USGS
Status: ActiveTimeline of Notable Projects
Fibersonics
Status: Active
The original Robot and System product was built around an NT workstation with a proprietary communications protocol running serial commands to:
- CRS robot
- Barcode reader
- Medical grade Scale
- Crucible carousel
Feedback given to USGS was that the cost and concerns required the purchase of a new robot and new command set. HST borrowed a sister-robot and over a summer determined the required communication protocol and the required command sets for full operation. HST was able to create an accurate quote with a zero risk of issues for completion. Project was on-budget and under-schedule.
Developed a client system to act as perimeter security around a facility. With a buried fiber optic cable, hardware, and developed software, the system can indicate if movement is occuring above the cable. The system can then notify security.
St. Jude
Medical manufacturing software support. HST supports legacy code and software upgrade pathways for pacemaker lead manufacturing.
Everything to do with automation control to:
- Spool and manufacture medical wires
- Resin coat implantable
- Automated QA of quantitative analysis
- Intertwining cables
- Cooling baths
CAPSA Healthcare
Supported legacy code and new developments on secure medical carts. The medical carts allow medication stations to be mobile, in a secure and safe way.
EOFlow
Creation of a mobile controlled insulin pump, along with Requirements and Architecture documentation.
Developed an embedded insulin pump with redundancy, error correction, and fail-safe operation. Developed a secure mobile Controller solution for insulin pump command and control. Created an FDA-guideline solution for client release.
Wilkinson Bakery
The system is used to produce up to 10 simultaneous loaves of bread in a commercial environment. HST designed all the software controls for mechanical function including:
- Rollers
- Mixers
- Water valves
- Conveyors
- Ovens
- Proofer
HST also created Control User Interface (UI) and The Web Portal
- Allows secure online scheduling
- Dissemination of activity
- Reporting
EVRAZ
EVRAZ is a billion dollar steel mill, creating piping, sheets and rolls for industrial clients. They wish to overcome issues of returned steel plate and rolls, and brought HST in to help solve the problem. HST integrated a solution that includes:
- Traffic control and wheel positioning (thru sensors and a traffic light)
- Barcode capture
- Truck scale weighing
- Image capture
- Indexed database storage and retrieval
If a customer calls with a concern about a shipment, the operator needs only seconds to capture the load at the last point of contact at the EVRAZ facility.
Agility Fuel Systems
Agility Fuel Systems converts vehicles from Diesel to natural gas. They asked HST to create a mobile system that interfaces with embedded devices and acts as a pseudo gas gauge for these vehicles. The system shows the operator how the fuel system is performing and of course how many miles until a refill is required. The application dashboard shows things like:
- Pressure vessel information
- GPS mapping functionality
- Temperature readings from the storage tanks
- Mpg equivalents
- Vehicle range
- SAE J1939 data off the CAN Bus (via Bluetooth)
- Behicle alerts and warnings
- Mileage or calendar based Preventive Maintenance
JEVO
Load alcohol and a Keurig-type pod (with gelatin and flavoring) into a JEVO machine and 8 minutes later you have 20 fully chilled and ready to eat Jello-shots. HST designed the hardware board, firmware control and communications interfaces including control of:
- Solid state chillers
- Pumps
- Valves
- Heaters
- Chillers
- Fans
HST also created the system User Interface (UI) and the IoT-enabled Web Portal
- Allows real-time operation viewing and control
- Dissemination of activity
- Reporting
FEI
FEI (now purchased by Thermo Fisher Scientific) is an electron microscope company that specializes in imaging for the silicon industry. Flaws at the silicon deposition level can be analyzed visually, quantitatively evaluating via a process referred to as metrology.
HST brought a team of development support to all aspects of the electron microscope including movement and imaging control. The support was a $5M project over 7 years.
Clearwire Corporation
The business reason to create this software was the plethora of returns based on qualitative assessments:
- The hub is just too slow
- Something changed
- The system just doesn’t work
The process takes the technician through location issues (phone service is not guaranteed in this location), firmware issues (testing on the present and most recent software), validation of performance (Ookla based metrics) and side by side testing (validation with performance of an identical system).
Generated reports, if failed, accompanied the RMA to expedite returns and repair.
Insitu
The aircraft is catapult launched, tether landed, and can achieve almost a day’s flight time with a 28-mile control radius.
The client required our services due to our ability to support their communications systems and the on-aircraft payload systems. Internal resources at Insitu were stretched thin and the company was not adept at Agile processes to get a project out the door quickly and efficiently. HST stepped in and became a tiger team to develop special projects. We were the entire package with business management skills, project management skills, Agile and RUP processes, and programming expertise.
Authentitrace
The system is a farm to market tracking system that starts from the field and moves on to tracking through the transport, processing and delivery of produce. Implementation was intended on being mobile while also allowing off-line support in rural locales.
Gunderson
The client had an automated welding system intended for welding circles, … and now the design called for welding ovals. The original device was not intended on being modifiable.
HST came in and created a system based around Allen Bradley PLCs, and laser measurement of vertical and horizontal distances.
The system created was able to weld precisely and accurately, and recovered well from fail-overs of power outages, allowing clean restart and welding overlap.
Intel Smart Tool
HST originally acted as QA support for the SmartTool project. After a period, HST took on the role of full development, helping to overcome imaging and performance issues that were inherent in the system.
Subsequently HST took on the sustaining role as content provider, … taking on the tasks of:
- Server photography
- Use case and storyline development
- Active image and user experience support
- 3-D modeling
