Enhancing Generator Management with BLE-Enabled Mobile Solutions

Technostacks developed a Flutter-based mobile app for Northern Tools, integrating BLE technology for real-time generator monitoring, diagnostics, and servicing alerts. The solution ensures seamless data access, offline functionality, and an intuitive user interface. This improves generator performance, reduces downtime, and enhances operational efficiency.

Client

Northern Tools

Service

Mobile Application Development, IoT Integration, and BLE Implementation

Timeline

1 year

Goal

Integrating generator hardware data into a mobile application enables real-time monitoring and control of fuel levels, servicing alerts, and generator diagnostics through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology.

Challenge

The client required a seamless solution to access and manage generator hardware data. The key challenges included:

Data Access: Continuously reading and writing data between the app and generator hardware.

Alerts and Notifications: Delivering instant notifications about generator alerts, fuel levels, and performance.

User Accessibility: Creating a user-friendly interface to view generator status, diagnostics, and service schedules.

Offline Access: Ensuring users could access recent data even when the hardware was disconnected.

Outcome

Technostacks developed a Flutter-based mobile application that seamlessly integrates with generator hardware using BLE technology. This solution provides users with real-time data and alerts for generator management, improving operational efficiency and ease of use.

Brief

Northern Tools partnered with Technostacks to design a mobile application capable of connecting to generator hardware through BLE. The solution allows users to manage fuel levels, diagnostics, and servicing schedules efficiently, reducing downtime and enhancing generator performance.

Challenges

Bluetooth Integration: Establishing a reliable Bluetooth connection for seamless communication between the app and generator hardware.
Real-Time Data: Ensuring continuous data transfer and notification delivery for status updates, diagnostics, and servicing.
Write Operations: Allowing users to clean alerts and update hardware settings via the app.
Offline Access: Providing access to the last retrieved data even when disconnected.

Solution

Technostacks utilized Flutter to create an intuitive mobile application with the following features:

Bluetooth Connection Workflow

Device Discovery: Scanning and identifying available Bluetooth devices.
Pairing: Authenticating and pairing the app with the target hardware.
Connection Establishment: Ensuring a stable connection using BLE profiles.

Data Read Operations

Real-Time Status: Displaying generator power, remaining runtime, and hour meter data.
Servicing Insights: Providing service schedules based on hours or days left.
Diagnostics Information: Reading voltage and amperage details for generator performance monitoring.

Data Write Operations

Cleaning alerts via the app, which communicates changes to the generator hardware.

Additional Features

Local Notifications: Notifying users of critical alerts.
App Permissions: Allowing users to manage permissions directly from the app settings.
Local Database: Ensuring offline access to the most recent data retrieved from the generator.
Simulator Software: Providing simulation tools for testing read and write functionalities.

Impact

Efficiency: Real-time updates enhance generator performance monitoring and maintenance scheduling.
User Experience: A seamless interface ensures ease of use and actionable insights.
Reliability: Offline access to historical data provides convenience and operational continuity.
Scalability: BLE integration enables compatibility with various generator hardware models.

86.6%

Client Retention Rate

200+

Delivered Assets

6.4X

ROI of Re-Design