Crossbow(R) Technology, Inc. today introduced its new "MICA" product line, a family of sensors and tools that enables rapid development of wireless sensor networks for monitoring and detecting a wide variety of targets, such as enemy personnel or chemical threats. Crossbow Technology is producing the MICA family in collaboration with researchers at the University of California at Berkeley's Computer Science Department.
The MICA architecture, named for the thin, flexible silicate, includes MPR and MTS sensors and wireless communication processor modules. MICA can detect ultra small vibrations, acoustic noise, magnetic disturbances, as well as conventional light, temperature, and proximity. It also includes a sensor interface port that enables incorporation of chemical, biological, and other specialized sensors.
Microsensor motes, first developed at UC Berkeley under DARPA funding, have been commercialized for use in developing security, surveillance, and force protection systems. While previous Crossbow products used Bluetooth technology, these sensors use proprietary bi-directional RF communications in the 900MHz ISM band.
"Wireless ultra low-power, highly-sensitive MEMS sensors the size of a typical wireless pager are a core building block of future security and force protection systems," said Crossbow Technology President and CEO Mike Horton. "The ability of our self-contained sensors modules to survey their environment, make precise measurements, process the measurement data for a variety of changes, and then communicate the information using built-in wireless technology, all while operating on battery power for up to several years, will create radical changes in security and surveillance systems."
"Crossbow has been working on MEMS wireless sensing technology for the past two years. We have studied potential security and military applications, and we are now positioned to support these activities with the MICA architecture."
Scalable Architecture Meets Specific Monitoring and Detection
Needs
The MICA architecture consists of MTS sensor modules that plug into MPR processor/radio modules. An MTS and MPR pair along with 2 AA batteries is similar in total size to a typical wireless pager. The MPR modules run a very small operating system, called TinyOS, and communicate bi-directionally with other MICA sensor nodes or a radio base station.
-- MTS Sensor Modules are compact, low power and small units
(1.2" x 2.3" x 0.5") that can measure specific targets or combination of targets. Available today are sensors for light, proximity, temperature, and seismic vibrations. Soon to be available is video, acoustic, and magnetic modules. Any number of wireless sensors can be mounted in a building or on a machine.
-- MPR Process and Radio modules are small low-power, combination radio and processor modules that can communicate in a peer-to-peer or master-slave fashion. These units are programmed using UC Berkeley's open source Tiny OS. They can run threat detection algorithms, communication algorithms, or a variety of other configurable processing and communication routines. Unlike other wireless sensor technology and RF tags, the MPR modules are capable of bi-directional communication and local processing.
Large Scale Deployments Tested, Armored Vehicle Tracking Demonstrated
UC Berkeley developed the core technology under DARPA program funding. Crossbow is now bringing the technology to the broader commercial marketplace. Many sensor networks trials have been conducted at over 25 institutions and companies worldwide. Networks with as many as 1,000 separate combination MTS (Sensors) & MPR (Processor/Radio) points were deployed and used. In one recent deployment, Crossbow wireless sensors were dropped from an Unmanned Aircraft, to form an ad-hoc monitoring network using a magnetic detection perimeter able to locate, position, and track vehicles within the drop zone.
Pricing and Availability
Crossbow can provide a complete wireless sensor modules now. MICA surveillance systems are build by combining MTS and MPR modules that range in price from $150 - $300 depending on sensor type and volume.
[ Home | Contact | MobiChat | Experts database | Let's do it ]
Comments to the content of this page can be posted on the MobiChat discussion group