Design of a Communication Protocol for a Hoverboard Mobile APP: Mobility For Smart City

As the demand for alternative mobility solutions increases in urban areas, hoverboards have captured the attention of smart city applications. The generic hoverboard can be transformed into a smart and intelligent board by incorporating a communication protocol between the board and a mobile user. This paper proposes developing a communication protocol to connect the hoverboard with the user’s mobile app. The Controller Area Network (CAN) protocol sends and receives data from the slave controller and Battery Management System (BMS). The Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) protocol receives input from the gyroscope, while the Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) sends information to the speaker. The microcontroller uses Bluetooth to interface with the mobile app. With this communication interface, the user can track the State of Charge (SOC), State of Health (SOH) of the battery, voltage level, current consumption, trip details, temperature details, etc. The hoverboard’s speed and remaining range can be estimated and monitored. Different drive modes—ECO, Drive, and Sport—can be selected. By establishing communication between the board and the mobile app, the board can be monitored for any faults, and virtual assistance can be provided to the customer to take appropriate action. This intelligent, lightweight hoverboard offers safe and eco-friendly last-mile mobility.