UMass DieselNet
DieselNet currently consists of 40 buses each with a Diesel Brick, which is based on a HaCom Open Brick computer (P6-compatible 577Mhz CPU, 256MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, Linux OS). The brick is connected to three radios: an 802.11b Access Point (AP) to provide DHCP access to passengers and passersby, a second USB-based 802.11b interface that constantly scans the surrounding area for DHCP offers and other buses, and a longer-range MaxStream XTend 900MHz radio to connect to our throwboxes. Additionally, a GPS device records times and locations. Our custom software allows us to push out application updates, take mobility, AP-to-bus connectivity, and bus-to-bus throughput traces.
To enhance connectivity between mobile DieselNet nodes, we have designed throwboxes that act as stationary routers. Throwboxes are untethered from any power-supply, or backend wireless or wired connectivity. This makes throwboxes easily deployed ad hoc into a challenged environment using batteries for short-term deployment, or solar for longer-term use. We are designing the throwboxes using a combination of COTS low-power platforms, such as the Stargate PXA255 platform, and low-power microcontrollers. One of the unique features is the incorporation of the MaxStream long distance radios on the low power boxes. This allows vehicular nodes to hail the throwboxes, which can turn its 802.11 radio on and off in advance of a vehicular node entering its range.
For more information, take a look at our publications page, including works by Burgess et al, Banerjee et al, and Balasubramanian et al.