Intro to the Atlas Platform Raja Bose Dr. Abdelsalam (Sumi) Helal January 23, 2007

Atlas in a Nutshell Represents each of the devices (sensors and actuators) connected to it as software services on an OSGi framework. New devices automatically appear as services in framework upon power-up. Supports a variety of actuators like switches, servos, motors, LEDs etc. Easy-to-use web configuration tool for modifying device configuration. Eclipse Plug-in for writing smart space applications using the software device services without requiring low-level knowledge of hardware.

Atlas Components Hardware Software – Firmware – Middleware – Bundles – Tools

Hardware Components Modular Hardware Architecture –Processing Layer –Device Connection Layer –Communication Layer Communication Layer Processing Layer Device Connection Layer

Firmware Runs on the Atmega128 AVR microcontroller of each Atlas node Controls communications and processing on the node including low level interaction with the sensors and actuators Written in C / compiled using AVR-GCC Uploaded on the FLASH memory of the microcontroller using AVR Studio

Middleware Runs inside an OSGi (Open Services Gateway initiative) framework –OSGi is a Java based open standard –Provides mechanisms for service discovery and delivery –Unlike Jini it runs on a single JVM and provides a sandbox execution environment Core Components –Atlas Manager –Service Bundle Repository Web based Configuration & Admin Tool Eclipse Plug-in for creating smart space applications

Middleware Architecture Fun Fact: If you are reading this then your neck is about to SNAP!

Bundles Bundle Repository allows users to manage various sensor & actuator service bundles such as Pressure Sensor Bundle etc. Bundles are Java applications packaged in a standard JAR file along with a manifest file containing certain OSGi specific headers Bundles can be installed, started, stopped, uninstalled and updated inside the framework A Bundle can export its functionality as services to other bundles and can import other services for its own use

Bundles Each service provided by the bundle is associated with a Java Interface which defines the methods available for accessing that service Bundle also contains the classes which implement the specified interfaces. Manifest File specifies details like Bundle Name, Description, Version, packages required by the bundle and the packages being exported by the bundle. Packages being imported by the bundle must be exported by some other bundle

OSGi Desktop With Bundles

Atlas Configuration & Admin Tool

View Network

Bundle Repository

Node Configuration

How to configure an Atlas Node

Step 1 connecting the sensors & actuators … sensor Atlas Node Fun Fact: The sensor cable is not a snake

Step 2 Configuring the Atlas Node Select device (s) Then click Configure Node

Step 3 Device automatically appears as OSGi service

Programmer’s Notepad Provides a basic IDE to WinAVR – the Windows port of AVR GCC Allows source files to be organized into projects and compiled together using makefiles Provides code segment sizes and other debug information during compilation Compilation results in an Intel Hex file which is flashed using AVR Studio FREEWARE

References Technical White paper on OSGi: overview.pdfhttp:// overview.pdf OSGi Programming tutorials from knopflerfish: Programmer’s Notepad