Smart Laser is an innovative, programmable, customizable and expandable dynamic light signaling system.

The main features are:

• It’s a Light Signaling System that projects laser beams according to programmed spatial models or configured in Real Time
• Smart Laser is a highly configurable, modular and scalable system
• It is designed to be a node of an architecture of light signaling systems that can be supervised remotely, with automation features and advanced local intelligence 
• The modern laser system makes possible to define complex signaling models, luminous paths, visible references, text words and specific animated drawings, designed to signal dangers or warnings

 Smart Laser emits light beams creating visual paths in bad visibility conditions on highways and common roads.

Smart Laser is made of:

•  Industrial Laser Show: it was born as a classic Laser Show with high performance to which was added a powerful control electronics, equipped with industrial grade hardware and advanced software.
•  CPU Embedded: unlike a classic Laser Show, Smart Laser is equipped with a SOM, System On Module, a miniaturized Embedded PC, characterized by high performance and Embedded operating system, specifically developed for Real Time task management.
•  Control Electronics: all the system functions are obtained through a control electronics managed by the CPU, which allows to control the laser, the pointing devices, the position and temperature sensors, the external sensors and so on.

Smart Laser automatically manages itself according to environment inputs.

•  External Sensors: it regulates its behavior according to the input of external sensors like Fog Detection Stations, Temperature Devices, digital commands coming from external devices like PLC or other equipment.
•  Network Events: any network connected device can activate more events that can drive the Smart Laser behaviour.
•  Interconnected Systems: Smart Laser is an open device, capable to be integrated with existing systems like Road Conditions Managers, Meteo Stations, Traffic Control Station, and automatically can adapt its operating mode according to all the informations received.
•  Communication Interface: thanks to its communication interface, the Smart Laser can be integrated with different protocols and systems like LoraWan.

Smart Laser helps to give a visual feedback to the drivers and the pedestrians along the city roads, drawing text and lines to enhance the visibility of roundabouts, crossings and so on.

Smart Laser can be used to write dynamic text messages on existing structures or on road signs. The advantage is that the messages can be driven remotely and the installation and maintenance costs are hugely decreased since there is no complex structure or equipment that has to be installed.

Smart Laser can be used in many fields, like traffic monitoring and road safety, in rail electrical subsations and along the railway, in all the industry fields where is needed a to give an help to the operators and users to the identifications of the alarm conditions and for the potential safety issues. 

Smart Laser for the railways, for crossings with or without barriers, tunnels, electrical stations.

Smart Laser is also a fantastic tool to be used in educational schools, in laboratory experiments, in commercial applications and home enterteinment. 

Smart Laser  for educational purposes giving a practical support to the electronics learning and a fantastic way to learn embedded systems and their programming techniques.

Entertainment: creation of images and animated texts for recreational and promotional purposes.

Public Speaking: thanks to the dictaphone function, it projects the text of what is pronounced through a special microphone. 

 Advertising Messages : creation of images and animated texts for the advertising of events or products. 

COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND FILE INTERCHANGE

Smart Laser implements different types of communication protocols:

• Modbus TCP Server;
• FTP Server;
• RDP – Remote Desktop Protocol;
• XML
• ILDA (International Laser Display Association) – Official Graphic Format Files for Laser Animations
• Communication library and file interchange;
• Other protocols that can be integrated on request;

Supervision Systems

Thanks to the development of multiple communication protocols and libraries, the Smart Laser can be integrated into different supervision systems, such as:

• SCADA Supervision Systems (Demo application available in Schneider Electric CitectSCADA environment);
• Mobile Android or iOS Apps (Android Demo App availble)
• Windows Application (Demo Application on request)
• Proprietary applications and systems

The Smart Laser is completely an open system thanks to the standard communcation protocols it uses, free to be integraded in any application and in any software enviroment.

Thanks to this feature will be possible to develop a custom software with all the required properties. Anyway with the Smart Laser will be delivered completely working application for the following systems:

• Windows .NET Standard Application
• Android App
• Windows SCADA Application developed with Schneider Electric Citect 

Here are some of the screenshots from the Android application:

 Following the screenshots from the scada application:

SMART LASER HARDWARE / SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION AND PROGRAMMING.

I/O Management

5 Configurable Inputs, 2 relay Outputs and PWM Out allow you to program specific on/off functions or other logics like:

• A photocell can be connected to an input to command the switching off if the laser beam hits a person or is crossed by a car;
• A fog sensor can be connected to an input to automatically activate the laser
• It is possible to control the switching on of a load under specific conditions via one of the two relays;
• PWM: the laser intensity / power can be adjusted via the PWM output
• The laser can be physically powered via relay 1;
• Some System functions can be driven connecting switches to the inputs 
• The Smart Laser Functions could be controlled using an external device like a PLC connected via digital inputs or using Modbus TCP Protocol

Sensors

Thanks to the on-board sensors the system is able to know:

• Laser Orientation so it can be turned off if it moves from the original position;
• System temperature (turn it off if the temperature is outside a programmable range);
• Laser supply current (on relay 1) so it’s possible to switch the laser if the current exceeds a threshold;

Comunication Protocols

Communication protocols are configurable and allow for:

• Set the start-up and communication parameters via XML file;
• Send firmware update files, animation files (ILDA), commands and configuration files;

HARDWARE COMPONENTS

SoM – System On Module

• CPU Name: nVidia Tegra / NXP® i.MX6 i.MX7;
• CPU Type: Arm Cortex A9 / A7;
• CPU Clock: up to 1.4GHz;
• Ram: 512MB / 256MB DDR2 (32 Bit).
• Connectivity: USB, Ethernet, I2C, SPI, UART, IrDA, PWM, GPIO, Analog Input, SDIO, CAN
• Operative System: Windows Embedded Compact 2013

Control Interface

• 2 Programmable Relay Outputs;
• 5 Programmable Inputs;
• 1 PWM Output;
• 2 Dual Analogic Outputs;
• 1 LCD Display Output;
• 1 12V Output, 1 5V Output;
• 1 Current Sensor
• 1 Accelerometer / Magnetometer / Temperature Sensor

Laser Module

• Dot Laser Diode Module: Power 100mW – 1000mW;
• Dot Color: Red (635nm – 638nm) – Green (532nm);
• Focusable: Yes
• Power/Brightness Setting: TTL ModulationWorking
• Temperature : -10 ℃ ~ +40 ℃
• Voltage: 12V

Laser Scanner

• Scan Frequency: 20Kpps / 30Kpps;
• Voltage : 15V
• Working Temperature : 0 ℃ ~ +50 ℃
• Scan Angle: ± 20 °;
• Max Scan Angle: ± 30 °;

The housing pictures could not reflect the final product due a possible product variation for availability reasons. The quality and the features will be the same in any case.

Railway Infrastructure Applications

 Rail crossings with or without barriers, creating highly luminous beams transversal to the direction of crossing, visible even in conditions of poor lighting or fog. 

 Railway tunnels, creating light lines to indicate emergency routes and escape routes 

 Mobile electrical substations, indicating areas with danger of electrocution or if there are specific alarm conditions, by writing text messages. 

 Delimitation of dangerous areas by laser profile lighting. 

Railway Infrastructure Applications

 Electrical substations, indicating areas with danger of electrocution or if there are specific alarm conditions, defining the safety limits. 

Road Infrastructure Applications

 Pedestrian crossings, creating light signaling lines on the ground or dissuasive writings / invitations to transit. 

 Writing dynamic texts to notify users of the pedestrian crossing lockout status. 

 Near Traffic Lights and Stop or Precedence signals, projecting a transversal light beam to the road or a luminous writing. 

 Bright delimitation of a roundabout road 

Bright delimitation of a dangerouse curve 

 A narrowing of the carriageway due to work in progress or an accident, can be reported immediately via a Smart Laser placed where necessary in the location concerned. 

 Illumination of an irregular profile of a road deviation. 

 Inside a tunnel, light lines can be created to indicate the profile of the road. 

 Inside a tunnel, light lines can be created to indicate the profile of the road. 

 In conditions of poor visibility due to fog, haze or poor lighting, the laser beams can draw the profile of the road to indicate the correct trajectory to go. 

 In conditions of poor visibility due to fog, haze or poor lighting, the laser beams can draw the profile of the road to indicate the correct trajectory to go. 

 Along roads and highways at strategic points to project dynamic alerts (slow down, queue, accidents ….) 

Game & Commercial Applications

 Entertainment: creation of images and animated texts for recreational and promotional purposes.
 

Public Speaking: thanks to the dictaphone function, it projects the text of what is pronounced through a special microphone. 

 Advertising Messages : creation of images and animated texts for the advertising of events or products.