Node: The Sensor Powerhouse

5 Mar 2012

Need to use sensors to do some quick spot testing of a project but find yourself having to build that tester? George Yu, CEO of Variable Technologies may just have created the perfect solution. Node is a small cylindrical shaped device about the size of a cigarette lighter featuring many useful sensors that can be displayed onto your iPhone 4s or Android device via Bluetooth. Just connect the Node you need for the testing application, it is that easy.

Every Node will be equipped with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. The kore app on the smart phone will allow you to see values on a nice graph displaying the readings from all three sensors. In addition, the Node is Arduino compatible. It will have open API, firmware, and source code allowing it to be easily integrated into various projects. Also, 2 MB of memory will be available for programming through a micro-USB charging port. Node uses a lithium polymer battery that can last up to 14 hours with continuous Bluetooth use.

The Node allows the attachment of up to two additional modules to allow multiple sensors to function at once. The modules easily attach at the ends of the Node, and the first two available are the Clima and the Luma. The Clima features barometric pressure, wind speed, and humidity sensing. It can be used on outdoor adventure trips and to track your elevation or for your own weather forecasting projects. The Luma is a flashlight module that features 8 high brightness LEDs that are controlled through your smart phone app. You can turn any number of LEDs on or off and can also create lighting patterns for them.

Variable Technologies is also looking to add many additional modules to allow for a wide variety of projects. One of these will be called the Oxa and will detect and measure the presence of various gases ranging from hydrogen to carbon monoxide making it ideal for professional situations.

Overall, the Node will be perfect for those who use on site, spot sensors or even those looking to explore working with sensors for their first time.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

Catwell over 13 years ago in reply to DAB

DAB,

More engineers design with the thought "make it work, then work out the bugs" mentality. That direction works well the majority of the time. Most still stick with the trail and error method. But as Frank Sprauge showed Thomas Edison, testing ahead of time can save money and time.

Easy/cheap sensors would go a long way in the test-engineering world.

Cabe
http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel
DAB over 13 years ago

Hi Cabe,

I like the Node idea. Not enough attention is paid to setting up your testing when you begin a new project.
As soon as you define what you plan to build, you should immediately ask yourself, "How am I going to verify that it works?"

I see a lot of the projects begun here at E14 do not show the testing process in detail. We need to do more of that type of demonstrations so that the beginners learn how to think through the entire engineering process before the run off to build neat things. Usually testing is ignored until your build is done, then its too late to realize that you need a lot of signal/event generation devices or software to establish a reasonable tesing environment for your new build.

Good post.
DAB
- Cancel
- Vote Up 0 Vote Down
- Sign in to reply
- More
- Cancel