CASE STUDY: Actisense

About Actisense - Active Research Limited

Headquartered in Poole, Dorset on the south coast of England, Actisense has established a world-wide reputation within the specialist field of marine electronics.

Actisense manufactures marine electronic equipment, such as intelligent sensors, interfaces and technology that are unrivaled for their quality, features and reliability.
Actisense makes navigation safer and more efficient with the most reliable boat and tractor electronic systems.

Product Background

Mongoose Web Server Library is integrated into the “Crosspoint” family of products, where it enables Web UI interface and API implementation for the products like:

• W2K-1 NMEA 2000 to Wi-Fi Gateway
• PRO-BUF-2 Professional NMEA 0183 Intelligent Buffer
• PRO-MUX-2 Professional NMEA 0183 Intelligent Multiplexer
• PRO-NDC-1E Intelligent NMEA 0183 Multiplexer

We ran a short Q&A session with Robin Richards, Software Project Manager, Actisense - Active Research Limited to get his feedback on working with Mongoose Web Server Library. Here are the main takeaways from it:

The challenge

Q: What challenges did you encounter that required Mongoose Web Server Library? How does Mongoose Library help you get your job done?

A: We needed a well documented, lightweight web server library that could run with both FreeRTOS and Keil RTX. Our previous web server library required us to use a CGI script interface that would not run in an Espressif environment, we wanted to remove both of these limitations.

The decision

Q: Can you share a little about why you chose Mongoose Web Server Library and the process that led there?

A: One of our team had some previous experience with Mongoose in another role and recommended it as they believed it would improve the performance of the web servers in the product we were developing.

Implementation process

Q: What was it like integrating with Mongoose Web Server Library?

A: Integration was reasonably straight forward, there are plenty of examples available online in conjunction with good documentation. To save time and disruption we initially integrated in stages, serving web files and running our configuration API via Mongoose and leaving our data server sockets running through our previous system. Later we ported all of our web resources to run through Mongoose for best performance.

The results

Q: What changed for you after you integrated the Mongoose Web Server Library?

A: All of our products are now able to use the same web server which has vastly reduced maintenance overhead for our team and enabled us to keep a familiar look and feel to our customer facing UI.

Working with Mongoose Web Server Library

Q: What would you like others to know about working with Mongoose Library?

A: Mongoose is easy to use, well supported and secure. New features are being added very regularly with updates throughout each year.

Company

Actisense - Active Research Limited

Launched in

Globally

Product

• W2K-1 NMEA 2000 to Wi-Fi Gateway
• PRO-BUF-2 Professional NMEA 0183 Intelligent Buffer
• PRO-MUX-2 Professional NMEA 0183 Intelligent Multiplexer
• PRO-NDC-1E Intelligent NMEA 0183 Multiplexer

Quote:

"Mongoose Library is easy to use, well supported and secure. New features are being added very regularly with updates throughout each year. Mongoose integration was reasonably straight forward, there are plenty of examples available online in conjunction with good documentation.
All of our products are now able to use the same web server which has vastly reduced maintenance overhead for our team and enabled us to keep a familiar look and feel to our customer facing UI."

Robin Richards, Software Project Manager, Actisense - Active Research Limited