Team Suspect Presents: Aspen

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Team SuspectPresents Aspen

• Mieszko Kruger
• Garrett Earnshaw
• Yoni Mekuria
• Joe Chmura

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Welcome to Aspen
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Aspens Purpose

• To dynamically control a network of peripheral
  devices, a network that controls as well as
  senses.
• Why Aspen?

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Baseline Objectives

• Design and implement a core module that can
  control a network of devices (Aspen).
• Control the network through the use of a PC
  interface.
• Control peripheral devices with a Controller Area
  Network (CAN).
• Accepting a wide range of nodes (e.g. inferred,
  power, other network protocols, etc.)
• Dynamic network accepting hot-pluggable nodes.

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General Description

• Aspen Core will connect to a computer via RS232.
• Aspen Core will control network of Leaves via
  CAN

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General Description (cont.)

• Each Leaf will handle interface between the CAN
  and its specialized function.

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PC Core Module Interface

• Friendly GUI with status and control of all
  Leaves.
• Customized ASCII protocol through RS232.
• Call and Response Handshake.
• Character parsing on both ends.

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Core Module Node Interface

• Tolerant CAN line with error checking for very
  noisy environments.
• Dynamic hot-pluggable nodes.
• Node check-in every 3 minutes for live node
  availability.

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General Node Design

• Half node design will be universal to
  interface with the standard network
• The interface will consist of retrieving data
  from the CAN chip and using this data to perform
  a controlling or sensing activity
• Custom developed protocol for wide range of
  nodes.

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Division of Labor
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Schedule
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Risks and Contingencies

• Getting the Coldfire to function properly.
• Getting necessary licenses for software needed.
• Learning CAN technology.
• Powering the individual leaves.
• Demon Magic (i.e. bad luck).

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Contingency Plans

• Redesign processor from the ground up using FPGA.
• Use other technologies like I²C instead of CAN
  for Leaves.
• Use individual power sources for each leave.
• Tap Dance and accumulate good karma.

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Questions