Published:
January 03, 2025
Category:
IOT
Client:
SWIMER
Modern Telemetry Management System for the Fuel, Agricultural, and Chemical Industries
Our long-standing client, a manufacturer of specialized tanks for storing and transporting liquids in the fuel, agricultural, and chemical industries, approached us to develop a new version of the system for managing telemetry devices installed in their products. The previously used system was outdated and lacked essential features such as remote tank configuration, event notifications (e.g., leakage, delivery, or fluid extraction), remote firmware updates, and advanced security measures. Furthermore, it had an outdated user interface and was only accessible via a web browser, requiring a costly VPS server based on Windows Server.
Challenge
Our primary goal was to design a modern system architecture that would address the client’s current needs while also considering potential future requirements, which were not yet fully defined. This involved creating:
- an entirely new data flow,
- data structures,
- a communication protocol between the backend and telemetry devices.
Due to the general nature of the requirements, we adopted an incremental development model, allowing for flexibility and configurability in implementing changes based on ongoing and future client needs.
Our Approach
To meet the client’s economic requirements and their decision to use external hardware resources, we proposed a Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) virtual private server (VPS). This solution:
- significantly reduced server ownership costs (around 300 EUR annually),
- provided scalability through hardware virtualization to adjust resources based on user and device growth.
For the backend system, we selected proven technologies:
- Uvicorn: a fast and modern ASGI server supporting asynchronous operations,
- Apache: a widely recognized HTTP server with HTTPS support via SSL/TLS certificates,
- InfluxDB: a time-series database designed for real-time data storage and analysis,
- Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM): a Google service for sending push notifications and enabling real-time communication.
Results and Next Steps
We implemented RESTful API communication between the backend, telemetry devices, and user applications, ensuring system scalability and ease of integration.
In the first phase, we implemented core functionalities such as:
- real-time tank monitoring,
- data visualization in charts,
- event history,
- real-time notifications,
- tank location on maps.
We also designed multi-platform mobile (Android, iOS), web (PC), and smartwatch (WearOS) applications using Flutter, which allowed us to shorten deployment time and ensure consistent user interfaces across devices.
Currently, the client is using the system with its essential features, and we are working on the second phase of the project, which includes remote tank configuration, a subscription-based model (SaaS), and additional functionalities. The second phase is scheduled for completion in Q1 2025.
Looking for a comprehensive solution for telemetry systems and multi-platform applications? Contact us – we’ll help you create a system tailored to your needs!
