Explorebots: a mobile network experimentation testbed

Abstract

In this paper, we detail our development of Explorebots--expandable, vision- and sensor-equipped wireless robots built around MICA motes. We developed Explorebots as a dynamic outreach for an NSF-funded Girl Scouts project. We've extended the capabilities of Explorebots to comprise a mobile network experimentation testbed. The testbed will support experimental analysis of protocols for mobile multi-hop networks. The low-cost Explorebots enable repeatable experiments without complete reliance on human subjects for mobility.