Sensor application developers can win $10,000

SEPTEMBER 22--Crossbow Technology (San Jose, CA; www.xbow.com) has announced a Smart Dust Challenge contest to motivate people to develop and demonstrate a wireless sensor network application. Currently, the company's wireless mesh networking products (also known as Smart Dust) have been used to improve agricultural efficiency and growth, monitor and secure industrial plants and buildings, save environmentally sensitive lands, preserve national landmarks, mitigate earthquake and fire damages, and secure and protect the nation's natural resources.

Smart Dust sensors are intelligent multisensing devices that are small, smart, self-configuring, and wireless. Crossbow's mesh networking platform provides a variety of Mote Processor Radio modules, including the MICA2, MICAz (802.15.4), and MICA2DOT module. Each module runs TinyOS and supports a wide variety of sensing capabilities. TinyOS software allows developers to customize their application without expensive licensing fees or software-development costs. Prizes for the winner and four finalists selected for the Crossbow Smart Dust Challenge will be
1st Prize Winner - $10,000
2nd Prize Finalist - $2000
3rd Prize Finalist - $1000
4th Prize Finalist - $500
5th Prize Finalist - $500

Five finalists will also be invited to the UC Berkeley TinyOS Technology Exchange in February 2005 (www.tinyos.net) to showcase their ideas and innovations among a panel of judges from commercial industry, the venture-capital community, government officials, and the press. The winner among the five finalists will be chosen at that time.

Application submittal closes January 2, 2005. The challenge is open to both domestic and international individuals and teams who demonstrate a successful sensor networking application running on three or more Crossbow Motes. For further information on rules, timeline, and judging criteria visit Crossbow on the Web.