Real-Time Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulation of IoT-Enabled Mini Water Treatment plant

In this study, a Hardware-In-The-Loop (HIL) framework was adopted to support the development of an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) for a mini water treatment plant in Lok Dangkaan, Sabah, Malaysia. The purpose was to conduct pre-deployment validation and reliability assessments, given that no physical prototype was available, and the deployment site is remotely located. The proposed system consisted of two sets of equipment, each representing a different location of the water storage tank at the target deployment site, with a Raspberry Pi serving as the core embedded controller. A graphical user interface (GUI) was employed to exhibit the current water level and the activation of pumps at each location. Information was relayed via the MQTT protocol, which was configured for the area. Results indicated a 100% prototype functionality and smooth connectivity between components were achieved. The GUI has also been responsive in accordance with the expected dynamics of water inflow and outflow. Future work may be directed towards integrating machine learning capabilities to analyze water usage trends and enhance facility maintenance, utilizing data recorded from the proposed HIL system.