Wireless sensor network

[f_petrini]

Version: 0.1
Status: Under development
License: MIT

The goal of this project is to develop a wireless sensor network using an XCore processor as controller in each sensor node.
A first prototype of a custom PCB is completed.
Main features of the hardware:

CPU: XS1-L1A-LQ64
Dual DC/DC step-down converter
SPI flash
XBee module (mesh network)
Micro SD card
Dual 1-wire channels (for measuring temperatures)
Dual pulse counters (for measuring energy consumption)
Lots of blinkenlights. ;)

The software is still being developed but the goals are:

Fully independent nodes.
Use local storage to cache measurement data.
Remotely configurable. (What sensors to measure, measure interval, etc.)
Over-the-air firmware update

All source code and schematics will be published under an open source license.
More information to come soon...
Images:

[shawn]

Wireless firmware updates, etc...
You make it look easy. Your board looks like its is a killer project.
I hope to glean a few idea's from your project.
I hope you decide to market it, I think we all here could think of
an application or two that this project could spawn.
I'll definitely be checking this one out.

[Bianco]

Very impressive!

[russf]

I *may* be interested in using the hardware design, and using/contributing to the software. But I would need to know a bit more about both.

Looks like a great project.

--r.

[dan]

this is very interesting. I'm wondering what your power consumption goals are for the whole board? I see that the XBee module is quite power hungry for a wireless sensor! Also I'm interested to see whether you'll be able to take advantage of XS1-L AEC (active energy conservation) mode...

Oh and congrats on the swarm light!

-Dan

[f_petrini]

I've been quite busy with other projects lately so the progress of the sensor network has been very slow. I'm currently implementing support for XBee (API mode) and wireless firmware updates. My goal is to have the basic functionality completed before the autumn/winter since that's when all the interesting data is generated.

I haven't written anything about the nodes in English yet but if anyone is interested in the hardware/schematics you'll find a bit of information here:
http://www.elektronikforumet.com/forum/ ... =3&t=41236
(It's in Swedish but you can at least find the schematics and some pictures of the construction of the first prototype)

Regarding the power consumption, I haven't thought about it. It's really not a priority, I'm mostly just interested in collecting data. When the basic functionality is finished and I if I have time I'll consider looking into the power save modes of the XCore. The XBees also have sleep modes but since I rely on the routing capabilities / mesh networking I'd have to experiment with them to see what can be done.

[jason]

Nice to see this progressing, looks like I will need to get the Google translator out on the page you referenced! :-)

[f_petrini]

I just had to try the Google translator on that post and I'm amazed how well the translator works.
Sure, a few words were not translated at all and some Swedish phrases are totally messed up but I guess most of the text can be understood correctly.

"Shit that is true, I have a card to." ("Skiter det sig så har jag ett kort till.")
The meaning of that sentence is more like:
"If something screws up I've got one more board" :)

[jason]

Indeed, it is not bad at all - not perfect as you said, but enough to get an idea about what is happening - I use it quite often to understand Japanese / Chinese articles about XMOS that keep popping up.