System of systems for sensor and actuator networks

Abstract

Sensor and actuator networks are often the backbone of control applications. They are used in many different fields, such as health care, home automation, and industrial control. Despite the prevalence of sensor and actuator networks, there is a lack of tools to support the rapid prototyping of sensing and control applications. We have developed a system to support a generic platform for rapid prototyping of sensing and control applications in which different sensors and actuators are brought together to perform specific functions. At the heart of the system-of-systems is the Control INterface to Devices and Instruments (CINDI), a small Linux-based box with a number of standard interfaces. The system was built with simplicity in mind and to support component reuse. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.