ECE597 Project EchoLink

Team members: Kyle Daruwalla

Grading Template
I'm using the following template to grade. Each slot is 10 points. 0 = Missing, 5=OK, 10=Wow!

 00 Executive Summary 00 Installation Instructions 00 User Instructions 00 Highlights 00 Theory of Operation 00 Work Breakdown 00 Future Work 00 Conclusions 00 Demo 00 Late Comments: I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Score: 10/100

(Inline Comment)

Executive Summary
The purpose of this project is to explore the Intel Edison and how it correlates to the Beaglebone. As features and weaknesses are discovered, the Edison will be used to create a simple project (similar to those that others are performing) that highlights its strengths. After exploration, it was determined that the Edison is aptly suited for a network related project, due to its built-in WiFi. The new goal of the project is to set the Edison up as an EchoLink node.

The Edison has been configured to run with the WiFi on the Rose-Hulman Campus via the simple utility that Intel provides. The Edison, at this stage, must be running Yocto (a Linux build by Intel); custom kernel compilation is not possible because of how the Intel Edison is flashed. Furthermore, the Edison breakout board does not expose any GPIO pins, so using I2C, UART, SPI, or other I/O is not possible. SparkFun has several boards that expose these functions to the user, but they are still on pre-order only.

Due to the lack GPIO, a Beaglebone Black will be used to develop the EchoLink node for the Rose Tech Radio Club. The EchoLink node will be controllable through a web-server. The hope is that this system can be easily ported to the Edison when the SparkFun breakout boards are available.

While building the EchoLink node will be feasible, I believe we might run into problems with Yocto when we are trying to get the necessary libraries on the Edison.

Packaging
After moving to the Edison, the goal is to have a small 3D printed box to hold the system together.

Installation Instructions
In order to install the system on the BeagleBone, you must already have a Bone set up with Wheezy.

User Instructions
YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED HAM IN THE ROSE-TECH RADIO CLUB TO USE THIS SYSTEM.

Once the system is set up, you can run it by running the following command:

bone# /usr/local/libexec/tlb -f /root/tlb/tlb.conf -d

This will run the system in one level of debug. You can now navigate to website to control the node. Furthermore, opening EchoLink on your own computer will list your node, and you can connect to it.

Highlights
Here is where you brag about what your project can do.

Include a YouTube demo.

Theory of Operation
Give a high level overview of the structure of your software. Are you using GStreamer? Show a diagram of the pipeline. Are you running multiple tasks? Show what they do and how they interact.

Work Breakdown
List the major tasks in your project and who did what.

Also list here what doesn't work yet and when you think it will be finished and who is finishing it.

Future Work
Suggest addition things that could be done with this project.

Conclusions
Give some concluding thoughts about the project. Suggest some future additions that could make it even more interesting.