Much of the surrounding environment is controlled and measured by small, specialized computers known as embedded systems: from thermostats that control temperature to cellular phones that play music and take pictures. As these systems become more prevalent, so do the threats against them. Using a small fleet of iRobot Roombas, I am searching for solutions to counter security threats against these embedded systems.  This work informs my teaching of topics ranging from microprocessor system design to computer security.

I develop software for the iRobot Create on the Mac OSX platform using CrossPack, a development environment similar to Windows AVR.

I’m currently working on interfacing a small yet powerful motherboard to an iRobot Create. It’s the gumstix motherboard, and it’s the hardware that the folks at MIT use for their introduction to robotics course. To interface the gumstix to the iRobot Create requires a robostix board. The gumstix motherboard is just a daughtercard on the robostix board.  I can happily report that the size of the power plug on the robostix is 0.75 mm I.D. x 2.4. mm O.D.