Back-end

Back-end and information system was built using PHP language. The first step was to allow administrators on the client side to collect and view data about their machines. This data is fed to us by an external REST API and there is a really large amount of it. Therefore, we had to solve sufficiently optimized queries to the database, which in this case is MariaDB.

For driver authorization, we used an interesting variant of authorization using the NFC chips that come with the machines. Thanks to them, the user can simply log in to the machine in the mobile app without having to enter a password every time. The app also provides a view of the machines assigned to a given user and information about them - this data is passed through the app via a REST API that is part of the back-end.

Mobile applications

We built the mobile application on the React Native framework, with which we already have a lot of experience, and it communicates with the client's machines via the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) protocol. We had to learn how to read the individual bits of information and how to pass them to the machine correctly so that the system does what the user wants it to do safely. The big challenge was processing and sending the information at a sufficient speed. The mobile app monitors the data stream from the machine controller and sends signals back to tell the machine what to do. With such a large and robust device, there is a lot of emphasis on accuracy, speed of communication and the safety of the driver, including their surroundings.

Final implementation

The next step was the creation of new modules in our information system, which take care of client agendas and are linked to the module used to manage machines. The last step was to create a REST API. The API feeds data to a web presence that, for example, allows FIRSTGREEN Industries' clients to see where their machines are right now, the state of their battery, and so on. The same REST API also communicates with users of the mobile app and, as mentioned, serves machine information to logged-in users and controls the authorization process.