Project Description
Small low-cost computers like Smartphones, Raspberry Pi (RPi) and Arduino are becoming ubiquitous in modern society. These devices allow applications to merge the physical and cyber worlds. However, developing robust web-based applications that are scalable and secure while still maintaining the link between the cyber and physical worlds is an open problem. For example, a user can buy a RPi and attach a temperature / humidity sensor and develop a simple web application to publish the data on their local network. However, publishing this application to the public Internet is difficult due to Internet firewalls, address translation (NAT), and the low-cost computers do not have the computational resources to perform well with multiple simultaneous users.
Goals
The goal of this project is to develop a flexible service platform where users can develop and test applications on low-cost computers (RPi) or smartphones and then transition the application to a cloud-service for long-term reliable hosting while still maintaining connection to sensors connected to the physical device. Features from most important to least include:
- Easy to use web application development platform using standard technologies (html5, css, node.js, etc).
- Developed web applications can access hardware on the local device (ports, GPIO, serial busses, etc).
- Local applications can be published and hosted on a cloud-based platform (e.g., private servers/cloud, Amazon EC2, etc) while still maintaining connection to the hardware on the local device. There must be an efficient gateway service daemon to connect the local data to the cloud server in near real-time. For example, local device will provide data from the local hardware but the web application itself will be served from the cloud resource minimizing utilization of the local processor and local bandwidth thus enabling scaling to thousands of clients from a single local device.
- A web-based community portal where users can register, create a profile, and link device/applications created on the platform with the ability to search, view, comment, and improve (fork) other applications. :.
Impact
Create a platform for future IoT innovation.
Constraints
Compatible with Debian Linux. Optionally support other platforms (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS).
Resources
Amazon AWS educate funding. I have several Raspberry Pi 1 model B boards you can use.
Licensing
GNU GPL v3 unless there is reason to go with something else.
Point of Contact
Contact:
Alan Marchiori
Bucknell University
Computer Science Dept.
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