Microcontroller is put to the Sword

The eCOG1 configurable low power microcontroller features in a powerful and flexible wireless communications system developed by PIC now being trialled by the BBC.

The eCOG1 configurable low power microcontroller has been chosen to be the heart of the communications controller module in a powerful and flexible wireless communications system developed by PIC now being trialled by the BBC and other partners in the Sword project.

PIC is at an advanced stage in the development of its "state of the art" wireless system, known as a Universal Wireless Node, which can seamlessly interface a broad range and large number of sensors - analogue, digital or visual - and data devices to a variety of wireless modems.

Optional wireless interfaces include GSM, GPRS, IEEE802.11x (Wi-Fi) and satellite communications with data rates ranging from 9.6Kbit/s to 52Mbit/s.

This makes the system suitable for a wide range of still image, video and data transmission applications right up to broadcast quality.

The requirement for extremely low power consumption in the controller module was driven by the potential for application in remote locations where solar or other natural power sources could be deployed.

This, together with the requirement for a variety of peripheral interfaces that could be selectively enabled, led to the choice of the highly configurable Cyan eCOG1 device as the main controller in the system.

The eCOG1 handles the management of the various communications interfaces.

A comprehensive suite of software modules has been developed for the system designed to provide a choice of speed and type of point to point communications or full internet access via PC, laptop, PDA or mobile phone.

According to Andrew Maidment of PIC, in addition to the hardware features of the eCOG1, the Cyan development environment was important to the success of the project.

"We needed to be able to develop a variety of modules to support all our different interface options", he says.

"The CyanIDE software tools enabled us easily to reconfigure the peripherals in the controller, and to develop the appropriate software very speedily".

Early customers for the PIC system include household names such as the BBC who use PIC's technology for transmitting pictures (such as that from Blackpool Tower in the UK) directly to its website for public viewing.

The system is also being used for traffic monitoring and status reporting from billboard sites.

The system being developed is currently known as Sword and is funded by the British National Space Corporation (BNSC) - an offshoot of the DTI.

The project group developing the project includes specialist UK organisations, SciSys and SICL.

Several businesses are keeping closely in touch with the Project Group to ensure ready uptake of the technology in the marketplace with project partners now actively involved in system trials.

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