Building Fireflies for Fun and Profit

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Building Fireflies for Fun and Profit

• A research and development training opportunity
  for students of Computer Science

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My interests

• I am passionate about RD I love to be a part
  of new things
• 15 years developing technology to support my
  studies of how the brain processes information.
• 5 years developing products and services for
  brain research labs
• Goal to develop a research program that
• Addresses an interesting problem
• Involves CS students

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Since coming to FSC

• Interested in designing and building small, task
  specific computer systems called Embedded
  Systems
• Developed a course for the graduate program in
  Embedded Systems
• Several active graduate student thesis projects
  in this area
• An electronic pen that can be used to recognize
  handwritten signatures
• An interface that allows a computer mouse to be
  positioned by eye movements

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A research grant

• Applied for funding from the National Science
  Foundation with Professors Cratsley and Thomas in
  Biology
• Received a 3-year grant involving
• Collaboration between CS and Biology departments
• RD training for undergraduate CS students to
  produce a product
• Product will be used by biology students to study
  a research problem
• Problem to be researched firefly signaling

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Research focus

• Investigate the purpose of firefly signaling as
  it applies to
• Attracting a mate
• Discouraging predators
• Progress in science starts with hypotheses
• Students will formulate testable hypotheses
• Investigation will be supported through the
  development of embedded systems

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Sparky Firefly and Gina Lola-wattage interact
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And courtship proceeds
This is not exactly the behavior seen in the
field
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Fireflies must avoid predators such as bats
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A role for Computer Science

• Develop and produce dedicated computer systems to
  be deployed in the field to
• Mimic firefly signaling capabilities
• Implement experimental protocols to interact with
  fireflies in the field
• Design criteria
• Small physical size
• Low power consumption

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Functions of the Virtual Firefly

• Generate flashes
• Detect flashes
• Communication algorithms
• Datalogging
• Data compression

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Students needed

• Opportunities
• Learn Microcontroller-based system design
• Real-time programming
• Product design constraints
• Physical size
• Power consumption

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More opportunities

• Learn all phases of instrument development
• Requirements engineering
• Software design, coding, testing, version control
• Hardware / PC board design
• Electronic assembly and testing
• Packaging and deployment
• Attend professional conferences to present your
  work

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Even more

• Microcontroller-PC communications
• Data compression
• Windows application development
• Possibilities for audio and video analysis

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Software Development Paradigm

• Extreme Programming
• Paired programming
• Extensive testing
• Incremental development
• Rapid deployment
• Intense client interaction
• Ongoing documentation

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Facilities

• State-of-the-art computers, compilers, version
  control
• Microcontroller development systems
• Flash memory programmers
• In-circuit emulators / hardware level debuggers
• C language compilers

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More facilities

• Electronic test equipment
• Prototyping systems
• Measurement instruments
• Logic analyzer
• Circuit assembly equipment
• Temperature-controlled soldering
• Hot-air reworking station

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Want to join?

• We are looking for four CS students to start in
  January, 2004
• 8.50 per hour
• Maximum of 4860 per year
• Initial 1 year commitment
• 5-20 hours per week during classes
• 40 hours per week during summer
• Can be extended for another year
• Can be adjusted for seniors

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How to join the team

• Apply online
• http//www.fsc.edu/compsci/KBA/0Projects/Firefly
  
• In addition, interviewees must submit
• Resume
• Code example

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Future directions

• Other advanced embedded development projects
• Seek further funding to produce an interface with
  firefly brains
• An expanded embedded systems lab to provide
  microcontroller development experience to all
  students

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How to join the team

• Apply online
• http//www.fsc.edu/compsci/KBA/0Projects/Firefly
  
• In addition, interviewees must submit
• Resume
• Code example