Portable remote sensing device and system
A remote sensing device is described. The remote sensing device includes an enclosure that houses a smartphone processor, a smartphone memory, a sensor module, a separate microcontroller, and a wireless communication module. The remote sensing device includes a smartphone operating system having a kernel that includes a plurality of device drivers. The smartphone processor, smartphone memory, sensor module and wireless communications module are managed by the smartphone operating system. The separate microcontroller includes a power management module. A battery is electrically coupled to the microcontroller. The battery powers the smartphone processor, the smartphone memory, and the sensor module. The wireless communication module is communicatively coupled to a wide area network. The wireless communication module receives an over-the-air (OTA) update for a device driver associated with the sensor module.
1. A remote sensing device comprising,
an enclosure;
a smartphone operating system having a kernel that resides within the smartphone operating system, wherein the kernel includes a plurality of device drivers;
a smartphone processor disposed within the enclosure managed by the smartphone operating system;
a smartphone memory communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor, in which the memory is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system;
a sensor module communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory, in which the sensor module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system;
a separate microcontroller disposed within the enclosure managed by the smartphone operating system, in which the microcontroller includes a power management module;
a battery electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, wherein the battery powers the smartphone processor, the smartphone memory, and the sensor module;
a solar panel electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, in which the power management module associated with the separate microcontroller charges the battery;
a wireless communication module that is communicatively coupled to a wide area network, in which the wireless communication module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system; and
wherein the wireless communication module receives an over-the-air (OTA) update for a device driver associated with the sensor module.
2. The remote sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes a camera.
3. The remote sensing device of claim 2 wherein the smartphone processor and smartphone memory encode a low-resolution video stream for communication over a cellular network; and
the smartphone processor and smartphone memory encode a high-resolution video stream for storage on a memory device.
4. The remote sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes an external camera that is electrically coupled and communicatively coupled to the remote sensing device with a wired connection.
5. The remote sensing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes a plurality of cameras, in which each video stream associated with each camera is encoded as a low-resolution video stream for communication over a cellular network and as a high-resolution video stream for storage on a memory device.
6. The remote sensing device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of SIMs, in which a first SIM communicates with a first cellular service provider and a second SIM communicates with a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
7. The remote sensing device of claim 1 further comprising a first printed circuit board that includes the smartphone processor, the smartphone memory, and the wireless communication module.
8. The remote sensing device of claim 7 further comprising a second printed circuit board that includes the separate microcontroller having the power management module, in which the separate microcontroller is electrically coupled to the battery and a solar panel that charges the battery.
9. The remote sensing device of claim 8 wherein the second printed circuit board is electrically coupled to the first printed circuit board and powers the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory.
10. A remote sensing system comprising,
an enclosure;
a first printed circuit board that includes,
a smartphone operating system having a kernel that resides within the smartphone operating system, wherein the kernel includes a plurality of device drivers,
a smartphone processor disposed within the enclosure managed by the smartphone operating system,
a smartphone memory communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor, in which the smartphone memory is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system,
a wireless communication module that is communicatively coupled to a wide area network, in which the wireless communication module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system,
a sensor module communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory, in which the sensor module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system;
wherein the wireless communication module receives an over-the-air (OTA) update for a device driver associated with the sensor module;
a second printed circuit board electrically and communicatively coupled to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board includes a separate microcontroller disposed within the enclosure managed by the smartphone operating system, in which the microcontroller includes a power management module; and
a battery electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to the power management module and the battery powers the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory.
11. The remote sensing system of claim 10 further comprising a solar panel electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, in which the power management module associated with the separate microcontroller charges the battery.
12. The remote sensing system of claim 10 wherein the sensor module includes a camera.
13. The remote sensing system of claim 12 wherein the smartphone processor and smartphone memory encode a low-resolution video stream for communication over a cellular network; and
the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory encode a high-resolution video stream for storage on a memory device.
14. The remote sensing system of claim 10 wherein the sensor module includes an external camera that is electrically coupled and communicatively coupled to the remote sensing system with a wired connection.
15. The remote sensing system of claim 10 wherein the sensor module includes a plurality of cameras, in which each video stream associated with each camera is encoded as a low-resolution video stream for communication over a cellular network, and as a high-resolution video stream for storage on a memory device.
16. The remote sensing system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of SIMs, in which a first SIM communicates with a first cellular service provider and a second SIM communicates with a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO).
17. A portable remote sensing system that can be moved from a first site to a second site, the portable remote sensing system comprising,
an enclosure;
a first printed circuit board that includes,
a smartphone operating system having a kernel that resides within the smartphone operating system, wherein the kernel includes a plurality of device drivers,
a smartphone processor disposed within the enclosure managed by a smartphone operating system,
a smartphone memory communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor, in which the memory is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system,
a wireless communication module that is communicatively coupled to a wide area network, in which the wireless communication module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system,
a sensor module communicatively coupled to the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory, in which the sensor module is disposed within the enclosure and managed by the smartphone operating system;
wherein the wireless communication module receives an over-the-air (OTA) update for a device driver associated with the sensor module;
a second printed circuit board electrically and communicatively coupled to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board includes a separate microcontroller disposed within the enclosure managed by the smartphone operating system, in which the microcontroller includes a power management module;
a battery electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to the power management module and the battery powers the smartphone processor and the smartphone memory; and
a solar panel electrically coupled to the separate microcontroller, in which the power management module associated with the separate microcontroller charges the battery with energy captured by the solar panel.
18. The remote sensing system of claim 17 wherein the sensor module includes a camera.
19. The remote sensing system of claim 17 wherein the sensor module includes an external camera that is electrically coupled and communicatively coupled to the remote sensing system with a wired connection.