Embedded, Everywhere A Research Agenda for Networked Systems of Embedded Computers (2001) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6. Conclusions and Recommendations: An Agenda for Research
6. Conclusions and Recommendations: An Agenda for Research
Pages 172-204
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 172... ...
Moreover, while they are rich in the numbers of elements, they are at the same time highly resource constrained in the capability of the individual elements. This chapter builds on the findings and discussions in Chapters 2 to 5 to specify particular research projects and processes that will be necessary to realize the vision articulated throughout this report.
|
From page 173... ...
It serves as an excellent model for observation and provides some early indicators of the issues arising from the widespread deployment of EmNets that will need to be addressed.3 The Internet consists of millions of loosely interconnected components that generate communications traffic independently of one another. There has been standardization in the middle levels of communication protocols, but a wide variety of physical interconnections, from optical broadband to wireless, is supported.
|
From page 174... ...
In addition, specific recommendations are made to federal funding agencies that, if followed, would facilitate progress in this area. AN EMNET-SPECIFIC RESEARCH AGENDA The committee has found eight key areas in which concerted research efforts are needed: predictability and manageability; adaptive self-configuration; monitoring and system health; computational models; network geometry; interoperability; the integration of technical, social, ethical, and public policy issues; and enabling technologies.
|
From page 175... ...
It should be noted that networking is an implicit theme pervading most of these areas and so does not stand apart as a separate research issue. The success of networked systems of embedded computers will depend heavily on the networking research community and work going on there, including the work highlighted in Chapters 2 and 3.
|
From page 176... ...
Adaptive Self-configuration: Techniques to Allow Adaptive Self-configuration of EmNets to Respond to Volatile Environmental Conditions and System Resources in an Ongoing Dynamic Balance EmNets will need to exhibit adaptive self-configuration in order to be viable. The massive numbers of elements, along with the resource constraints on individual elements and the environmental dynamics in which they will need to operate, combine to create a new and likely pervasive requirement for adaptive systemwide behavior that is unparalleled except perhaps in natural systems.
|
From page 177... ...
For example, a truly scalable sensor network must self-configure so that the correct collection of nodes (those that have collected good signals from stimuli) collaborates in signal processing to detect and identify phenomena of interest inside the network.
|
From page 178... ...
Statistical approaches will be needed to properly detect situations requiring attention. Immune systems will need to be developed to counteract the unintended (or intended)
|
From page 179... ...
into EmNets In many traditional systems, the geographic location of a particular node is not important; instead, what matters is the abstract network topology. The fact that EmNets are coupled to the physical world requires understanding how to generate and use other forms of location information, such as three-space coordinates or logical coordinates associated with a building structure, for example.
|
From page 180... ...
In such a case, close physical proximity is desirable in order to reduce resource expenditures. Location information is useful in another way as well: Using threespace information in combination with static environmental information allows the creation of logical location information that takes into account the surrounding environment.
|
From page 181... ...
Accordingly, a research program is needed that will actively challenge EmNet research projects by requiring the integration of unanticipated elements into the research. These unanticipated elements might take the form of new devices, either tethered or mobile, or even legacy systems that could be of use to the overall system.
|
From page 182... ...
While this report's primary focus has been on a technological research agenda, the committee strongly recommends also examining the policy and social implications of EmNets and other kinds of information systems. How can the development of policy and technical mechanisms be coordinated to encourage realizing potential benefits from EmNets without paying avoidable societal costs?
|
From page 183... ...
or MAC-level protocols should be. Alternative power sources are needed that will satisfy the form factor, communications, and computational requirements of EmNets and their individual components.
|
From page 184... ...
) See Academic Careers for Experimental Computer Scientists and Engineers for an exploration of experimental computer science within university environments (CSTB, 1994a)
|
From page 185... ...
These will include bioengineers, environmental engineers, mechanical engineers, nanotechnologists, earth scientists, and chemical engineers. Concepts from control theory and signal processing will need to be in the repertoire of every researcher.
|
From page 188... ...
Encouraging such interdisciplinary and nontraditional collaborations will require the creation of new research venues and new incentives for industrial and academic partnerships. Educational institutions will need to be encouraged to create new centers for research that cross traditional departmental boundaries and ensure that research opportunities within these centers are funded and rewarded.
|
From page 189... ...
Today, many university projects are too close to product development, with the lure of start-ups having done much to push things in this direction. Models for joint investigation, fostered by appropriately targeted federal funding, should be renewed if the research community and society are to reap the benefits 12See Evolving the High Performance Computing and Communications Initiative to Support the Nation's Information Infrastructure (CSTB, 1995)
|
From page 190... ...
First and foremost it calls for a systems approach in which design, programming, and control focus on systems composed of massive numbers of networked components and not on optimization of individual or small numbers of elements. A single, isolated, These efforts include sensor Information Technology Density, MEMS, distributed robotics, Power Aware Computing/Communication ~PAC/Cy, Networked Embedded Software Technology tNESTy, Next Generation Internet tNGI', and so on.
|
From page 191... ...
The committee emphasizes the need for intellectual collaboration and communication as opposed to requiring prototypes or deliverables from each project for use by one or more of the other projects. There is much to be gained by understanding and exploiting the conceptual commonalities across networked embedded control systems, ad hoc sensor networks, low power design, and smart fabric.
|
From page 192... ...
Some of these topics are being addressed by individual principal investigators who are or have been funded under one of DARPA's existing EmNet-related programs, such as Ubiquitous Computing (part of this program focuses on the notion that users do not interact with the computing devices themselves but with the services they provide) and SensIT~5 (the emphasis in this program is creating connections between the physical world and computers by developing the software for networked sensors)
|
From page 194... ...
and its Microelectronics Technology Office (MTO) to enable greater experimentation.
|
From page 195... ...
These might take several forms. Examples include a chemical sensor that could be used in experimental monitoring systems, a computational fabric that has a mixture of pressure and temperature sensors, and tensionvarying actuators that would enable experimenting with how to control EmNets of this type.
|
From page 197... ...
. A wide range of standardization efforts will be launched as an offshoot of EmNet activities, including sensor, actuator, wireless, and cross-system interactions.
|
From page 198... ...
Given that many of the standards in this arena are likely to arrive as de facto rather than de jure standards, NIST can provide an objective analysis of them and reduce barriers to entry with reference implementations of the technology itself and/or reference implementations of conformance testing tools. More specifically, NIST, through activities such as its Aroma Project,~7 which focuses on testing, Nor more information, see |
From page 199... ...
has a strong track record in promoting multidisciplinary research and integrated research and education programs. More recently, it has been increasing its support for integrated systems projects for example, the Information Technology Research (ITR)
|
From page 200... ...
This program, or others like it, could serve as a useful vehicle for pursuing some of the topics pinpointed in this report. The key to achieving successful multidisciplinary research is not just a matter of funding levels.
|
From page 201... ...
The agencies with needs for EmNets should together promote expanded experimental research with a shared, experimental systems infrastructure. The committee expects that coordination needs could be supported by the various organizations and groups associated with federal information technology research and development.l8 Open-platform sys18The National Coordination Office for Information Technology Research and Development and related groups can facilitate cross-agency coordination, for example.
|
From page 202... ...
1994a. Academic Careers for Experimental Computer Scientists and Engineers.
|
From page 203... ...
2000. Making IT Better: Expanding Information Technology Research to Meet Society's Needs.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.