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CC3200STK-WIFIMK: Questions to the operating mode of the Wifi-Sensors.

Part Number: CC3200STK-WIFIMK

Hello,

I'm currently looking for a WiFi-Sensor-Network on a bigger scale.

I've already read the user's guide of the Wi-fi SensorTag, but I still have some unanswered questions:

- How many SensorTags can approximately be connected simultaneously to the same Wifi-Network? (10, 50, 100 ?) Same question for the LaunchpadKit.

- Can I code the sensor, so it turns itself on to collect data every certain amount of time (every hour for example) and then gets back into hibernate mode?

- Is it possible to collect or access the data of a tag with different devices (tablets or smartphones) at the same time?

- Does the sensor automatically upload the data into the cloud or do I need to connect to the sensor and do it by myself each time?

- When the sensor is in hibernate mode, does it recognize a change of the surroundings and starts to collect data by itself? Or do I have to activate each sensor as soon as I need data?

- Is it possible to create a database with all the sensors and its data which I can access to from the PC?

- Is an accurate determination of the position of the sensor possible?

I know the CC3200STK-WIFIMK is intended for demonstration purposes only, so for most of these tasks I'll certainly need the LaunchpadKit. Nevertheless it would be nice if you could tell me or give me an estimation for each question, which one of the two (SensorTag or LaunchpadKit) can satisfy  it or if it's even possible.

Thank you!

Kind regards,

Felix Schirrecker

  • Hi Felix,

    I very much suggest you buy a LaunchPad for development, since as you know you can't use the Wi-Fi SensorTag as a development platform or program new code. I'll go through the rest in detail:

    1) How many SensorTags can approximately be connected simultaneously to the same Wifi-Network? (10, 50, 100 ?) Same question for the LaunchpadKit.

    This depends entirely on how many devices your router can support. I believe the generally common number is 250, but you can search for your router's specs.

    2) Can I code the sensor, so it turns itself on to collect data every certain amount of time (every hour for example) and then gets back into hibernate mode?

    Yes, you can use the TI Drivers power API Power_shutdown() to send the device into hibernate and have it wake up based on a timer or a GPIO interrupt. You should consider LPDS for this as well. Hibernate mode does not retain the program memory, so your peripherals(sensors) would no longer be initialized. LPDS does retains logic and you can set interrupt handlers to do certain functions when you wake from LPDS. We do this in the Wi-Fi Thermostat TI Design: http://www.ti.com/tool/TIDM-1020

    3) Is it possible to collect or access the data of a tag with different devices (tablets or smartphones) at the same time?

    The CC3220 supports 4 devices connected to it while in Access Point mode. If you are hosting the data on an internal HTTP server and you have it connected to an AP while in Station mode, you can access the data from any device connected to the same AP. If you are sending the data to the cloud, you're only limited by the cloud vendor.

    4) Does the sensor automatically upload the data into the cloud or do I need to connect to the sensor and do it by myself each time?

    If you stay connected to the cloud, you can push updates in your application code or respond to requests from the cloud. Again, you can check out the Wi-Fi Thermostat TI Design software.

    5) When the sensor is in hibernate mode, does it recognize a change of the surroundings and starts to collect data by itself? Or do I have to activate each sensor as soon as I need data?

    You'll need to come out of hibernate or LPDS mode to collect data. If you have a sensor that can send a GPIO interrupt when it senses changes, you can use that to wake. Otherwise, you can set a timer to come out of sleep periodically. You can also wake from LPDS based on network activity. If you use the TI Drivers power management, the RTOS can decide to wake it up when needed.

    6) Is it possible to create a database with all the sensors and its data which I can access to from the PC?

    If it is a local demo (like someone in the room), you can host the data like the CC3220 LaunchPad Out of Box Experience. If you'd like to access the data remotely, you can set this up with a cloud service. The Wi-Fi Thermostat uses IBM Watson or AWS as the cloud service and the GUI composer tool to demonstrate this.

    7) Is an accurate determination of the position of the sensor possible?

    Can you clarify what you mean here? Do you mean on the board, or the position of the sensor for something like a gyroscope? The CC3220 LaunchPad Out of Box Experience does demonstrate an on-board gyroscope to view the orientation of the LaunchPad.

    Best regards,

    Sarah