If you are interested in robotics, wireless sensors, java, or embedded systems programming and you have not heard of SunSPOTs yet, you really live somewhere on Mars.

Sun SPOT (stands for Small Programmable Object Technology) are very powerful and sophisticated little devices, perfect for sensor-based applications, and pervasive computing.

It is a battery-operated (USB charged) platform for development of radio-controlled sensor networks, robotics, and personal consumer electronics. Each kit comes with a base station and two Spot devices, each of which, in turn, includes a processor, a radio, a sensor board, and battery. You can also add servo motors and your own sensors on top of the acceleration, temperature, and light sensors that come with each Spot. You program and build the Java VM-based Spots to do whatever it is you want to build; examples of Spot applications developed so far include microwave detection, robotic-arm control, and slot-car control.

Technically a Sun SPOT has the following:

• a 3-axis accelerometer (with two range settings: 2G or 6G)
• a temperature sensor
• a light sensor
• 8 tri-color LEDs
• 6 analog inputs readable by an ADC
• 2 momentary switches
• 5 general purpose I/O pins and 4 high current output pins

Sun has also introduced a Sun SPOT Open Grant Program and a Request for Proposal is currently open. For details go here.

Sun Labs staff engineer, David G. Simmons, has an extremely helpful Sun SPOT blog that is worth checking out. And even YouTube has some 40 Sun SPOT videos with slot cars, a pumpkin that screams and talks when shaken, video games and more to check out. Also, for more on Sun SPOTs check out Roger Meike’s blog; he’s senior director of area 51 and director of operations at Sun Labs.

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