Open Source Project: emb::6

Five questions to David Rahusen from Stackforce GmbH about his tutorial "emb::6" at the 15th Wireless Congress 2018 on November 14 in Munich.

With emb::6, an IPv6 implementation for IEEE802.15.4 in ANSI C was developed at the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences, Institute for Reliable Embedded Systems and Communication Electronics (IVESK).

The goal of the work was to design a protocol stack that can be easily ported. Additionally emb::6 offers a high flexibility to developers: It can be used to transfer IPv6 packets via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and emb::6 has also been extended by Thread.

?   Mr. Rahusen, what is emb::6?

!   David Rahusen: emb::6 is an open-source implementation of a 6LoWPAN protocol stack, i.e. an IPv6 implementation for IEEE802.15.4 and other lower layers.

It is based on the open source Contiki-project, but has been converted to an OS independent library, enhanced by a truly modular, extensible and parameterizable approach.

?   For which applications was emb::6 developed?

!   Rahusen: IPv6-based is application agnostic and is suitable for all kinds of IoT applications, that are not real-time critical, but that ask for scalability, high flexibility, and security.

?   Who supports emb::6?

!   Rahusen: Emb::6 is an open-source project being available at https://github.com/stackforce/emb6. It is supported by Elektronik through several articles and has found a nice developer community contributing to its further improvement.

?   How can a designer use emb::6?

!   Rahusen: Just download the source code for any of the available hardware platforms. Then integrate it into your IoT application. Select your specific parameters through the flexible APIs. Otherwise: no OS requirements. Pure ANSI-C.

?   What will you show in your tutorial at Wireless Congress 2018 and who are you addressing?

!   Rahusen: The integration process is straightforward and will be demonstrated by a hands-on. A sample IoT-application will be implemented. The tutorial will be addressing mostly firmware developers and system architects.

Dipl.-Ing. (BA) David Rahusen

started as a development engineer and project manager in the Steinbeis Transfer Center for Embedded Design and Network. He has been involved in various embedded and connectivity projects.

In 2012 he decided to switch to Conductix Wampfler. Here he was responsible for the development of new communication protocols. In 2013 he returned to the Steinbeis Transfer Center as deputy director and has now been employed as managing director of Stackforce GmbH since its foundation.

david.rahusen@stackforce.de

Daniel Jäckle, B. Eng., M. Sc.,

initially studied information technology with a focus on network and software technology at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University in Lörrach. He then completed a master's degree in computer science at the University of Freiburg.

He has been working at Stackforce GmbH since January 2015 and is in charge of the development of the LoRaWAN protocol stack on a full-time basis.

As project manager Jäckle is responsible for the openD project and he is involved in further 6LoWPAN-oriented activities.

daniel.jaeckle@stackforce.de

Patrick Weber, B. Eng., M. Sc.,

studied electrical engineering at the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences and subsequently completed a master's degree in information technology.

He joined Stackforce GmbH in September 2017 and is significantly involved in the implementation and maintenance of the openD project as well as in various 6LoWPAN activities.

His tasks also include the maintenance of the emb::6 stack.

patrick.weber@stackforce.de