IntroEmbeddedJava
In Eng. & Sci
J2ME Overview
Real Time Java
Java Hardware
  Chips
  Cores
  Boards
Javelin Stamp
Javelin Programs   
   Demo 1   Listing
   Demo 2  
   Demo 3  
SNAP
   Demo 2  
Performance
Embed Apps
Exercises

Applications of embedded Java in engineering and science take advantage of the same language features as do commercial consumer devices. Portability, networking, threading, and similar Java features bring new capabilities to embedded devices and Java speeds development.

For example, adding Java networking to remote devices such as process equipment in a manufacturing plant or sensors in a large experimental setup will increase the options for control, monitoring, and data gathering. We showed in Chapter 14 and Chapter 15 examples of custom web servers and client/server systems that can be easily built with Java. Adding such servers to devices that make up a large system greatly expands the depth and degree of granularity of control and monitoring over such a system.

In Demo 1 we present an example of using a Java microcontroller to obtain readings from a temperature sensor. The Javelin Stamp obtains the reading from a sensor then transmits the data via a serial line to a platform running the Java program described in Chapter 22.

In Demo 2 we described a system intended for a small UAV (Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle) that would use a Java microcontroller to determine the horizontal location from a GPS unit, the vertical coordinate from a pressure gauge, and background radiation readings from a Geiger meter.

In Demo 3 we describe a web sever embedded in a Java processor that sends the volatage readings from a solar panel to clients.

References & Web Resources

• TimeSys-Powered Mars Exploration Rover Demonstrated at JavaOne(SM) Conference: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Sun Microsystems Demonstrate Java-Powered Mars Rover Concept Vehicle Running TimeSys' Linux RTOS and JTime - TimeSys - June.11, 2003
  
  
• JavaLin/100 Clinical Interface Combines One-Step Device Integration & Open Source Connectivity - Dawning Technologies - July 30, 2002. - Java software and JRE running in a Linux OS device for connecting medical equipment to the network.
  
  
• Don Loomis, Chapter 7: Building a Remote Data Logger in The TINI™ Specification and Developer's Guide, 2001, Addison-Wesley. (pdf 3.7MB at Maxim-IC)
  
  
• The Embedded Applications page here gives more examples of such apps in technical areas.

Latest update: Dec. 14, 2004