astronomy

NODE (wireless sensor)

NODE (wireless sensor) is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NODE (wireless sensor) rather than just read about it. In short: NODE+ is a first-generation handheld wireless sensor platform developed by Variable Inc. The device measures approximately 1 inch in diameter and 3.75 inches in length and communicates with mobile devices using Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy technology.

Key takeaways

NODE (wireless sensor) belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NODE (wireless sensor) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NODE (wireless sensor) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NODE+ is a first-generation handheld wireless sensor platform developed by Variable Inc. The device measures approximately 1 inch in diameter and 3.75 inches in length and communicates with mobile devices using Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy technology. As of September 2014, NODE+ supported 16 interchangeable sensor modules capable of detecting variables such as color, gases, ambient temperature, barometric pressure, motion, and surface temperature. The platform includes an open application programming interface (API) for software developers. A commercial license from Variable Inc. is required for the development of commercial applications that utilize NODE+ sensors. NODE+ has been adopted in educational settings through a partnership with Vernier Software & Technology and is used in classrooms and research institutions. It has also been employed in industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The device is manufactured in the United States.

History NODE+ was developed in 2011 by George Yu in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Before founding Variable Technologies LLC (later Variable Inc.), Yu was involved in research and development projects for NASA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. On 23 March 2012, NODE+ raised $76,340 through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, exceeding its $50,000 goal. A subsequent campaign for CHROMA, a color-sensing module, raised $39,473 on 7 December 2012, also surpassing its target. Variable Inc. opened a second Knoxville, Tennessee office in December 2012. This office handles business development and government relations. In June 2013, NODE+ was demonstrated at the Cisco Live U.S. event in Orlando, Florida, during a presentation on Internet of Things (IoT) strategies. In September 2013, Variable Inc. released an Android-compatible version of the NODE+ platform. The device had been only iOS compatible. A third Kickstarter campaign, launched in late 2013 for the NODE+CO2 module—part of the OXA gas sensor family—raised $26,046, slightly above its goal. In June 2014, Variable Inc. launched a software development competition titled "HACKANODE." As of September 2018, NODE+ no longer appears to be commercially available.

Hardware The NODE+ base unit includes a 9-axis motion engine (3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer, and 3-axis magnetometer), 16MB of onboard storage, and two module ports. It supports Bluetooth 2.1 and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and includes a micro-USB charging port. The device contains a crypto chip within the firmware and features dimmable blue LEDs. Its lithium-polymer battery supports approximately 12–14 hours of continuous Bluetooth use and up to 54 days in standby mode.

Mobile applications GTI Spindle VibePro: Used for surface temperature analysis of machinery. Velos: A color matching and data collection application. Cargosense: A logistics tool for monitoring shipped goods. Vernier Graphical Analysis: Used in educational environments to collect and analyze sensor data. Little Lives: A school management app incorporating temperature checks. LRV Guru: A tool for calculating color contrast ratios. Paint Pro / Paint Pro Classic: Applications for comparing and matching paint colors. Scientific Sci-Fi Scanner: An educational app that integrates environmental sensor data. Aeronaut: A flight instrument app using altitude and barometric data. WKC Fix-O-Meter: A fitness application for teaching lifting techniques.

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NODE (wireless sensor)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NODE (wireless sensor) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NODE (wireless sensor) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NODE (wireless sensor) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NODE (wireless sensor)

In research: NODE (wireless sensor) appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NODE (wireless sensor) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NODE (wireless sensor) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Internet of things, Kickstarter-funded products, Sensors, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NODE (wireless sensor) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study NODE (wireless sensor) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NODE (wireless sensor) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NODE (wireless sensor) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NODE (wireless sensor) in simple terms?

Why does NODE (wireless sensor) matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NODE (wireless sensor)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NODE (wireless sensor).