Open-source Technologies for Embedded Control Systems: from Robotics to Home/Building Automation
Marcello Bonfè, Alice Boldrin, Elena Mainardi
Department of Engineering - ENDIF, University
of Ferrara (Ferrara, IT)
Abstract - The paper describes the integration of different open-source technologies into an embedded control system for low-cost robotics and automation applications. Particular care is given to networking aspects and scalability of technical solutions with respect to computational requirements, complexity of robotics/automation tasks and geographic distribution. The objective of the contribution is to analyse benefits and drawbacks of such technologies and provide guidelines for practitioners of embedded systems design and control engineers.
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Powerlink over PowerLine: the next generation of home automation runs in real-time over mains
Primiano Tucci, Filippo Gregori
Department for Electronics, Computer Engineering and Telecommunications, University of Bologna (Bologna, IT)
Abstract - The aim of this work is to combine and exploit the potential of PowerLine communications together with the Ethernet Powerlink protocol in order to realize a pervasive realtime home-grid over mains, allowing to meet the needs of a wide variety of applications, ranging from simple domotic nodes, such as lighting or climate control, to ones involving heavy workloads, such as video-surveillance and audio diffusion, without requiring particular wirings other than the existing mains. In this direction we developed an open source library which extends Powerlink support to managed .Net applications, reaping the benefits of both a deterministic real-time protocol and the potential of a modern and advanced runtime infrastructure such as that of Microsoft .Net framework. We analyzed the viability of our approach both measuring the raw performances achieved and realizing a simple yet effective video surveillance demonstrative application.
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