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Tuscarora Framework is now Open Source  

Tuscarora is a framework for developing highly scalable and portable Network Patterns (NP) and applications. The Framework serves as the narrow waist of the system, decoupling the Application Layer and the Network Patterns from the underlying radio and hardware platform, enabling portability, scalability and extensibility. Tuscarora was partly funded by DARPA.

The source has been released on GitHub at https://github.com/Samraksh/Tuscarora/. Learn More.

 

 

About Samraksh  

 

 Wireless Sensor Network Expertise We are experts in low-power, reliable wireless sensor networks (WSN) with world-class experience and deep, innovative research into the hardware, software and algorithmic issues they present. We design, manufacture and sell inexpensive high-performance, low-power, scalable and easy-to-program components and systems.

WSN-Enabling Products Besides the eMote .NOW and the BumbleBee highlighted below,  we also provide a range of other sensors and supporting items. Complete network solutions can be deployed using these components.

 

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Key Ideas 

Description

 This app note uses the accelerometer on Samraksh's Kiwi Multi-Sensor to sense freefall.  It is easily modifed for other kinds of motion detection.

Compatibility

eMote.NOW 1.0, eMote version 4.3.1.12 and Visual Studio 2012.

Complexity Level

Introductory. 

Setup

Connect the Kiwi Multi-Sensor to an eMote using the accelerometer instructions in the Kiwi Multi-Sensor Board Layout. For "other power", connect to eMote J11, pin 3. Connect the eMote to your PC in the usual way and run the program. See the FAQ for details.

Discussion

On earth, an accelerometer that measures all 3 dimensions (x, y and z) will always measure the acceleration caused by gravity. For the Kiwi, the measurement is in g-force. See wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravimetry for a discussion of measurement. 

If the accelerometer is held perfectly level, then the acceleration will all be in the z dimension, yielding a value of about 1g. If not, then other axes will also measure gravity. The formula for calculating the total acceleration is \[s = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}.\]

In the app note, we sense at a rate determined by the constant RefreshRate and, for convenience, convert the measurements to milli-g. If a measurement is less than  the constant FreefallThresholdFactor, which gives a fraction of 1g, then we detect freefall.

Suggestions

 Try measuring hand motion (say, side to side vs up and down). Try making a pedometer to measure steps when walking. There are many resources on the web to help with these and other accelerometer projects.