Week 4: Data Collection and Tomography Algorithm Development

Collecting RSSI data

In week 4, the software team began by conducting real-life scenario testing to assess the final version of the MATLAB data plotting code. They made performance-based adjustments and minor refinements to optimise accuracy and efficiency. After completing the first full trial of the plotting process, they verified that all bug fixes had been successfully implemented, ensuring smooth execution.

Following these refinements, the hardware team commenced data collection, confident that the system was running smoothly. They first verified that the transmitters were actively broadcasting signals and that the receivers were correctly detecting them, and displaying the corresponding RSSI values when connected to a laptop via USB. After confirming the data collection code was error-free and properly saving data into a CSV file, the team proceeded with the full data collection process.

For this, two team members positioned themselves diagonally at opposite ends of the floor, each with an ESP32 configured as a receiver. A third team member, using another ESP32 as a transmitter, navigated the lab, visiting 24 pre-marked locations on the map. The team stayed in constant communication via phone calls, with the receiver team members confirming the successful recording of RSSI values at each location. This process was repeated multiple times to ensure data consistency and accuracy.

Meanwhile, as the hardware team collected data points, the software team completed the development of the tomography algorithm, refining its structure to accurately visualise the signal strength data. The finalised algorithm successfully generated clear, informative images for analysis, providing meaningful insights into the signal distribution.

Success! :)