Gantt Chart
Schedule Overview
The Gantt chart below provides a visual overview of all project tasks across the Fall 2025 through Spring 2026 academic year.
Fig. 6 — Proposed schedule: Oct 2025 – Apr 2026
Timeline
Project Timeline
Tasks were delegated between group members and tracked against this schedule throughout the year to ensure engineering requirements were met on time.
Oct 1 – Nov 1, 2025
Research: Existing Solutions Complete
Investigated current remote power and connectivity approaches — grid power, PoE, batteries — to identify gaps R.E.A.C.H. was designed to fill.
Nov 1 – Dec 1, 2025
Research: Antennas, APIs & Components Complete
Evaluated LTE antenna options, cloud APIs, and candidate components using weighted design matrices. Selected ESP8266, Particle Boron 404x, and Dual MOSFET switches.
Nov 1 – Dec 1, 2025
Research: 2-Way Communication Complete
Researched and prototyped UART two-way communication between ESP8266 and Particle Boron 404x.
Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025
Hardware Diagrams Complete
Produced block diagrams for the main control hub, sensor and switches block, and local display architecture (Figs. 1–5).
Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2025
Understand Data Flow for 2-Way Communication Complete
Mapped full data flow between ESP8266, Particle Boron, cloud database, and Grafana dashboard.
Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Local Display Design Complete
Designed and implemented the Waveshare E-Ink local display for outlet status and power metrics. Display refreshes every 5 seconds on new data.
Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026
Control Hub Design Complete
Completed hardware design: INA260 sensors, ADS1115 multiplexer, DCT voltage sensors, Dual MOSFET switches, 12V–5V buck converter, and wiring.
Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026
Build Control Hub Box Complete
Physical assembly of the control hub inside the IP65 waterproof enclosure, including all component mounting and wiring.
Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Dashboard Setup Complete
Built the Grafana cloud dashboard with monitoring panels, manual outlet controls, scheduling, load prioritization, email alerts, and data visualization.
Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
Develop Algorithms Complete
Developed scheduling execution engine, load prioritization algorithm, and UART communication protocol between Boron and ESP8266.
Jan 1 – Feb 1, 2026
Test 2-Way Communication (FT-1) Complete
Verified full UART communication between ESP8266 and Particle Boron. LED control confirmed via ESP webpage and Boron commands.
Jan 1 – Mar 1, 2026
Spring 2026 Testing (FT-5 through FT-11) Complete
Completed all Spring 2026 tests: scheduling reliability, link reliability, load prioritization, email alerts, INA260 accuracy, voltage sensor accuracy, and instrumented power consumption.
Nov 1, 2025 – Apr 1, 2026
Presentation & Report Complete
Final presentation and written report for EE 493 Senior Design, documenting the complete R.E.A.C.H. project.
Deliverables
Milestones & Deliverables
| # | Deliverable | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research: Existing Solutions | Nov 1, 2025 | Complete |
| 2 | Hardware Block Diagrams (Figs. 1–5) | Nov 30, 2025 | Complete |
| 3 | Component Selection (Design Matrices) | Dec 1, 2025 | Complete |
| 4 | Local Display Design (E-Ink) | Jan 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 5 | Control Hub Design & Assembly | Feb 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 6 | Grafana Dashboard Setup | Feb 28, 2026 | Complete |
| 7 | FT-1: 2-Way Communication Test | Feb 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 8 | FT-2: WiFi Control Test | Feb 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 9 | FT-3: INA219 Sensor Test | Feb 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 10 | ST-1: Power Consumption Calculation | Feb 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 11 | FT-5: Schedule Reliability Test | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 12 | FT-6: Link Reliability Test | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 13 | FT-7: Load Priority Email Alert Test | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 14 | FT-8: INA260 Current Sensor Accuracy | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 15 | FT-9: Voltage Sensor Accuracy | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 16 | FT-10: Load Prioritization Test | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 17 | FT-11: Instrumented Power Consumption Test | Mar 1, 2026 | Complete |
| 18 | Final Presentation & Report | Apr 1, 2026 | Complete |