Whole Systems, Whole Students

Eric BrewerUC Berkeley, Google

CCC CouncilNovember 2, 2012

Three Converging Trends

1. Billions of gadgets– Some smart, some just clever– Basic cost is low => huge variety

2. Software in everything– Smart phones, scales, cars, appliances, glasses– Follows from Moore’s Law– Often connected to the cloud

3. Ability to make your own gadgets– Not just the software– … also the electronics, mechanics, packaging

Phone as Super Gadget

Several embedded processorsWiFi, cellular, bluetooth, NFCMany sensors:– camera(s), mic(s), GPS, accelerometers, compass, …

• Open-source software stack (Android)• Combine with cloud-based services– Voice recogition, navigation, …

Software in Gadgets

• Fitness– Scale, fitbit, nike shoe, bike computers

• Cars: 30-100 software systems• Digital cameras: autofocus, face detection• Remote controls• Robot vacuums, mops, …• GPS+video ski goggles

“Maker” Subculture

… stresses new and unique applications of technologies, and encourages invention and prototyping [Wikipedia]

Enabled by:1. Internet2. New tools3. Fabrication facilities and services

Plus magazines, “Maker Faire”

Internet enables DIY

• Search engines– Find out how to build almost anything

• YouTube– Watch the process

• Now dedicated DIY sites– Instructables, Howtoons, Make: Projects– Shared models– Buy items designed by others

New Tools

Started with consumer power tools, radio shack– or Heath Kits before that

New tools– CNC tools: routers, laser cutters– Low-cost fabrication: 3D printer makerbot– CAD software, sketchup– Easy to use microcontrollers (Arduino)

Arduino Uno

Arduino is an Enabler

• Family of open-source microcontrollers– Many sensors, motors, lights, etc.– Daughterboards for ethernet, WiFi, …– Simple programming language– Author on your laptop, then download

• Can buy or make the hardware• Thousands of open projects, examples

Fabrication made Easy

• Tools are still expensive and complex• DIY centers, e.g. TechShop, fix this:– They have a wide range of tools– They have a community– They have classes

• Fabrication services– Upload your design, get it back in a month

Claim: super educational

• Very creative– Focuses on design skills– Physical manifestation is more rewarding

• Mix of disciplines and thinking– Mechanical and electrical engineering– Computer science– Plus HCI, business, art– Multi-modal learning

• High school students can do this (and should)

My Best DIY Project(so far)

The Dovetail Joint

Four pieces of wood, no nails

4W, 12V Xenon bulb, real candle

Power flows to Both Ends

Embedded microcontroller

Chandelier Electronics

• 18 bulbs at 4W = 72W total• 2 microcontrollers, one at each end– Pseudo-random flickering between 50-100%– 6 1A circuits total, each independent flickering

• 8 wires to every bulb location– 6 circuits plus 2 ground (ethernet cable)– Each circuit handles every 6th bulb in series• 3 bulbs * 4W = 12W, 12W @ 12V => 1A

Three CS Issues

1. EE vs CS for Embedded Systems2. Security for smart gadgets3. How to design Whole Systems

EE vs CS

Embedded systems are typically an EE topic– Follows from analog control theory– Also hard real-time systems

New systems are all software– Control loop is in software, likely on Linux– Kind of real time (due to overprovisioning)– … but might need to reboot periodically

We should revisit this dichotomy

Security

Software-based embedded systems…– Inherently vulnerable to attack– … especially when networked

Many hackable gadgets…– Car (30-100 software systems)• Break into a car via its satellite link• Or disable engine (even if moving)

– NFC: take over a phone via its NFC sensor

Designing Whole Systems

• Not enough to design the software– Can choose the CPU, sensors, flash, ram, …

• Partially a CAD problem• Mostly a breadth problem– How to train the full range of design skills?– How much is needed from each discipline?– How to cover the device + the cloud?– Claim: CS should lead this rising area

The Larger Trend

• CS is being applied to solve real problems• We need to create students– that can lead solutions– (not just write software)

• Technology for developing regions– Need to solve the problem• Not deploy technology

– CS only part of the solution (but the enabling part)

BACKUP

Tier Base Station

Tier SIM card