HMI Solution between a manual operator and a pump drive based on Smartphones

Abstract: With the development of modern technology, mobile communications are changing people’s life and making their day to day life activities easier. The aim of this thesis work is to address one of the modern technology solution that simplifies and act as an HMI solution between a pump drive and a operator based on smart phones.   Xylem provides a wide range of pump control units, serving several advanced features includes condition monitoring, cleaning sequence, flow calculation, energy optimizer, sump cleaning and so on. Smart run is a pump control unit, whose parameters installed at wastewater pump stations are possible to monitor and configure physically using keypad or remotely using extension communication  gateway, which is a costly solution for installations and maintenance. So, a simple working prototype HMI solution based on smart phones is interested to see how smart phone can relay information between a pump control and an operator in the vicinity of the pump.    For this approach a thorough study has been done on different types of smart phones, their trends and different possible wireless communication solutions between  operator’s smart phone  and the pump. An interactive design process with a focus on usability and data representation  on a smart phone application was developed to support their needs and provide a cost effective solution. The result showed that this approach has many benefits includes serving as cost effective HMI solution, data monitoring, better alarm monitoring with additional information, enhanced display over Smart Run’s OLED displays, multilingual support, provides easier support services and also useful as a receiver unit for dewatering pumps hardware developed in parallel with this thesis. This thesis work is carried out in Xylem Water Solutions AB[1], Stockholm, Sweden in collaboration with Mittuniversitetet[2], Sundsvall, Department of Electronics Design.  This report can be used as groundwork for future development of smart phone applications for Xylem products [1]  http://www.xyleminc.com [2]  http://www.miun.se