Feasibility Study for Interprocessor Communication in Underwater Navigation System

Our client, a company at the forefront of developing advanced underwater navigation and positioning systems, sought to assess the feasibility of creating a high-speed data transmission pipeline between an ultrasonic receiver and an AI-based positioning system. Their technology relies on real-time data processing to track divers and underwater objects with high precision, requiring a seamless exchange of data between various system components.

The client's primary objective was to explore the feasibility of developing an efficient interprocessor communication system. The challenge lay in transmitting large volumes of data generated by the ultrasonic receiver to the AI system running on a Linux-based platform. This data needed to be processed in real time to enable accurate underwater positioning. The project aimed to answer key technical questions:

• How effectively could data be transmitted from the bare-metal microcontroller to the Linux system?
• Could we maintain low latency for real-time processing of this critical data stream?
• What technical barriers might arise when integrating the microcontroller with the AI system on the Linux platform?

Our role in this feasibility study was to develop a proof-of-concept communication pipeline between the microcontroller and Linux-based system, focusing on the rapid transmission of ultrasonic data for real-time processing.

1. Kernel Module Development: We created a custom loadable kernel module for the Linux system. This module served as the communication bridge, ensuring that data from the microcontroller could be transferred efficiently to the AI system. This was critical in understanding whether the Linux system could handle the incoming data stream at the required speeds.
2. Bare-Metal Programming: On the microcontroller side, we implemented bare-metal code to gather data from the ultrasonic sensors and rapidly transmit it to the Linux-based system. This setup was tested for performance and integration feasibility.

Through these developments, the goal was to test whether the system could meet the real-time data processing demands necessary for accurate diver tracking and underwater object detection.

While this project focused on feasibility, it provided a clear path forward for the client. The next steps involve refining the communication system and addressing technical challenges to achieve full integration. The results of this study equip the client with a foundation for future innovation in underwater navigation and AI-based positioning systems, setting the stage for more reliable and efficient systems.

• Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Linux, C Programming, Kernel Development, Bare-metal Programming (Microcontroller)

The feasibility study provided the client with valuable insights into the technical viability of establishing a high-speed communication link between the microcontroller and Linux-based system. While the project did not progress to full-scale implementation, the results from this study laid the groundwork for future development.The client was able to:

• Assess the performance of the communication system.
• Identify potential bottlenecks and areas for further optimization.
• Make informed decisions regarding the next steps in their development process.

The study also enabled the client to fine-tune their technical requirements and prepare for the next phases of their product’s development lifecycle.

How was streaming ultrasonic data from a bare-metal microcontroller to a Linux-based AI system tested?

The feasibility study tested such a link with a proof-of-concept pipeline and gave the client insight into its technical viability, while identifying bottlenecks that need further work before full integration. In this project, InTechHouse wrote bare-metal code on the microcontroller to gather ultrasonic sensor data and transmit it to the Linux-based system, then tested performance and integration so the client could refine its technical requirements.

Why use a custom Linux kernel module for microcontroller-to-Linux data transfer in an underwater positioning system?

A custom loadable kernel module acts as the communication bridge that receives the microcontroller data stream inside Linux. In this project, InTechHouse created such a module so ultrasonic data could be transferred efficiently to the AI positioning system, which was critical for understanding whether the Linux system could handle the incoming data stream at the required speeds for diver tracking.

What questions should a feasibility study for interprocessor communication in an underwater navigation system answer?

Three core questions: how effectively data moves from the bare-metal microcontroller to Linux, whether latency stays low enough for real-time processing, and what barriers appear when integrating the microcontroller with the AI system. In this project, InTechHouse addressed them with an Embedded Software Engineer working in Embedded Linux, C programming and kernel development.