Standardized Hardware Independent Framework for Active Sensing

Networks of short-range wireless sensors can yield cost-effective solutions in diverse military and commercial settings, especially where occlusions render long-range sensors operationally ineffective. The current state-of-the-art in application design, however, falls short of realizing cost-effectiveness. We propose to address this problem via an open framework of sensing, high efficiency communication, and coordination services. Specifically, we advocate the development of this framework on top of the .NET Micro Framework. Our framework will focus on prototypical patterns from the domain of wireless sensor network applications for detection, classification, tracking, and localization. Software developers may thus rapidly build applications in this domain in a manner that is familiar and that adequately hides hardware platform considerations. We also propose to develop an integrated testing environment for efficient debugging, testing, and validation of new applications, sensors, and nodes. Phase I will also include analysis of the various options for obtaining MF platforms, include the option of supporting an open-source initiative. This framework will facilitate sales of our existing active sensor products as well as create new markets for software applications that we are in the process of creating, with additional external investment.