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Open-Source Platform for Development of Taximeters: Adjustment Software

Abstract:

In Ecuador, in order to change the configuration parameters of a taximeter, the vehicle owner must go to a metrological unit authorized by the national transit agency; there they proceed to completely disconnect the taximeter from the vehicle and connect it through a data cable (USB or RS232) to the instrument that performs the configuration, causing inconvenience to the owner and aesthetic damage to the means of transport. To facilitate the configuration process, a graphical interface was developed in Python that communicates wirelessly with an Arduino MEGA2560 board through the ESP8266 module. The Arduino board is in charge of processing all the measurable and non-measurable variables that allow the taximeter to operate. The interface allows to visualize and modify the data in a comfortable, fast and intuitive way without having to disassemble the taximeter from the vehicle. The platform was designed based on the INEN standard and the taximeter developed has an electronic paper screen on which the user can see the changes being made in the interface. In this way, an alternative open-source method was obtained in both hardware and software that differs from the traditional ones to adjust the parameters of the taximeters.