Part 0b: Getting Started!
Goal
Hardware lineup
During the session, you will form groups of 4-6 people. Each group will receive a complete kit with one manager and 5-6 motes.
Devices come in different shapes and sizes:
 Line-up of the devices you will use |
line-up of the devices you will be using |
|---|
From left to right:
name | role | commercially available? | description |
|---|---|---|---|
DC2274 | manager | the device which connects your SmartMesh IP network to the Internet (a.k.a. "gateway", "sink", etc) | |
"white box" | mote | no, this is a home-made device. | a mote powered by a 2200mAh TADIRAN battery, in a box |
DC9003 | mote | a mote powered by a 225mAh CR2032 coin-cell battery | |
DC2126A | mote | a mote powered by a combination of a solar cell (when there is light) and battery (when there is no light), attached to a thermistor | |
LTP5901 module | mote | yes (http://www.linear.com/product/LTP5901-IPM) | a mote powered by a 1000mAh CR2477 coin-cell battery |
manager? mote?
the "manager" is the gateway device which sits at the edge of your low-power wireless network, typically connected to a computer.
a "mote" is a device which is deployed in the field and typically attached to sensors and actuators.
Together, the manager and motes form a low-power wireless mesh network around the manager:
Motes are equivalent
While motes differ in the sensors and actuators attached, the power source and packaging, they are equivalent from a networking point of view. That is, the same LTC5800 system-on-chip is at the heart of each device, and implements the same networking software.
Each network is self-contained
Each group starts off with an entirely self-contained network, which includes one manager and a number of motes. Even though you might be sitting in the same room as another group, networks are independent.
Accounts and Credentials
Your instructor will have set up a number of services running in the IBM Cloud, including an instance of the IBM Watson IoT Platform.
You will receive at the beginning of the session the following credentials:
IBM Watson IoT Application token
allows you to build an application which interacts with the managers and motes connected to the IBM Watson IoT Platform
This application can be written in any programming language, including directly using Node-RED
Here is the information you will receive from your instructor:
Ideal Classroom Setup
Each group has a standalone network. Each group ideally has a separate table. The instructor runs yet another network.
Answer sheet
The instructions contain questions which allow the instructors to verify you are moving along well. Write down the answers to those questions on a sheet of paper as you move along.
Navigation
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Part 0a: Things to prepare before the session — Things to install on your computer and on your IBM Cloud instance before coming to the session.
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Part 0b: Getting Started! — Overview of the hardware you will be using, and of the general organization of the unplugfest.
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Part 1: Your First Standalone Network — Build your very first network, understand how the LEDs indicate the state of the motes, issue simple CLI commands on the manager, understand the use of the netid.
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Part 2: Understanding Trade-Offs in SmartMesh IP — Understand how latency, data rate and energy trade off for one another.
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Part 3: A Canopy Network Coordinated through IBM Watson IoT — How the canopy network, which is already deployed in your building works.
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Part 4: Interact with Sensors and Actuators — Connect sensors and actuators to your mote, and interact with them from your Node-RED instance in the IBM Cloud!
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Part 5: Programming Challenge — Once you have completed Part 4, sky is the limit. Explore a couple of possibilities where to go from there.