delivery details as well as on our other products (e.g. LISANET), please feel free to Contact Us.