Sensor Network Lab Exercises Using TinyOS and MicaZ Motes

Short Description
derived from the TinyOS tutorial, and MicaZ motes were. used. The first exercise is about … original TinyOS tutorial [2]. We describe our experiences, …

Website: www.lclark.edu | Filesize: 116kb

Content
Sensor Network Lab Exercises
Using TinyOS and MicaZ Motes
Jens Mache, Chris Allick, John Charnas, Alex Hickman, Damon Tyman
Mathematical and Computer Science
Lewis & Clark College
Portland OR, USA
jmache@lclark.edu
Abstract - MIT Technology Review lists sensor networks
as one of “Ten Emerging Technologies That Will Change
the World” [1]. This paper describes three lab exercises
that are suitable for activity-driven teaching of sensor
networks to undergraduate students. The exercises are
derived from the TinyOS tutorial, and MicaZ motes were
used. The first exercise is about uploading a simple blink
program to one mote. In the second exercise, several motes
use radio communication. The third exercise uses a sensor
board to take measurements, and the data is sent back and
displayed on a traditional computer. We describe our
experiences, lessons and code alterations.
Keywords: Pervasive computing, sensor networks,
education, TinyOS, MicaZ motes.
1 Introduction
In the future, agricultural fields and nursing homes may
be fitted with sensor network devices letting farmers know
when to water fields, and nurses when to check on
something unusual [3]. With such a large potential for
applications, it is surprising that only a few colleges and
universities have…