Project overview

The DevLab research agenda currently contains 4 focus areas:
sensor network technology
independent energy supply
embedded communication
advanced micro actuators
These areas are captured into a number of projects DevLab is leading or participating in.

MyriaNed.bmp MyriaNed (Myriad: classical Greek name for the number 10.000)
In a number of projects the wireless sensor networks platform MyriaNed is used. MyriaNed, developped by DevLab, is a networking concept with the following charachteristics: wireless, scalable (up to 10.000), dynamic, low energy consumption, small form factor, low price, without hierarchy. MyriaNed runs a "Gossip" protocol, which spreads rumours (messages) in a network of nodes. There is no central authority, so there is no problem if some nodes fail their function. The messages will propagate through the network along the working nodes. Nodes may join and leave the network dynamically.
This MyriaNed concept results in a network with a totally different behaviour compared to the well known networks. This leads to a new approach for many applications.

For more information click on MyriaNed® self organizing sensor network

Atalanta

atalanta.jpgAtalanta is a mechatronic butterfly who is capable of configuring and adapting itself and fly around in an environment such as a home, office, boat, car etc. The Atalanta is self-supporting with respect to energy management, localization and navigation. This project has challenges in many areas, such as low-energy consumption, advanced power supply, micro actuators, wireless communication and swarm behaviour, sensors for in-flight navigation and localization.
Goal of this project is not the realization of a final product, but the spin-off and knowledge created in the research and prototyping phase.

Alwen

storm 8.JPGAlwen stands for "Ambient Living with Embedded Networks".
The projects goal is to combine body sensors, ambient sensors, wireless networks and telemedicine into a solution for a new approach on care. Alwen focusses on elderly people and their wish to live as independent as possible despite their health restrictions. The Alwen consortium is lead by DevLab and consists of universities (TUD, TU/e, UT, VU Amsterdam), research institutes (ESI, Roessingh R&D) and industry partners (Philips, Holst Centre and DevLab partners: Almende, Alten-PTS, Chess Connect, Mediatronix, van Mierlo ingenieursbureau, Nanosens, NBG Industrial Automation, Salland Electronics and Vitelec).

Storm

The project Sensor Technology On Radio Modules (Storm) is divided into technical activities and two application projects. The technical activities will define a modular archtecture of both hard- and software building blocks of the MyriaNed WSN platform in such a way that it can be used for a large number of applications. In order to prove this concept, the application projects will realize demonstrators for a track&trace and greenhouse application.

greenhouse.JPGThe greenhouse application will measure light intensity, temperature, moisture and CO2 concentration and the grow rate of the vegetation in order to search for optimal growing conditions in good balans with energy consumption.

voetbalveld i.jpgThe track&trace application will dynamically locate and follow soccer players for game analysis purposes, metric deduction etc. This is a very challenging application with respect to the high dynamics in a sporting game, the locational accuracy and the requirement of unvisible and unfeelable presence of a sensor node on every player.

Experiment Innovation Alliance

open-innovatie-verbinding3.jpgThis project will search for relevant markets for wireless sensor network applications in order to form alliances, new developments, business models with a variety of solutions to deal with intellectual property rights. DevLab takes the lead in a consortium with Philips, Fontys and Hogeschool Zuyd. A large number of stakeholders will contribute to the project, e.g. by participating in workshops. At the end the project will present its results in a mini symposium.

CCF2 - Independent Living

This project will develop a central service platform in order to offer services to elderly people. The services will vary from social interaction, security, healthcare and will be offered indoor and outdoor. This service platform enables people to live independent and postpones the moment that people have to move into an elderly home. By measuring a number of parameters by our MyriaNed Wireless Sensor Network, a translation can be made to the most suitable services or forms of care. The consortium is lead by Philips Research and consists of NH Hotels, Orbis, TU/e and the DevLab partners Almende, Chess, Connect and NBG Industrial Automation.

MetaVerse1

Metaverse.jpgThe MetaVerse1 project provides a standardized global framework enabling the interoperabillity between Virtual Worlds (Second Life, Active Worlds, Google Earth and many others) and the real world (sensors, actuators, vision and rendering, social and welfare systems, banking, insurance, travel, real estate and many others). These standards will form the input for the MPEG-V standardization group. It is foreseen that the Metaverse will be the start of the next revolution of the internet and related technologies and will become a major source of information, services, education, and entertainment in the society. MetaVerse1 is an international ITEA2 project, lead by Philips and Metaverse Labs. The 28 partners come from 8 European countries. The Dutch part of the consortium consists of Philips, DevLab, Stichting Electronic-Highway Platform Nederland EPN, Technical University Eindhoven TU/e, University of Twente UT, University of Utrecht and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam VU.