Like so much else of Sun's product line, the company is open sourcing the hardware and operating system for its Sun Small Programmable Object Technology (Sun SPOT). In an interview with Arshan Poursohi, staff researcher at the Sun SPOT lab, Mary Grush of Campus Technology explores some of the implications of this further opening of Sun technology. Sun SPOT is a sensor networking product based on Java technology. Grush was particularly interested in how higher education institutions can incorporate Sun SPOTs in research and instruction.

Sun produces a kit for Sun SPOTs that enables Java developers to tailor make applications for the technology. Among those already in use are monitoring atmospheres within buildings; monitoring the conditions on the slopes of volcanoes; including them in robotics technology. As Grush puts it, "if you can dream it up, you can probably attack it with a Sun SPOT."

According to Poursohi, Sun has announced the open sourcing of its entire Sun SPOT stack, including the Sun SPOT libraries, as well as the Squawk JVM, and the hardware. That would leave everything in the way of innovation in the hands of the developer. University professors and students interested in basing either curriculum or research around this device now have access to everything they might need, he said.

Developers will be in the position of being able to modify the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) if they so chose, or to modify hardware as the requirements of an application might dictate.

Grush also asked about the Sun SPOT initiative with respect to higher education. Poursohi explained that Sun is concentrating on the university developer community for its involvement with wireless sensor network research and robotics. Some 30 higher education institutions are working with Sun SPOT technology, he said. Still, Sun is reaching out in the K-12 theater and in the professional community as well.

One outstanding example that Poursohi cited is the work being done by Warren Wilson College, which is developing a typical wireless sensor network deployment measuring values of water quality, soil and other features of the Cocobolo Nature Reserve in the Panamanian jungle.

"They're recording values back at their campus, so while the sensors are deployed in Panama, they are monitoring them and deploying code to them from the college in North Carolina. Another interesting school is right next door to Warren Wilson: UNC is doing a lot of autonomous robotics research and work with sensor networks as well," he reported.

Sun has created a program for accepting proposals for Sun SPOT technology, details of which are available at sunspotworld.com. Individuals at accredited universities worldwide can submit proposals. If these are accepted, Sun will provide developer kits. Alternatively, institutions can purchase the kits for $300 each or classroom packs of 15 for $3,500.

Poursohi sees a virtually unlimited market for Sun SPOT technology, given the still unimagined uses for embedded computers. Fleet tracking of freight trucks was just one application he cited. Embedded computers that will automatically adjust your car seat or the temperature and humidity in a room to your comfort are a couple of others. [...read more...]

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