Adding new data in Asset Tracker V2 app and generate new graph on nRF Connect Cloud

[Luca Z]

Hello,

I recently got my hands on a Nordic Thingy:91. I got it registered to nRF Connect Cloud, SIM activated (iBasis sent me a new one since original didn't work. See https://devzone.nordicsemi.com/f/nordic-q-a/79384/nordic-thingy-91---can-t-connect-to-nrf-cloud), flashed the following :

- nRF9160 modem with version 1.3.0 (latest available on NordicSemi.com)

- nRF9160 app with asset tracker V2 (thingy91_asset_tracker_v2_ltem_2021-06-28_7a076c22.hex)

- nRF5280 with connectivity brdige (thingy91_nrf52_connectivity_bridge_2021-06-28_7a076c22.hex)

Thingy91 boots, after several minutes I can see Temperature and Humidity data on nRF Connect Cloud web interface. No GPS, no air pressure, no air quality, no color data.

 

After some research on NordicSemi devzone I realized GPS depends on PSM mode of the modem. Unfortunately in France no operator supports PSM so I can forget GPS features... (Maybe we can make it work independently from PSM with some hw/fw rework ?).

After some digging in the code I noticed in the Asset Tracker V2 app only Temperature & Humidity data are sampled and published to the cloud. I see both BME680 and BH1749 drivers can be found in nRF Connect SDK. I will make the changes in the Asset Tracker V2 app to add air pressure, quality and color data.

My question is :
1. Is it possible to add a graph on nRF Connect Cloud for a new dataset (e.g air pressure, aire quality, color) ? If yes how to proceed ? Is the graph generated automatically from the JSON messages when received on the Cloud ?

I also have questions regarding Asset Tracker v2 app :

2. Why aren't air pressure, quality, color data used in Asset Tracker V2 app ?

3. Why is the High G accelerometer (ADXL372) not used ?

Thanks in advance.

Luca Zambalas

[Karl Ylvisaker]

Hello Luca Zambalas,

Thank you for your patience with this.

After some research on NordicSemi devzone I realized GPS depends on PSM mode of the modem. Unfortunately in France no operator supports PSM so I can forget GPS features... (Maybe we can make it work independently from PSM with some hw/fw rework ?).

This does unfortunately indeed depend on the sim card you have, and the network operators in the region, and short of buying a different sim / plan there is not all that much that could be done about it. I've seen other forum-goers express frustration with this in the past as well.

1. Is it possible to add a graph on nRF Connect Cloud for a new dataset (e.g air pressure, aire quality, color)

The nRF Cloud does have cards for displaying GPS, TEMP, HUMID, AIR_PRESS, FLIP, and RSRP. So for example if you would like to add the air pressure, you would need to add .air_pressure = true to the service info ui struct here.
If you want to start sending air pressure to nRF Cloud, the JSON protocol format is described in this Github repository; https://github.com/nRFCloud/application-protocols/tree/v1/schemas/deviceToCloud

If yes how to proceed ? Is the graph generated automatically from the JSON messages when received on the Cloud ?

Unfortunately, you can not add graphs for data that is not GPS, TEMP, AIR_PRESS, FLIP and RSRP currently. Incoming JSON messages are parsed and displayed on their respective graph. Unsupported AppIds can still be sent but will only show data in the terminal.

2. Why aren't air pressure, quality, color data used in Asset Tracker V2 app ?

3. Why is the High G accelerometer (ADXL372) not used ?

I talked to the developers about this, and they told me that since the Asset Tracker v2 is primarily made to demonstrate the asset tracker use-case and functionality, it does not include use of the accelerometer, air pressure, quality and color data. 

Best regards,
Karl