Description
Sun SPOT is a small, wireless sensor node that can be built into larger projects (such as robots) that need sensing and reporting functions. The Sun SPOT Software Development Kit (SDK) includes an emulator so that you can write programs for SPOT and run them in the emulator, even if you don't have access to a physical Sun SPOT device.
This activity will walk you through downloading and installing the Sun SPOT SDK, and then running through the tutorials so that you get a feel for the capabilities of the SPOT device.
After completing this activity, you will have enough experience with the SPOT to decide if it would be useful to you in other projects. This activity also provides a good foundation for those who want to continue on to working with the Sun SPOT Robot Emulation environment.
Basic Steps
- Visit the Sun SPOT Getting Started page. Read the introduction so that you understand what a Sun SPOT is, and then read the Prerequisites section so you know what software is needed by the Sun SPOT system. At the bottom of the page, click the appropriate link for your computer platform. This will start a Java Web Start-based installer, which will install the Sun SPOT Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as any other necessary software.
- Once you have completed installation, the Sun SPOT Manager Tool will be launched, and will display a page that says Before You Begin Tutorials. Read this page, which will provide a brief overview of the Sun SPOT device, and explains the concept of an emulator. For this activity, you will be working with Sun SPOT emulators, which run on your computer and act like a real Sun SPOT device, without the need to purchase the actual physical device. After you have read this page, click on the Sun SPOT Emulator Tutorial link in the Sun SPOT Manager Tool.
- Read Welcome and Introduction, and the click on the "next" link, taking you to the Running the Sun SPOT Emulator page.
- Launch Solarium, as described in the tutorial. Solarium is the window where the emulated SPOT will be displayed, and where you will be able to interact with it. Follow instructions to blink the LEDs on the SPOT.
- Continue through the tutorial, performing the steps on each of the pages.When you run the BroadcastCount demo, take a screenshot of your Solarium window with the 3 emulated SPOTs displayed. When you run the HTTPDemo, take two screenshots, one of your Solarium window that clearly shows the numeric address of your emulated SPOT device, and one of your browser windows, showing the Twitter page with message from your SPOT. The messages in the Twitter window will have the same address as your SPOT.
- When you have completed the tutorial, submit the 3 saved images to this activity.
- At this point, you are done with this activity. If interested, you can continue to explore the Sun SPOT device, try out the other included demos, and make changes to the code to learn more about programming the SPOT.