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We could really use an update on the 300+ Gotenna donated to Puerto Rico. I politely asked for an update on their forum at imeshyou.com and they not only deleted my post, but my whole account. We raised $20,000 in donations in the expectation that this gotenna network was going to be built up for first responders, ngos, and communities to use. It makes it very difficult for first responders to use and supplement if they aren’t going to publish the locations of the powered relay nodes (even approximate locations would have been helpful months ago – as cell service in areas like Utuado, Lares, Morovis are only now starting to come back). We’ve offered to help for the past four months and been spurned at every occasion. We only see 6 or so of the 300+ emergency gotenna relay nodes on the map (and they are all focused around San Juan). This product works, but GoTenna act like little faschists. I would expect more from a company that has taken millions in taxpayer funds. Yet they refuse to open-source, refuse to interoperate or cooperate with other mesh hardware/software products, refuse to provide transparency or openness on community funded nodes, refuse to commit to the defend the spirit of free speech (even on a taxpayer funded network). Love and respect… but becoming bittersweet.

Intern/Externship Syllabus Spring 2018:

Franklin R. Bryan, J.D., B.S. CSEE – my work has focused on mesh networks, neural networks, AI, advanced wireless data and power systems, and other cutting-edge technologies for clients such as the Army Research Labs, NSA, DARPA, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Intellectual Discovery, Nasa, Cadence Design Systems, Elan, BenQ, Lite-On, Corel, and others.

Problem: Communications towers, power infrastructure, diesel delivery, mountain roads and other logistics problems create a perfect storm where traditional hierarchical (single-point of failure) communication methods, particularly in mountainous regions like Lares, Utuado and others, will continuously suffer from a lack of communication, lack of reliable emergency information, and an inability to coordinate with first responders and survivors. High winds, rain, mudslides, and other phenomena will continue to challenge terrestrial and satellite communications infrastructure – and even after the disaster, supplying a steady supply of diesel and power is problematic to maintain communications.

Solution: Provide organic, dynamically assembled, ground-up node-to-node p2p low-power distributed and decentralized resilient communications.  Many smartphones are dust, water, and shock proof, battery operable and are rechargeable by small solar panels, cars, or other means.  In emergency situations, the survivors generally keep these devices with them.  We successfully ran a campaign to supply Puerto Rico with over 500 GoTenna long-range mesh devices by raising approximately $20,000. (These are being installed now and provided to churches and community leaders as part of the PReconnects project) – however, these only work with one client device at a time (1:1).

Our solution is to leverage that existing mesh hardware infrastructure by developing a software ONLY approach to employ the integral bluetooth and WiFi radios in survivors’ phones using mesh software to enable mesh communications amongst members of the community with a student-developed open-source gateway application that enables sharing of the gotenna devices (or other long-range mesh hardware) with many users (1:M or M:N) employing the software mesh.  In this manner, we will be able to provide seamless communications in bidirectional manner to share disaster information to the people, allow the delivery of messages requesting help to first responders, and empower community members to work together and communicate with each other – even when traditional communication channels are down.

Tasks Breakdown:

• Develop an open source meta-app in object-oriented fashion (rather than redesigning the wheel) connecting short-range intra-community software mesh with long-range inter-community hardware mesh (in vendor agnostic and extensible manner) to provide for bi-directional disaster communications even when power is limited and towers are down. To target the highest number of devices in areas such as Utuado, Lares, and other areas with limited communications and power infrastructure, we will employ Android SDK and Java SDK to accept modular plugin applets using e.g. Gotenna SDK and BridgeFy SDK (which have agreed to a free license for our pro bono publico use). To ensure public access, transparency, openness, and accountability, we will employ a public Github repository so that anyone may access, fork, critique, suggest improvements, or copy the source-code that our students generate.

 

• Candidate software mesh IoT apps such as e.g. Built on Gotenna SDK and BridgeFy SDK, OpenGarden SDK, Serval Mesh (Open Source), Batphone universal (Open Source), Spot, Garmin inreach satphone explorer, plug-in interoperability for nonprofit, ngo, emergency mesh repeater software / app development.

 

• Explore and report on interconnectivity potential between smart devices and CB, FRS, GMRS, Tetra, DMR, Ham radio repeaters.

 

• Explore compatibility of and promote deployment of FM radio applications on smart phones for disaster preparedness and critical disaster information sharing.

 

• Promote installation and registration of software IoT mesh applications such as BridgeFy or OpenGardens Firechat BEFORE hurricane season 2018.

 

• Liaise with community, church, municipality leaders to teach and help introduce our free application to bridge heterogeneous mesh networks and provide FM reception on resilient devices through the next storm.

 

Sometimes all we need is a moderately good person at the right place, at the right time with a few bucks and the inclination to help.  Stand up and help.

• Explore and report on feasibility of interoperability of heterogeneous hardware mesh like Gotenna, Serval mesh extender, and Sonnet Labs mesh.
• Explore and encourage interconnectivity between smart devices and CB, FRS, GMRS, Ham radio repeaters.
• Explore and report on feasibility of e.g. Built on Gotenna(R) SDK and BridgeFy(R) SDK /OpenGarden SDK, Serval Mesh, Batphone universal, Spot, Garmin inreach satphone explorer, plug-in interoperability for nonprofit, ngo, emergency mesh repeater software / app development.
• Explore and report on feasibility of 3G/4G advertising/Mesh w/ Qualcomm.
• Explore and report on feasibility of Gotenna bluetooth 1:M M:M IoT bluetooth low energy mesh (BLEmesh) to extend use-cases.
• Explore lobbying/ comment/ review/ amicus brief/ whitehat trolling/griefing potential for nonprofit standards-based open communication and infrastructure resiliency (e.g. mesh, FM radio, batteries…)
• Explore and promote e.g. solar, wind, geothermal… low-yield options for emergency / disaster power options.
• Foster student innovation / scholarships / grants / hackathon collaborative / competitions.
• Manage, direct, and mentor collegiate-level computer science student intern/externships regarding mesh, ad-hoc communications.
• Liaise with community, church, municipal, state, and local to teach / help introduce alternative communication technologies.

Welcome to FullyEnabled (or half-baked?) a blog (and cathartic outlet) for pro bono publico service, where laws, tech products, politicians, and organizations are reviewed, praised, and constructive criticism is shared. *All opinions are my own and sophomoric and/or satiric at best, no one should rely on these opinions*

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