eBlocks: Embedded Systems Building Blocks
This project develops a set of building blocks that can be used by people, having no special training, to build simple but useful embedded computing systems. The types of systems are those that monitor switches and sensors (motion, light, temperature, etc.) and control basic outputs, like lights, buzzers, electric relays, and simple actuators. The project defines an intuitive set of eBlocks, incorporates compute intelligence into previously passive sensors and outputs, defines the communication and coordination protocols between eblocks, and develops methods to assist people in creating and configuring eBlock systems. The result is a set of eBlocks that can be connected into systems by nearly anybody to perform useful tasks. Example systems include detecting a garage door left open at night, notifying a deaf person of noise, turning on a fan after a certain temperature is reached in a scientific experiment, finding commonly lost items, and tallying votes anonymously in a classroom or meeting. The broader impacts not only involve improved control over home, office, store, school, and other environments, but also the improved support of research in a diversity of other scientific disciplines relying on sensors and control, as well as use in design courses in colleges and high schools.
