PaulVMo
commented
3 years ago Chris and Phil, thanks for your submission. While coverage mapping is priority for the DeWi grants committee, the committee is not supportive of this application to build more mappers. DeWi and the committee would like to see proposals to improve upon the current mapping system rather than just more mappers under the current system. For example, improvements such as securing the API from spoofing and other bad data, new device types for mapping such as an app-connected mapper (e.g., with ability to log non-coverage), API for retrieving and using mapping data in other apps, or an incentive system for mappers among other opportunity areas. The grant committee would be happy to have further discussions on these if you are interested in any of them.
In addition to those points, this proposal does not provide a plan for how users of the devices will be identified and held accountable for continuing to map. Details regarding how output of any grant program will be used and followed up on is a key part of an application.
We look forward to a revised proposal or otherwise closing of this application.
cvolkernick
JessmFromEarth
Project
Helium Network "Non-Coverage" Mapping
Elevator Pitch
Though the Helium Network Mapping project has come quite far, and is today leaps and bounds ahead of where it began, there remain at least two primary shortfalls that stand to be addressed:
Lack of sufficient involvement / participation in the mapping initiative, largely because there is no inherent incentive, monetary or otherwise.
Lack of distinction between areas that have not been audited via coverage mapping devices and areas that have seen audit traffic, which simply do not have coverage available. This "non-coverage" falls through the cracks because there currently exists no mechanism to capture this “offline” data.
This proposal seeks to address the latter in an effort to better inform a more targeted approach where the former is most lacking. This "non-coverage" data will also provide value to hotspot deployers, as they will more easily and readily be able to identify areas lacking in coverage for future deployments.
The final deliverable will provide an open source solution that can be maintained and extended by both public and private enterprise leveraging non-coverage data.
Implementation Details, Desired Outcomes, Methods of Verification
Mapping Devices
As we have already completed extensive development and deploying of Helium network mapping devices / kits, this grant [as written] would provide financial support for cost of materials & any development costs involved in extending previous efforts to include non-coverage and/or gamification.
After materials [Wisblock based mapper, battery, GPS antenna, power supply cable, casing] (approx. $80), [domestic] shipping (approx. $10-15) & assembly / fulfillment labor for non-DIY units (approx. $10), unit price is approx. $100-110 / unit. For the DIY kit the cost of assembly can be removed.
Note also this initiative is currently targeted at the US915 market. The initiative should be easily expanded to other regions at a later date(s) with additional funding & potentially additional manpower support on the ground in any of these regions.
Non-Coverage Mapping
This grant includes extending the firmware on current mapper spec to track non-coverage. The mapping device will store the GPS locations of serialized pings. The mappers will sync via BLE to a mobile app and then to a web app to reconcile the data with pings mapped over Lora. Non Coverage results will be displayed on a web visualization. Future phase, could provide an API for ingestion by mappers.helium.com
Device / User Authentication
Proposed Solutions:
Website Visualization
Hotspot RF team to make a proof of concept that visualizes data to augment existing mapping and add non-coverage data. This will serve as a UX proof of concept & demonstrate the ability to consume and/or extend private services using the open source solution.
Gamification
In lieu of monetary rewards, individuals will earn badges for their mapping activities. Example badges are:
Swag could be sent at certain levels and / or discord avatar overlays / roles / discord nitro
Name and Address
Chris Volkernick (@cvolkernick) [KYC Sent] Phill Tran (@philltran) [KYC Sent] HotspotRF Team (@hotspotrf)
Team or Project Website
IoWE HotspotRF
Products
Plug n' Play Helium Coverage Mapper
Helium Coverage Mapper DIY Kit
Team or projects social
Chris Volkernick LinkedIn IoWE Facebook IoWE Twitter
Phill Tran LinkedIn
HotspotRF LinkedIn HotspotRF Facebook HotspotRF Twitter
Code Repos of team or key applicants
Chris Volkernick
https://github.com/cvolkernick
Phill Tran
https://github.com/philltran
HotspotRF
https://github.com/hotspotrf
James (Rep for HotspotRF)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/selfo/
Project Details
As a matter of encouraging widespread [public & private] adoption of the Helium network, the primary focus should be on ensuring network coverage reach & reliability (QoS). By demonstrating strong confidence in regional QoS via on-the-ground auditing of gateway service areas, these audits demonstrate real-world coverage by using RF transmissions to materially validate asserted coverage areas.
Any respectable commercial service provider / vendor will do a great deal of due diligence before launching a new product; if there is not reasonable confidence in the targeted coverage area & reliability of the network, it's unlikely that product developers are going to consider using the Helium network in the first place.
The initiative seeks to accomplish a few main objectives:
Gather previously undocumented areas of demonstrable non-coverage to supplement existing documented coverage.
Expand the pool of coverage mapping participants & dramatically increase the levels & usefulness of documented network coverage & non-coverage.
Increase access to & interest in Helium network coverage mapping, both technically & financially.
Provide a user interface to view coverage & non-coverage data in a digestible & intuitive way for use in targeting under-served areas for supplemental hotspot deployments.
We intend to offer both a "Plug-and-Play" option & a DIY kit to reach both non-technical & technically savvy individuals to participate in the way they are comfortable . DIY kit will also include any available resources to support learning & familiarizing users with the Helium console.
Our existing model is not battery powered (direct power supply cable only), however, if it is deemed worthwhile additional spend in the context of this grant that can be changed, as well -- as we do have the ability to offer a more "premium" setup that is self-powered & rechargeable.
Roadmap
We have provided a generalized, high-level outline of project development; material requirements represent hardware & required infrastructure cost(s), while development milestones represent stages in development roadmap. Milestones represent the core components involved in the implementation of the described proposal. These segments are presented in the order they can / should be implemented, and best attempt to separate concerns of each segment.
Until there is further feedback from DeWi grant reviewers regarding the directionality & outcomes specifically desired by the team, it will prove difficult to further specify timelines & requirements involved in any additional particulars. The team believes gathering additional feedback from DeWi stakeholders based on current proposal details may prove useful in narrowing the scope of the work & specifically addressing any overlap between this proposal and high-level DeWi grant objectives.