Hardware Platforms

Contents

Hardware platforms targeting sensor networks listed in alphabetical order.

BSN

BSN node is designed and built at the Imperial College in London.

  • TI MSP430 16-bit ultra low power processor
  • 64KB memory
  • Chipcon CC2420 RF module, IEEE 802.15.4
  • 250kbps
  • Range 50m
  • 512KB flash memory
  • TinyOS compatibility

More details:

BTNodes

BTNode is based on the mica2 design, providing Bluetooth networking, additionally to the mica2 radio networking. BTnode is built at ETH Zurich, by the Computer Engineering and Networks Laboratory (TIK) and the Research Group for Distributed Systems.

  • Atmel ATmega 128L at 8 MHz
  • 64+180 Kbyte RAM
  • 128 KB flash ROM
  • Bluetooth radio
  • 433, 868/916, or 310 MHz Multi-Channel Radio Transceiver (same as mica2)
  • Nut/OS operating system
  • TinyOS compatibility

More details:

BTnode rev3

DSYS25 Sensor Platform

The DSYS25 platform is a 25mm x 25mm module comprised of an Atmel AVR ATMEGA 128 microcontroller and a Nordic nRF2401 Transceiver. Additional functionality, such as sensing, is added by stacking layers on the basic unit. A summary of the basic unit characteristics is highlighted next:

  • Processor
    • ATMEGA 128 4MHz
    • 2 serial ports
  • Radio
    • Nordic nRF2401
    • GFSK Transceiver
    • Frequency 2400-2524MHz
    • Data rates from 0 to 1Mbps
    • Data rates from 0 to 1Mbps
    • Address and CRC computation
    • ShockBurstTM for ultra-low power and relaxed MCU performance

More information regarding the DSYS25 sensor platform can be found on:

Flecks

A picture of a DSYS25 mote

Flecks node is designed and built in CSIRO ICT Centre in Australia.

  • Atmega128L 8-bit processor at 8 MHz
  • Nordic nRF903 transceiver
  • radio range of at least 500 m
  • some integrated sensors, supports extra sensor board
  • TinyOS compatibility

More details:

Mica Series

Crossbow Inc. was the first to offer commercially available nodes for wireless sensor networks. Crossbow's devices are referred to as motes, and are processor/radio boards, i.e. no sensors on the mica board. Sensors (such as temp, light, humidity sensors, accelerometer, GPS) can be attached through the use of extra sensor boards.

Mica2 motes

The mica2 mote was made available from Crossbow in 2003. Mica2's main characteristics are:

  • ATmega128L 8-bit processor at 8 MHz
  • 128KB program memory (flash)
  • 512KB additional data flash memory
  • 433, 868/916, or 310 MHz Multi-Channel Radio Transceiver
  • 38.4 Kpbs radio
  • 500-1000 feet outdoor range (depending on version)
  • TinyOS supported
  • Size: 58 x 32 x 7 (mm)
  • Powered by 2 AA batteries
    MICA2 Series (MPR4x0)

More details:

Mica2dot motes

Mica2dot is in many ways a more compact version of the mica2 mote. Its main characteristics are:

  • Size: 25 (diameter) x 6 (height) (mm)
  • ATmega128L 8-bit processor at 8 MHz
  • 128KB program memory (flash)
  • 512KB additional data flash memory
  • Same radio with mica2 motes
  • TinyOS supported
  • Powered by a 3V coin cell
    MICA2DOT Series (MPR5x0)

More details:

MicaZ motes

MicaZ motes are a newer version of mica2 motes that use a IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee compliant radio transceiver.

  • Same processor and memory characteristics as mica2
  • IEEE 802.15.4 radio tranceiver
  • 250 kbps radio data rate
  • Outdoor range: 75-100 m
  • Indoor range: 20-30 m

More details:

Scatterweb ESB

ScatterWeb? ESB is designed and built by the CST group at FU Berlin.

  • Texas Instruments MSP430F149
  • 60 kbyte flash memory and 2 kbyte RAM
  • temperature, luminosity, vibration sensors
  • microphone for noise detection
  • PIR movement detector
  • beeper
  • IR sender and receiver
  • precise timing using real-time clock
  • reset button and free programmable second button
  • communication using license-free 868 MHz band
  • 19.2 kpbs data rate
  • 300 m outdoor range, 100 m indoors
  • interface for JTAG flash adapter and serial cable
  • powered by 3 AA batteries
  • Scatterweb software
  • TinyOS compatibility
    ESB node

More details:

Telos Motes

The Telos Mote is an open-source platform designed after the mica2 platform, in the University of California, Berkeley. Its distinguishing features are:

  • USB interconnection and programming
  • IEEE 802.15.4 radio with integrated antenna
  • low power MCU (8MHz Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller, 10k RAM, 48k Flash)
  • optional sensor suite (humidity, temperature, light), i.e. no extra sensor board like the mica motes
  • 1 MB flash memory

Telos motes are manufactured by moteiv as the Tmote Sky and by Crossbow as the TelosB mote:

TelosB Mote Research Platform (TPR2400CA)

TinyNode?

TinyNode? is designed at EPFL in Switzerland and manufactured by Shockfish.

  • MSP430 16-bit microcontroller (same as Telos motes)
  • 10 KB RAM, 48KB program memory (flash)
  • 512KB flash memory
  • XE1205 radio tranceiver using the 868MHz frequency band
  • Variable data rate: from 1.2 Kbps up to 153 Kbps
  • Very large transmission range, up to 1800 m outdoors (depending on the transmission rate)
  • TinyOS support

More details about TinyNode? can be found on:

XYZ nodes

The XYZ node was designed and built at Yale University's ENALAB.

  • OKI ML67Q500x ARM THUMB Microprocessor
  • CPU speed from 57.6 MHz dividable down to 1.8 MHz
  • 32KB RAM
  • 256KB flash, 4KB boot rom
  • Chipcon CC2420 IEEE 802.15.4 compliant radio (same as micaZ)
  • Powered by 3 AA batteries
  • Supported by the SOS Operating System

More details:

Categories: Hardware

Attachments