CrossNet creates wireless data connections to the Internet using the emerging Bluetooth wireless communications standard in an architecture that saves time and money, reduces test errors, and increases productivity in data acquisition, monitoring, security, compliance, actuation, data broadcast and logging, machine performance monitoring, and other applications.
By allowing sensors to transmit data via a CrossNet node to a computer or personal digital assistant (PDA), the CrossNet architecture eliminates the two most significant challenges of configuring a data acquisition system -- wiring and managing different sensor types. It effectively replaces any need for signal wiring by implementing small, low-cost radio links in a system of nodes with PCs or PDAs equipped with the Bluetooth specification.
Different sensors can self-identify in the CrossNet architecture by transmitting their IEEE 1451 defined Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) to a node, making data management much easier in applications with large arrays of sensors.
The architecture lets computers quickly gather data from sensors in industrial and medical equipment, on vehicles, in buildings and in factories or on large structures, such as bridges or towers. This enables the use of sensor technology in applications that are difficult or impossible to wire or that are subjected to harsh physical conditions.
Data can be moved instantly through the CrossNet system to the Internet for review by multiple, authorized users in remote locations or stored locally for later retrieval.
Modular, Adaptable Architecture Meets Needs of Specific Applications
The CrossNet architecture is intelligent, modular, extendible and adaptable to a wide variety of changing requirements. The architecture builds upon the emergence of Bluetooth as a worldwide standard for cost-efficient wireless communications. Bluetooth uses the license-free 2.4 GHz frequency band and is being designed into next-generation notebook computers, PDAs, mobile phones and a wide range of other Internet appliance devices. The architecture includes the following:
-- CrossNet Nodes -- compact units (4" x 3" x 1") that control
and monitor up to four sensors.
Any number of Nodes can be
mounted in a building or on a machine.
Each node contains a
wireless Bluetooth radio capable of
transmitting and receiving
data or commands over a distance of
10 meters (100 meters
optional) with a personal computer or
PDA.
-- Smart I/O (SI/O) -- connect individual sensors to a
node.
Based on the IEEE 1451 TEDS standard,
SI/O can connect with
virtually any sensor. After a sensor
has been configured with
SI/O, the Node can automatically
detect the type of sensor in
use, determine its useable range, and
report the data in
appropriate engineering units.
Additionally, with SI/O,
sensors can be calibrated and
reconfigured over the Internet.
-- Software for PDAs, PCs and Internet -- Crossbow
provides
software for Windows-based PCs to
gather data from and to
transmit commands to and from the
CrossNet nodes.
Bluetooth-enabled PDA users can
download a compact program
that configures the PDA to receive
data from any number of
CrossNet Nodes. Most software is
available for free download
from the Crossbow Web site at www.xbow.com.
The data is
presented in a format that can be
easily integrated into any
application program based on Labview,
Visual Basic, C++ and
Excel. Crossbow also provides
ServeWare software that extends
real-time access to CrossNet data to
remote users connected
via the Internet.
The CrossNet architecture supports a broad range of sensor
vendors
and types. Types of sensors that can work with the CrossNet architecture include
temperature, pressure, motion, flow, gas, chemical, GPS, humidity, magnetic,
light and strain. Sensors are connected to the CrossNet Nodes via the SI/O that
is connected to the Node. To help accelerate the adoption of its CrossNet
architecture, Crossbow also introduced its CrossLink partners program, which is
open to sensor companies, system integrators, software companies, and Internet
appliance makers (see separate release).
Pricing and Availability
Crossbow can provide a complete demonstration of its CrossNet solution now. However, due to low availability of Bluetooth radios, CrossNet Nodes will not be available until late 2000. A CrossNet Node that can control and monitor up to four sensors will be priced at $1,295 (in single quantities). Smart I/O will be available at the same time for a price of $95 each, depending upon configuration. Beta software will be available in late August at www.CrossNetWireless.com. Full release software will be available by the time the CrossNet Nodes start shipping.
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