Developing a Simple Sensor Application using Crossbow Devices and Xserve

a) Learning objectives:

To develop a simple sensing application (MyApp_Sensor) that samples the temperature on a sensor board and sends the message packet over a RS- 232 serial connection or a USB connection to the monitoring terminal using a Programming board/Gateway interface.

Students will learn:

o How to create a simple Mote firmware application that reads the temperature sensor data from the sensor board.

o How to program the Mote with a Programming board using the Programmer’s Notepad.

o How to use the X-serve application to display the sensor data at the Monitoring Terminal

b) Tools Utilized:

• MICA2 Mote: Standard edition of MICA2

• One Sensor or Data acquisition board: MTS 310

• One Gateway/Programming board: MIB510/MIB 520

• A Windows PC with MoteWorks platform installed

NOTE: The configuration of the devices and their relationships with the programmer’s station is depicted in Figure 1. Illustrated in Figure 2 are the procedure and the configuration of various components used in developing a sensor application.

Figure 1. Hardware Configuration of the Simple Sensing Application

Figure 2. Configuration and Procedure for Developing a Sensor Application

c) Observation:

• By successful execution of the simple sensing application the Monitoring Terminal receives the sensor data.

• To display the sensor reading we use the Xserve application in the Cygwin command prompt window.

• In default, Xserve displays the updated sensor data every second.

Figure 3. Snapshot of Programmer’s Notepad and MoteConfig Interface

Figure 4. Snapshot of output from a Cygwin based Xserve interface

d) Application classification: The application can be classified as a study experiment because it involves some programming of Motes.

e) How it may be implemented in the lab:

By using the required Crossbow Devices and a PC that has the Crossbow MoteWorks development platform installed on it.

Also follow the detailed instructions that are provided in the MoteWorks Getting Started Guide available at http://www.xbow.com/Support/wUserManuals.aspx

f) Level of difficulty: The level of difficulty of the project is easy.