Felipe Gaucho's Blog

Pervasive computing with Sentilla on Ubuntu 8.04

Few days ago I received a promotional kit from Sentilla Labs, a box labeled as Pervasive Computing Kit that contains some devices and a software CD. Unpacking the gift, I felt that kid's joy again - all new opportunities, the plain old brilliant ideas from Asimov books, the restaurant's menu embedded in the wall, the phone t-shirt, etc. The excitement was just interrupted by the lack of instructions on how to install the kit on Linux. Fortunately, the MAC address written in the hardware allowed me to login on the Sentilla's developer forum, which contains a post with instructions on how to setup the beta version of Sentilla software to Linux - the joy retrieved :) Before to proceed the Linux setup, a brief introduction about Sentilla Pervasive Kit.

Sentilla JCreates are very small devices with fully computing powers based on a JavaME platform. You can think of creating a program based on sensors on your bike, your house, your refrigerator or anywhere your imagination can place it. The devices come by default with a temperature sensor and an accelerometer. Pervasive computing is a wake-up-call to all creative minds behind the keyboards, the open door to the fame and fortune or at least the guarantee of a lot of fun (and that explanations to your wife about why the dog is blue again) .. after all it is about the joy of programming with a business perspective.. GO FOR IT :)

Installing Sentilla development environment in Linux Ubuntu 8.04

First of all you should have a kit in order to use it, there is no mock applications or simulator software. So, the first obvious step is to buy a kit or to convince your boss about the strategic importance of Sentilla in your organization. Doesn't matter how, get your kit before reading the next lines.

Important note: Sentilla is not a free software, actually it comes under the Sentilla Corporation Software License Agreement, what is basically very bad in terms of Linux and Open Source movement. At least the Software is licensed, not sold. So, when you buy the hardware you get the license to use the software without any extra fee. IMHO: Sentilla would promote itself offering the open source community a chance to contribute with their software, but I am not aware about the business surrounding these pervasive devices, so let's play with it and let to the lawyers play with licenses :)

In order to install Sentilla on Linux, you need to use the SUN JRE and also to remove the braille kernel driver. You should also install the libstdc++5 and then you are ready to go.The Linux Sentilla software is beta, but it worked very smoothly in Ubuntu 8.04 running on my dual core Intel x86 4Gb RAM.

Firmware & drivers troubleshooting

After installing everything, I got some frustration caused by a missed driver and also because the default configuration of the Sentilla perspective in my Eclipse was not correctly pointing to the Gateway, so Eclipse didn't find the gateway and my Motos never communicated with the computer. I hope the below steps would save your time and give you a nicer first steps on the Sentilla Environment on Ubuntu

1. Install VCP Drivers: the safest way to check if your Ubuntu has the required FTDI drivers is to use the Synaptic Package Manager. You can type ftdi in the synaptic search form and verify if it is already installed. Otherwise just mark it for installation and leave the friendly Ubuntu care about the details :). If it doesn't work or if you want better information about what is going on, you can visit this url to download and install this driver, and of course to check all details about VCP Drivers from the Future Technology Devices International Ltd. (in case you are too paranoid just to click and go).
2. Configure the firmware in your Sentilla Perspective. By default it comes wrong, I suppose it is because Linux is less self-configurable than Windows or just because it is beta version and some evil bug remains alive somewhere. But the quick fix is the following:

Programming Sentila JCreates

If you can see your Motes in your Mote Explorer Perspective, you are ready to start programming them. Actually, I am also novice about Sentilla software and devices so - instead of contaminating your mind with my incomplete trials - I suggest you to start with the comprehensive examples that come with the kit. They have temperature and accelerometer examples ready to go, and I guess that's all a newby needs to have fun. There is a documentation folder and very well documented examples. All you need to do is click on File > New > Example.. and then select one of them.

I just started exploring my new hobby, and I hope to publish further blogs with some creative experiments. For now, I wish you to have fun with our new pervasive option - and if you already have some cool application using Sentilla, let us to know.

Comments

• Thanks Felipe...CH

  Posted by: cellopane555 on August 20, 2008 at 01:57 AM

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