HR: 0800h
AN: C21A-0970    [Abstracts]
TI: Field Instrumentation With Bricks: Wireless Networks Built From Tough, Cheap, Reliable Field Computers
AU: * Fatland, D R
EM: fatland@vexcel.com
AF: Vexcel Corporation, 1690 38th St, Boulder, CO 80301 United States
AU: Anandakrishnan, S
EM: sak@geosc.psu.edu
AF: Department of Geosciences Penn State University, 442 Deike Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 United States
AU: Heavner, M
EM: matt.heavner@uas.alaska.edu
AF: University of Alaska Southeast, 11120 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801 United States
AB: We describe tough, cheap, reliable field computers configured as wireless networks for distributed high-volume data acquisition and low-cost data recovery. Running under the GNU/Linux open source model these network nodes ('Bricks') are intended for either autonomous or managed deployment for many months in harsh Arctic conditions. We present here results from Generation-1 Bricks used in 2004 for glacier seismology research in Alaska and Antarctica and describe future generation Bricks in terms of core capabilities and a growing list of field applications. Subsequent generations of Bricks will feature low-power embedded architecture, large data storage capacity (GB), long range telemetry (15 km+ up from 3 km currently), and robust operational software. The list of Brick applications is growing to include Geodetic GPS, Bioacoustics (bats to whales), volcano seismicity, tracking marine fauna, ice sounding via distributed microwave receivers and more. This NASA-supported STTR project capitalizes on advancing computer/wireless technology to get scientists more data per research budget dollar, solving system integration problems and thereby getting researchers out of the hardware lab and into the field. One exemplary scenario: An investigator can install a Brick network in a remote polar environment to collect data for several months and then fly over the site to recover the data via wireless telemetry. In the past year Brick networks have moved beyond proof-of-concept to the full-bore development and testing stage; they will be a mature and powerful tool available for IPY 2007-8.
UR: http://www.vexcel.com
DE: 9310 Antarctica
DE: 9805 Instruments useful in three or more fields
DE: 7294 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1827 Glaciology (1863)
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting