Table 7: U-Sensor Gateway LED Indications ............................................ 13
Table 8: SIM requirements for cellular USG ............................................ 14
Table 9: Pre-Installation Check List ........................................................ 16
System Description
Installation, Operation & Maintenance of the Wireless Sensing Family
1
1 System Description
1.1 Introduction
This manual describes the main features of the CartaSense Wireless
Sensing Product Family and defines procedures for the installation,
operation and servicing of the system products throughout sites and
locations that require environmental monitoring and control.
The CartaSense Wireless Sensing Product family consists of the following:
Single use shipment monitoring:
o U-Sensor (US)
Environmental monitoring:
o R-Sensor (RS)- Resident Sensor
o M- Sensors (MS).
U-Sensor-Gateways (USG).
Web application software management package.
The manual describes the system products and provides guidelines for a
successful system installation.
1.2 System Overview
The CartaSense Wireless Sensing Product Family includes all the elements
needed to collect measurements from sensors, transfer them to a central
server and visualize them, in a way that provides added value business
information. This business information may be used to take ad-hoc
decisions or provide the basis for business strategy, thus bringing in
significant savings.
CartaSense develops and manufactures various types of battery operated
sensors and gateways. The gateways collect measurements from all the
sensors and transfer them to a server and a web application to visualize
the measurements and generate alerts.
U-sensor (US) is a one-time-use sensor that accompanies controlled
temperature shipments.
R-sensor (RS) is a fixed installation sensor, used in warehouses.
M-sensor (MS) is a rugged sensor for outdoor use (E.g. agricultural
applications)
U-sensor Gateway (USG) wirelessly collects the measurements from
the sensors and sends it to a server.
Fixed USG – is a gateway used in warehouses or trucks, with a GPS
option.
Dashboard USG – is a mobile gateway unit, powered from the truck
cigarette lighter plug, where fixed installation in the truck is not
possible or not economical.
LAN USG – is a gateway that uses existing LAN infrastructure to
connect to the server
Web application
2
Version; 1.3
Once a USG is identified to be in communication range, data is transmitted
from the sensor to the gateway. Each USG is connected to the
Communication Server (CS) either through LAN (Ethernet gateway) or
cellular communication (GPRS Gateway), routing the received data from
all sensors..
Each one of CartaSense wireless sensors has the capability to operate as a
repeater to other Wireless sensors that are not in communication range
with the Gateway. All the sensors automatically form a dynamic, selfhealing, mesh network which is very resilient even when operating in
harsh electromagnetic environments.
1.3 Web application
A Web application provides online access to the data collected from all
around the monitored sites and faciltates real time monitoring and
observation of temperature and relative humidity conditions down to the
single package or pallet.
The application may be accessed from anywhere and enables the operator
to perform the following functions:
Figure 1: Typical system architecture
o View measurements from individual sensors or clusters of sensors.
o View status of sensors and/or USGs.
o Monitor Sensors network structure and performance.
System Description
Installation, Operation & Maintenance of the Wireless Sensing Family
3
o Provide reports at various levels of system operation.
o Generate alarms when preset threshold conditions are exceeded.
A Web Application manual that provides a detailed description of the
application and all its features is available under separate cover.
The U-sensor (US) is a portable and disposable temperature and relative
humidity (RH) sensor.
The US is designed to be placed inside or near the monitored goods and
transmits measurements of the temperature and humidity at that location.
See Figure 2 for US unit, for detailed specification see Appendix A.3: below
The US sensor should be placed in each pallet to monitor product through the
overall supply chain.
The US periodically measures temperature and relative humidity. When
connection is available to a U-Sensor Gateway, either directly or indirectly
through another sensor, the measurements are uploaded to the
communication server. When such connection is not available, measurements
are stored in a non volatile memory and will be uploaded once wireless
connection is re-established. See 3.3.7 for setup and installation.
2.1.1 Operating the U-Sensor
Table 1: U-Sensor elements
Figure 2: U sensor
Product description
Installation, Operation & Maintenance of the Wireless Sensing Family
5
LED Indicator
Description
1 sec single blink
Activation visual feedback. Pressing the pushbutton for three
seconds, while the US is not active, will cause the U-sensor to
go active and to make a single blink of one second
Flashing red
Network connectivity indication. Pressing the pushbutton for at
least one second, will cause the LED indicator to show the
connectivity sate of the US. A one second repetitive blink
means the US is not part of a sensor network and
measurements are logged in the sensor's memory
Constant red
Network connectivity indication. Pressing the pushbutton for at
least one second, will cause the LED indicator to show the
connectivity sate of the US. A constant on LED light means the
US is part of a sensor network and measurements are delivered
to the U-sensor gateway
Pressing the pushbutton of an active U-sensor, the red light indicator should
light up in 1 sec (either continuously or blinking). If it does not light up, the
U-sensor has not been activated
2.1.1.1 Activation of the US
The US unit is powered up by pressing the power button for 3
seconds.
2.1.2 U-Sensor LED Indications
The US contains one red LED indicator. The LED indicator is normally off in
regular operation. To make it active, and see the US state, the pushbutton
has to be pressed. There are two distinct patterns to indicate the status of
the US, as listed in Table 2.
Table 2: U-Sensor indicator states, after pressing the pushbutton
2.2 M-Sensor (Air)
M-Sensors are targeted for outdoor applications such as metering, agriculture
and for integration with external sensors. The basic unit includes internal
temperature and RH sensors and has an option for an additional module with
extended RH capabilities. See Appendix A.4: for detailed specification.
Installing batteries: Unscrew the rear cover of the batteries
compartment (3) and install 2 AAA batteries. Make sure to keep
polarity of battery as indicated in the compartment.
2.2.1.2 Activation of the M-Sensor (Air)
M-Sensor is activated by a pressing the push button for 3 seconds
The M-sensor gives a positive visual indication of the success of the
activation process.
Table 3: M-sensor elements
2.2.1.3 Operation of the M-Sensor (Air)
The M-sensor, once active, connects to an available CartaSense sensors
network.
Product description
Installation, Operation & Maintenance of the Wireless Sensing Family
7
2.3 M-Sensor Soil
The soil sensor has external soil moisture sensor probe and soil temperature
probe, enabling precise monitoring of soil water content and temperature.
The M-Sensor soil is used for tracking soil moisture and temperature trends
in crops, vineyards, or other areas where moisture level is a concern.
See Appendix A.5: for detailed specification.
2.3.1 Deployment of the Soil Sensor
Figure 4: A-sensor soil
2.3.1.1 Assembly of the Soil-Sensor
Assembly of the M-Sensor soil is similar to the assembly of the M-sensor Air.
Refer to paragraph 2.2.1.1.
2.3.1.2 Activation of the Soil -Sensor
M-Sensor is activated by pressing the push button for 3 seconds
The M-sensor gives a positive visual indication of the success of the
activation process as described in Table 3
2.3.1.3 Operation of the Soil Sensor
The M-sensor, once active, connects to an available CartaSense sensors
network.
2.4 M-Sensor Sun
The Sun sensor is based on the M-Sensor and has external sun radiation PPF
sensor. The unit contains internal temperature sensors and optionally RH
sensors - see Appendix A.6: for detailed specification.
Resident Sensor (RS)
8
Version; 1.3
Figure 5: M-Sensor Sun
2.4.1 Deployment of the M-Sensor Sun (A-Sensor Sun)
2.4.1.1 Assembly of the Sun-Sensor
Assembly is same as defined in 2.2.1.1
2.4.1.2 Activation of the Sun -Sensor
Activation is same as defined in 2.2.1.2
2.4.1.3 Operation of the Sun Sensor
The M-sensor, once active, connects to an available CartaSense sensors
network.
2.5 Resident Sensor (RS)
The RS is a stationary wireless sensor that monitors temperature and RH
environmental conditions and also serves as a range extender / repeater for
other sensors in its vicinity. See Appendix A.2: for detailed specification.
Figure 6 & Figure 7 depict the RS from top, side and bottom views and
Table 4 defined RS controls & indicators.
1
Product description
Installation, Operation & Maintenance of the Wireless Sensing Family
9
Label
Name
Description
1
Resident Sensor ID
Unique ID of the Resident Sensor
2
Red LED Indicator
Indication for resident Sensor status
3
Sticker
Resident Sensor removable sticker
4
Antenna
Resident Sensor antenna
5
Batteries compartment
Holds 2 AAA batteries
6
Push Button
A countersunk operation button which is operated with a pin
Figure 6: Resident Sensor top & side view
Figure 7: Resident Sensor - bottom view
Table 4: Resident sensor elements
2.5.1 Deployment of the Resident Sensor
2.5.1.1 R-Sensor Assembly
Unpack the RS unit.
Open up the Batteries compartment cover (5)
Insert two AAA batteries.
Make sure to keep batteries polarity as displayed in the
compartment.
Make sure that there is good contact of both battery poles
Replace the Batteries compartment cover.
U-Sensor Gateway
10
Version; 1.3
LED Indicator
Description
1 sec single blink
Activation visual feedback. Pressing the internal pushbutton for three
seconds (use a pin), while the R-Sensor is not active, will cause the Rsensor to go active and to display a single blink of one second
Flashing red
Network connectivity indication: Pressing the pushbutton for at least
one second, will cause the LED indicator to show the connectivity sate
of the R-Sensor. A one second repetitive blink means the R-Sensor is
NOT part of a sensor network and measurements are logged in the
sensor's memory
Constant red
Network connectivity indication: Pressing the pushbutton, for at least
one second, will cause the LED indicator to show the connectivity sate
of the R-Sensor. A constant on LED light means the R-sensor is part of
a sensor network and measurements are delivered to the U-sensor
gateway
2.5.1.2 RS activation and visual indications
Turn on the RS unit by pressing the on/off pushbutton (6) using a pin
(paper clip or similar).
The RS has one red LED indicator that can be seen from the two viewing
/ vent holes on the side and back panel (marked as element #2). This
indicator blinks as defined in Table 5:
Table 5: RS LED indications
2.6 U-Sensor Gateway
The U-Sensor Gateway is designed to transmit all the data collected by
CartaSense sensors throughout the monitored site to the communication
server and through it – to the Web application.
The USG acts as an access point for U-sensors, R-Sensors, M-sensors and
other CartaSense wireless sensors. The USG is the "root node" of the sensors
network, where all measurements are uploaded to. The USG also connects to
the communication server, further uploading measurements from the sensors
through an internet connection, whether cellular or LAN based.
Several versions of USGs are available. – The USGs differ in their system
interface and include the following: